Botanical Index No. 107

Bitter Melon, Balsam Pear

momordica charantia

Medicinal Actions

Androgenic, Antibacterial, Anticataract, Anticholinergic, Antidiabetic, Antihistaminic, Antileukemic, Antimalarial, Antimitotic, Antimutagenic, Antipyretic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antispermagenic, Antitumor, Antiviral, Acaricide, Astringent, Candidicide, Carminative, Choleretic, Depurative, Digestive, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypoglycemic, Hypotensive, Immunotoxic, Insecticide, Lactagogue, Laxative, Lipolytic, Stomachic, Teratogenic, Tonic, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abortifacient Aperitif Aphrodisiac Guanylate-Cyclase-Inhibitor Hemostat Poison Vermifuge Vulnerary Ameba Anemia Anorexia Aphtha Asthma Bacteria Bite Biliousness Bleeding Boil Bronchosis Bruise Burn Calculus Cancer Candida Cataract Catarrh Chilblain Cholera Cold Colitis Constipation Cramp Delirium Dermatosis Diabetes Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Eczema Escherichia Fever Furuncle Gas Gastrosis Gonorrhea Gout Halitosis Headache Hemorrhoid Hepatosis High Blood Pressure HIV High Cholesterol Hyperglycemia Infection Itch Jaundice Amenorrhea Leprosy Leukemia Malaria Melancholy Mycosis Nyctalopia Obesity Ophthalmia Otosis Pain Parasite Pediculosis Plethora Polyuria Prolapse Psoriasis Rheumatism Salmonella Scabies Scald Seborrhea Shigella Sore Sore Throat Splenosis Sprue Staphylococcus Stomachache Stomatosis Streptococcus Syndrome-X Syphilis Ticks Tumor Ulcer Urethrosis Vaginosis VD Virus Worm Wound Yeast

General Dosage

1 capsule 3 ×/day with 150 mg extract containing 2.5% bitter principles; one small melon per day; 50 ml fresh juice/day; 5 ml tincture 2–3 ×/day; 2–5 g leaf/liter water.

Safety & Contraindications

No toxic cases documented. Not covered. High doses may cause diarrhea and enteralgia; may potentiate hypoglycemic drugs; small children and patients with hypoglycemia should avoid. Seeds contain abortifacient compounds. This one is too new, at least in the First World, to have entered any of the Commission E books I am consulting for my herbal desk reference. Even TRAMIL, the Caribbean Commission E I call Commission T, does not recommend this frequent edible weed due to some toxic compounds it contains.

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