Overview
Karavella is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for heartburn & acid reflux. 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 Heartburn & Acid Reflux
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Karavella has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing heartburn & acid reflux:
- Potency (Virya): Hot
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Pungent
- Taste (Rasa): Bitter, pungent
- Qualities (Guna): Dry, light
Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Bitter, pungent
- Quality (Guna)
- Dry, light
- Potency (Virya)
- Hot
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Pungent
- Dosha Effect
- Dos.aHIIHFW9.3ï
- Key Constituents
- Terpenoids Triterpene glycosides, momordicosides Sterols Charantin, campesterol, VWLJPDVWHUROշVLWRVWHURO Bitter principle (Murray 1992, Williamson 2002)
- Dhatu
- Plasma, blood, muscle, fat
- Srotas
- Digestive, water, excretory
▶ 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
Safety & Precautions
Contraindications: Pregnancy, as it has a bitter and; descending effect
Safety: Caution in patients on hypoglycaemic medication.
Other Herbs for Heartburn & Acid Reflux
See all herbs for heartburn & acid reflux on the Heartburn & Acid Reflux page.
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.