BITTER MELON

Bitter Melon Most commonly found growing in tropical parts fo the world, including Africa, Asia and South America, the bitter melon plant is used for nutritional as well as it medicinal value. While all parts of the plant are used, the fruit of the Bitter Melon is most often used for creating medicinal remedies.

Bitter Melon (Momordica Charantia) is a cucumber-shaped, green vegetable believed to have a high iron content, which increases its value as a preventative medicine for many health conditions. Bitter Melon has two proteins which are thought to repress the AIDS virus. However, its effectiveness in humans for the treatment of AIDS has not been substantiated by clinical evidence. Preliminary research also suggests that bitter melon, consumed in any liquid or solid form, may enhance Type 2 diabetics' ability to control blood sugar.

Three active constituents in bitter melon know as steroidal saponins (charntin, insulin-like peptides, and alkaloids) are believed to be responsible for the blood-sugar lowering actions that could potential benefit individuals with diabetes mellitus.

Historically bitter melon has been used to treat an assortment of conditions ranging from common infections to cancer and diabetes. The leaves and fruit have both been used to season soups and to make teas and beer.

Possible Benefits

  • Aids in sugar regulation by suppressing the neural response to sweet taste stimuli
  • Useful in treating Diabetes Mellitus
  • Lectins from bitter gourd may possess significant antilipolytic and lipogenic properties
  • Useful as an emtic, purgative, and as an anthelmentic, in leprosy, jaundice, and piles
  • Indigestion
  • Diabetes
Dosage and Administration

Bitter melon may be consumed in the following ways: as food, a decoction of as much as 3 1/3 ounces (100 ml), or 2 ounces (60 ml) of fresh juice (daily). Though still bitter, tinctures of bitter melon (1 teaspoon [5 ml] two to three times per day) may also be used. The above dosages would be appropriate for diabetics.

Side Effects and Interactions

Excessive ingestion of bitter melon juice (several times more than the amount recommended above) may create diarrhea and abdominal pain. Consuming excessive amounts of the seeds may be linked with fever, headache, and coma. Pregnant women should not use bitter melon. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, may be negatively affected by bitter melon because it may trigger or worsen the condition.

Currently, no well-known drug interactions with bitter melon exist.

Supporting Literature

Raman A, Lau C. Anti-diabetic properties and phytochemistry of Momordica charantia L (Curcurbitaceae). Phytomed 1996;2:349–62.
Werbach MR, Murray MT. Botanical Influences on Illness. Tarzana, CA: Third Line Press, 1994, 139–41.



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