Common Name: |
Karela |
Other Names: |
Balsam Apple, Balsam Pear, Bitter Apple, Bitter Gourd, Bitter Melon, Carilla Gourd |
Botanical Name: |
Momordica charantia |
Genus: |
Momordica |
Family: |
Cucurbitaceae |
Native Location: |
Africa and Asia |
Cultivation: |
Rich, well-drained soil in sun. Plants flower in 30-35 days, producing fruits 15-20 days later. Stop shoots after fruits set. Plants under cover may be damamged by whitefly, spider mites, and aphids. Plants grown outdoors may be protected by individual paper covers against insect damage. |
Propagation: |
By seed sown in spring at 15-18°C (59-64°F) |
Harvest: |
Leaves are collected during the growing season and used fresh or dried in infusions. Fruits are picked when young, and used fresh as pulp or juice. |
Height: |
5m (15ft) |
Hardiness: |
Min. 15-18°C (59-64°F) |
Parts Used: |
Leaves, Fruits, Seed |
Properties: |
A laxative, diuretic herb that soothes irritated tissues, lowers fevers, kills parasites, and cleanses toxins from the system. It is probably a uterine stimulant. |
Medicinal Uses: |
Internally for colitis and dysentery (fresh juice), intestinal worms, jaundice, and fevers (leaves). Externally for hemorrhoids, chapped skin, and burns (fruit). To treat diabetes, gastrointestinal upset, colitis, ulcers, constipation, intestinal worms, fever, kidney stones, and psoriasis. |
Typical Dose: |
A typical daily dose of bitter melon is approximately 15gm of aqueous extract or 2oz of juice. |
Possible Side Effects: |
Bitter melon's side effects include nausea, vomiting, and anorexia. |
Drug Interaction: |
Taking Bitter Melon with these drugs may cause or increase liver damage: |
Abacavir (Ziagen) |
Acarbose (Prandase, Precose) |
Acetaminophen (Genepap, Tylenol) |
Allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim) |
Atorvastin (Lipitor) |
Celecoxib (Celebrex) |
Cidofovir (Vistide) |
Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) |
Meloxicam (MOBIC, Mobicox) |
Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall) |
Methyldopa (Apo-Methyldopa, Nu-Medopa) |
Modafinil (Alertec, Provigil) |
Morphine Hydrochloride |
Morphine Sulfate (Kadian, MS Contin) |
Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) |
Nelfinavir (Viracept) |
Nevirapine (Viramune) |
Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrobid) |
Ondansetron (Zofran) |
Paclitaxel (Onxol, Taxol) |
Pantoprazole (Pantoloc, Protonix) |
Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) |
Pioglitazone (Actos) |
Piroxicam (Feldene, Nu-Pirox) |
Pravastatin (Novo-Pravastatin, Pravachol) |
Prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro) |
Propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvon-N) |
Repaglinide (GlucoNorm, Prandin) |
Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) |
Rifapentine (Priftin) |
Ritonavir (Norvir) |
Rofecoxib (Vioxx) |
Rosiglitazone (Avandia) |
Saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase) |
Simvastatin (Apo-Sinvastatin, Zocor) |
Stavudine (Zerit) |
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Tamofen) |
Tramadol (Ultram) |
Zidovudine (Novo-AZT, Retrovir) |
Taking bitter melon with these drugs may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): |
Acarbose (Prandase, Precose) |
Acetohexamide |
Chlorpropamide (Diabinese, Novo-Propamide) |
Gliclazide (Diamicron, Novo-Gliclazide) |
Glimepiride (Amaryl) |
Glipizide (Glucotrol) |
Glipizide and Metformin (Metaglip) |
Gliquidone (Beglynor, Glurenorm) |
Glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase) |
Glyburide and Metformin(Glucovance) |
Insulin (Humulin, Novolin R) |
Metformin (Glucophage, Riomet) |
Miglitol (Glyset) |
Nateglinide (Starlix) |
Pioglitazone (Actos) |
Repaglinide (GlucoNorm, Prandin) |
Rosiglitazone (Avandia) |
Rodiglitazone and Metformin (Avandamet) |
Tolazamide (Tolinase) |
Tolbutamide (Apo-Tolbutamide, Tol-Tab) |
|
Lab Test Alterations: |
- May decrease blood glucose test values if taken with chlorpropamide.
- May lower blood glucose in those with type 2 diabetes.
- May lower glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in type 2 diabetes patients after seven weeks of treatment.
|
Disease Effects: |
May lower blood sugar levels and trigger hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in people with diabetes. |
Supplement Interactions: |
May increase blood glucose-lowering effects and risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when used with herbs and supplements that lower glucose levels, such as alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, Devil's Claw, Panax Ginseng, and Psyllium. |
Culinary Uses: |
Unripe (green) fruits are added to curries or eaten raw, boiled, or fried, after parboiling or soaking in salt water to remove bitterness. Young leaves and shoots are cooked as a vegetable. |
Bibliography: |
Encylopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright ©: 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited pps. 279-280 The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T Grossberg, MD and Barry Fox, PhD Copyright © 2007 by Barry Fox, PhD. Pp.73-74 |