Bottle Gourd

Alabu (Bottle Gourd/Lauki) is one of the most commonly used vegetables in India. The plant is a vigorous climbing vine. The fruits are large, bottle-shaped or cylindrical, light green. It is heavy, nourishing, cooling and diuretic. It is sweet in taste and easy to cook. Commonly used in curries, soups and sweets. It is particularly good for people with Pitta constitution. It increases body strength and is a good source of hydration. The young tender fruits are preferred over mature ones. Verse: 33.

• Sheetala (cooling)
• Brimhana (nourishing)
• Mutrala (diuretic)
• Balya (strengthening)

Key linctus formula: one anjali (192g) bottle gourd seeds boiled in Bilva root decoction, strained, combined with 3 parts decoction, 1 part phanita (half-boiled sugarcane juice), 1 part ghee, 0.

— Charaka Samhita, Kalpa Sthana — Pharmaceutical Preparations, Chapter 3: Pharmaceutical Preparations of Ikshvaku (Ikshvaku Kalpa Adhyaya / इक्ष्वाकुकल्प अध्याय)

This chapter describes 45 pharmaceutical preparations of Ikshvaku (bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria) for emetic therapy.

— Charaka Samhita, Pharmaceutical Preparations of Ikshvaku (Ikshvaku Kalpa Adhyaya / इक्ष्वाकुकल्प अध्याय)

A paste made from Langali (Gloriosa superba), Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum), Alabu (Lagenaria siceraria, bottle gourd), Jalini (a type of aquatic plant) root, and Bijaka (Pterocarpus marsupium), ground with rice-wash water (Dhanyambu), destroys insect-bite blisters (Kita Visphota).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

Various gourds: alabu (bottle gourd) — sweet, cool, light, diuretic.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 46: Annapana-vidhi Adhyaya - On Food and Drink

Various gourds: alabu (bottle gourd) — sweet, cool, light, diuretic.

— Sushruta Samhita, Annapana-vidhi Adhyaya - On Food and Drink