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Momordica charantia - Karavellaka, Karabellam
Bitter gourd , known as bitter melon, Momordica charantia, bitter squash, or balsam-pear, has names in other languages which have entered English as loanwords, e.g. goya from Okinawan and karela from Sanskrit. Those from the Caribbean island of Jamaica commonly refer to the plant as cerasee.
Contents
- 1 Uses
- 2 Parts Used
- 3 Chemical Composition
- 4 Common names
- 5 Properties
- 6 Habit
- 7 Identification
- 8 List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used
- 9 Where to get the saplings
- 10 Mode of Propagation
- 11 How to plant/cultivate
- 12 Commonly seen growing in areas
- 13 Photo Gallery
- 14 References
- 15 External Links
Uses
Colitis, Dysentery, Diabetes, Malignant ulcers, Stomach worms, Fever, Phlegm, Hypertension
Parts Used
Chemical Composition
Amino acids, Glutamic acid, Lactamic acid, Beta-lactamic acid, Phenylalanine, Proline, Alpha-Aminobutyric acid, Citrulline, Galacturonic acid[1]
Common names
| Language | Common name |
|---|---|
| Kannada | Haagalakaayi |
| Hindi | Karela, kathilla |
| Malayalam | |
| Tamil | Iraca-valli |
| Telugu | Kakara |
| Marathi | NA |
| Gujarathi | NA |
| Punjabi | NA |
| Kashmiri | NA |
| Sanskrit | Kaarvellakah |
| English | Bitter gourd |
Properties
Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.
Dravya
Rasa
Tikta (Bitter), Tikta (Bitter),
Guna
Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry)
Veerya
Ushna (Hot)
Vipaka
Katu (Pungent)
Karma
Kapha, Vata
Prabhava
Habit
Identification
Leaf
| Kind | Shape | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | alternate | lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets |
Flower
| Type | Size | Color and composition | Stamen | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unisexual | 2-4cm long | Yellow, white | 2-3 | Flowers Season is June - August |
Fruit
| Type | Size | Mass | Appearance | Seeds | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| general | 100–200 mm | clearly grooved lengthwise, Lowest hooked hairs aligned towards crown | the fruit is fleshy | many | {{{6}}} |
Other features
List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used
- Vishatinduka Taila as root juice extract
Where to get the saplings
Mode of Propagation
How to plant/cultivate
The plant is best adapted to hot humid areas of the tropics and subtropics, though it can be grown in a wide range of climates right into the temperate zone so long as there is a sufficient growing season[3]
Commonly seen growing in areas
Coastal thickets, Along streams, Along creeks, Lowland forest margins.
Photo Gallery
Plant
Leafbud
Leaves and Flower
Flowers
Female flower
Male flower
2 days old fruit with flower
3 days old fruit
10 days old fruit
Immature fruit
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References
External Links
- Ayurvedic Herbs known to be helpful to treat Colitis
- Ayurvedic Herbs known to be helpful to treat Dysentery
- Ayurvedic Herbs known to be helpful to treat Diabetes
- Ayurvedic Herbs known to be helpful to treat Malignant ulcers
- Ayurvedic Herbs known to be helpful to treat Stomach worms
- Ayurvedic Herbs known to be helpful to treat Fever
- Ayurvedic Herbs known to be helpful to treat Phlegm
- Ayurvedic Herbs known to be helpful to treat Hypertension
- Herbs with Fruits used in medicine
- Herbs with common name in Kannada
- Herbs with common name in Hindi
- Herbs with common name in Tamil
- Herbs with common name in Telugu
- Herbs with common name in Sanskrit
- Herbs with common name in English
- Habit - Climber
- Index of Plants which can be propagated by Seeds
- Index of Plants which can be propagated by Cuttings
- Herbs that are commonly seen in the region of Coastal thickets
- Herbs that are commonly seen in the region of Along streams
- Herbs that are commonly seen in the region of Along creeks
- Herbs that are commonly seen in the region of Lowland forest margins
- Herbs
