| BOTANICAL NAME |
Momordica charantia |
| FAMILY |
Cucurbitaceae |
| SANSKRIT |
Kathillam, Susavi |
| ENGLISH |
Bitter guard |
| HINDI |
Karela |
| KANNADA |
- |
| MALAYALAM |
Pavakka |
| TELUGU |
Kakara kaya |
| TAMIL |
Paavaikkai |
| MARATHI |
- |
DISTRIBUTION
Whole of India.
| PARTS USED |
Panchanga, fruit rind |
| DOSE |
Fresh juice: 10-20ml |
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Charantin, polypeptide- P etc
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
| QUALITY (GUNA) |
Laghu, Ruksha |
| TASTE (RASA) |
Katu, Tikta |
| METABOLISM (VIPAKA) |
Katu |
| POTENCY (VIRYA) |
Sita |
| IMPACT (PRABHAVA) |
Bhedana, Deepana |
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION
Laxative: helps in detoxifying the body and intestinal disorders .
Blood purifier: katu tikta property helps in purifying the blood and thus helps in skin disorders.
Antifungal, Antibacterial: cures inflammation and infections in the body thus helping in building up the immunity.
Anthelmenthic: helps in overcoming intestinal worms especially in children. It lowers blood sugar level in the body.
THERAPEUTIC USES
Diabetes: fruit juice is given since it has hypoglycemic action.
malaria: decoction of the leaf is given.
SOME OF THE COMMON FORMULATIONS
Panchatiktaka Kashaya