Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Bitter (Tikta)
- Quality (Guna)
- Light (Laghu), Dry (Ruksha)
- Potency (Virya)
- Cold (Sheeta)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Pungent (Katu)
- Key Constituents
- Cucurbitacins, Momordicine
- Also Known As
- English: Small Bitter Gourd
Sanskrit: कारवेल्लक
Hindi: कुड़
What is Bitter Gourd (Karavella / कारवेल्ल)?
Karavella (Bitter Gourd/Karela) is one of the most important medicinal vegetables. The plant is a tendril-bearing climber with deeply lobed leaves. The fruits are oblong, green, 1.5-5 inches, tapering at both ends, covered with wart-like projections. All parts are extremely bitter. It is a principal vegetable used in diabetes (Prameha). It purifies blood, kills intestinal worms, and is used in fever, skin diseases, and liver disorders. The juice is used for diabetes. It is an excellent Pitta-shamaka despite being hot in potency, due to its strong bitter taste. Regular consumption helps control blood sugar levels. It also contains Momordicin which gives its characteristic bitterness. Contains Charantin which has hypoglycemic action. Verses: 24-26. Dose: Swarasa (juice) 10-20 ml.
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 9
Therapeutic Actions (Karma)
- Deepana (appetizer)
- Krimighna (anthelmintic)
- Raktashodhaka (blood purifier)
- Pramehaghna (anti-diabetic)
- Jwarahara (antipyretic)
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 9
Bitter Melon: Ayurvedic Properties and Uses
Bitter melon is bitter and cooling with a pungent vipak. It can provoke vata, while its bitter quality can soothe pitta and kapha. It is a good food for fever, anemia, diabetes and worms. Bitter melon is an Indian vegetable available from specialty stores and Indian groceries.
- Fever: Take 2 tablespoons of fresh bitter melon juice 3 times a day to bring down the temperature.
- Anemia: Cooked bitter melon, as in Bitter Melon Bhaji, is good for cleansing the liver and can help in anemia.
- Intestinal worms and parasites: Take 1 tablespoon of bitter melon juice with a pinch of trikatu, 3 times a day, 1/2 hour before each meal. Do this for 1 week and the worms should vanish.
- Constipation and hemorrhoids: Cooked bitter melon is laxative and can be used to relieve constipation and hemorrhoids.
- Diabetes: Insulin-dependent diabetics can help regulate the insulin dose by taking 2 tablespoons of bitter melon juice with 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 15 minutes before each meal.
- Jaundice, hyperthyroidism, migraine: Put 5 drops of fresh bitter melon juice in each nostril in the morning and again in the evening.
Source: Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing, Chapter 8: Foods for Healing — Fruits
How to Use Bitter Gourd by Condition
Explore how Bitter Gourd is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (4 sources)
References in Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan
74 पटोलस तला र टशा गे टाव गुजा अम ृताः वे ा ब ृहतीवासाकु तल तलप णकाः म डूकपण कक टकारवे लकपपटाः नाडीकलायगोिज वावाताकं वन त तकम ् कर रं कु कं न द कुचैला शुकलादनी क ट लं के बुकं शीतं सकोशातकककशम ् त तं पाके कटु ा ह वातलं कफ प तिजत ् Patola, saptala, arista (neem leaves), sharngeshta (angaravalli/bharangi), Avalguja (Bakuchi), amruta (Tinospora), Vetra (shoot of vetra), Brhati (Solanum indicum), vasa (Adhatoda vasica), kutill, tilaparnika (badraka), mandukaparni (Gotu kola), Karkota, karavella
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food
कारवे लं सकटुकं द पनं कफिज परम ् Karavella (bitter gourd) is bitter in taste, kindles digestion and mitigates kapha and pitta especially.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food
References in Charaka Samhita
In this condition, the blood should let out with shringa (horn), jalauka (leech application), suchi (needle), alabu (hollow bitter gourd), pracchana (scratching) or siravyadha (venesection) depending on morbidity and strength of the patient.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 29: Gout Treatment (Vatarakta Chikitsa / वातरक्तचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 29: Gout Treatment (Vatarakta Chikitsa / वातरक्तचिकित्सा)
References in Sharangadhara Samhita
Vastuka (Chenopodium album) greens, Sarishta greens, Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa) greens, pointed gourd, garlic (Allium sativum), brinjal (Solanum melongena), and bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) are beneficial.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 32: Diet for Rheumatism (Amavata Pathyapathyam)
Old rice, Chira (flattened rice), warm food, soup of arid-land animals, pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), grapes (Vitis vinifera), ripe mango, and pomegranate (Punica granatum) are wholesome.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 33: Diet for Abdominal Colic (Shula Roga Pathyapathyam)
Garlic (Allium sativum), fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale), buttermilk, Kulaka, Shigru fruit (Moringa oleifera), Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), bitter gourd, betel leaf, cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), and milk are recommended.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 36: Diet for Abdominal Enlargement (Udara Roga Pathyapathyam)
Old Shali rice is recommended, soup of green gram and Kulthi (Macrotyloma uniflorum), Karkotaka (Momordica dioica), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), drumstick (Moringa oleifera), grapes, and pomegranate.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 62: Diet for Sheeta Pitta and Related Disorders (Sheetapitta Pathyapathyam)
Shali rice, green gram, Kulthi (Macrotyloma uniflorum), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), Upodika (Basella alba), bamboo shoots, warm water, and substances that remove Kapha and Pitta are wholesome.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 63: Diet for Udarda-Kotha Disorders (Udardakotha Pathyapathyam)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 32: Diet for Rheumatism (Amavata Pathyapathyam); Parishishtam, Chapter 33: Diet for Abdominal Colic (Shula Roga Pathyapathyam); Parishishtam, Chapter 36: Diet for Abdominal Enlargement (Udara Roga Pathyapathyam); Parishishtam, Chapter 62: Diet for Sheeta Pitta and Related Disorders (Sheetapitta Pathyapathyam); Parishishtam, Chapter 63: Diet for Udarda-Kotha Disorders (Udardakotha Pathyapathyam)
References in Sushruta Samhita
The drugs for purification in both directions (emesis and purgation) are: koshataka, saptala, shankhini, devadali, and karavellika (bitter gourd).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 39: Shodhanasanshmaniya Adhyaya - On Purification and Pacification
Among expressed juices, karavellika (bitter gourd) is best.
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 44: Virechana-dravya-vikalpa-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On Purgative Drug Preparations
The drugs for purification in both directions (emesis and purgation) are: koshataka, saptala, shankhini, devadali, and karavellika (bitter gourd).
— Sushruta Samhita, Shodhanasanshmaniya Adhyaya - On Purification and Pacification
Among expressed juices, karavellika (bitter gourd) is best.
— Sushruta Samhita, Virechana-dravya-vikalpa-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On Purgative Drug Preparations
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 39: Shodhanasanshmaniya Adhyaya - On Purification and Pacification; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 44: Virechana-dravya-vikalpa-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On Purgative Drug Preparations; Shodhanasanshmaniya Adhyaya - On Purification and Pacification; Virechana-dravya-vikalpa-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On Purgative Drug Preparations
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.