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Bitter Melon

In the Amazon, local people and indigenous tribes grow bitter melon in their gardens for food and medicine. They add the fruit and/or leaves to beans and soup for a bitter or sour flavor; parboiling it first with a dash of salt may remove some of the bitter taste. Medicinally, the plant has a long history of use by the indigenous peoples of the Amazon. A leaf tea is employed for diabetes; as a carminative for colic; topically for sores, wounds, and infections; internally and externally for worms and parasites; as an emmenagogue; and as an antiviral for measles, hepatitis, and feverish conditions.
In Brazilian herbal medicine, bitter melon is used for tumors, wounds, rheumatism, malaria, leucorrhea, inflammation, menstrual problems, diabetes, colic, fevers, worms, to induce abortions, and as an aphrodisiac. It is also employed topically for skin problems, vaginitis, hemorrhoids, scabies, itchy rashes, eczema, and leprosy.
In Mexico the entire plant is used for diabetes and dysentery; the root is a reputed aphrodisiac.
In Peruvian herbal medicine, the leaf or aerial parts of the plant are used to treat measles, malaria, and all types of inflammation. In Nicaragua the leaf commonly is used for stomach pain, diabetes, fevers, colds, coughs, headaches, malaria, skin complaints, menstrual disorders, aches and pains, hypertension, infections, and as an aid in childbirth.

Bitter melon contains an array of novel and biologically active phytochemicals including triterpenes, proteins and steroids. In numerous studies, at least three different groups of constituents found in all parts of bitter melon have clinically demonstrated hypoglycemic properties (blood sugar lowering) or other actions of potential benefit against diabetes mellitus. These hypoglycemic chemicals include a mixture of steroidal saponins known as charantins, insulin-like peptides, and alkaloids. The hypoglycemic effect is more pronounced in the fruit of bitter melon where these chemicals are in greater abundance. To date, close to 100 in vivo studies have demonstrated the blood glucose-lowering effect of this bitter fruit. The fruit has also shown the ability to enhance cells’ uptake of glucose, to promote insulin release, and potentiate the effect of insulin. In other in vivo studies, bitter melon fruit and/or seed has been shown to reduce total cholesterol and triglycerides in both the presence and absence of dietary cholesterol.
Over the years scientists have verified many of the traditional uses of this bitter plant that continues to be an important natural remedy in the natural health practitioner’s medicine chest. Bitter melon capsules and tinctures are becoming more widely available in the U.S. and are employed by natural health practitioners for diabetes, viruses, colds and flu, and psoriasis. Concentrated fruit or seed extracts can be found in capsules and tablets, as well as whole herb/vine powders and extracts in capsules and tinctures.