Herb × Condition

Karavella for Anemia

Sanskrit: Kāravella | Momordica charantia

How Karavella helps with Anemia according to Ayurveda. Classical references, dosage, preparation methods, and what modern research says.

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Overview

Karavella is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for anemia. Karavella is a common vegetable also used to regulate blood sugar levels and treat urinary disorders. It is a very bitter remedy that has a wonderful healing effect on the blood.

How Karavella Helps with Anemia

According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Karavella has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing anemia:

  • Potency (Virya): Hot
  • Post-digestive (Vipaka): Pungent
  • Taste (Rasa): Bitter, pungent
  • Qualities (Guna): Dry, light

Safety & Precautions

Contraindications: Pregnancy, as it has a bitter and; descending effect

Safety: Caution in patients on hypoglycaemic medication.

Other Herbs for Anemia

See all herbs for anemia on the Anemia page.

Classical Text References (1 sources)

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

Diet after surgery – भोजनं च यथासा यं यवगोधूमषि टकाः मसरू मु गतव ु र जीव तीसु नष णकाः बालमूलकवताकत डुल यकावा तुकम ् कारवे लककक टपटोलकटुकाफलम ् सै धवं दा डमं धा ी घ ृतं त त हमं जलम ् जीणशा योदनं ि न धम पमु णोदको तरम ् भु जानो जा गलैमासैः शी ं णमपोह त The food of the patient should be that which is accustomed such as barley, wheat, rice of sixty day ripening (shashtika shali), Masura – lentil, Mudga (green-gram), Tuvari – (tur dal), Jivanti, Sunisannaka, tender Mulaka (Radish), Vartaka, Tan

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Shastrakarma Vidhi

Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food; Shastrakarma Vidhi

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.