Ampalaya / Bitter Melon Herbal Medicine

Momordica Charantia, Uses, Health Benefits, Side Effects

Ampalaya Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) also known as Bitter Melon is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in the Amazon, Carribean, South east Asia such as Philippines for its edible fruit. Ampalaya or bitter melon also known as bitter gourd as the name implies has a bitter taste due to the presence of momordicin, and is believed to be among the most bitter of all vegetables.

Scientific Name: Momordica Charantia

Common Names:

Ampalaya, Bitter melon, papailla, melao de sao caetano, bittergourd, sorosi, a'jayib al maasi, assorossie, balsam apple, balsam pear, chin li chih, ejinrin gule khandan, fu-kua, karela, k'u kua kurela, kor-kuey, ku gua, lai p'u t'ao, pava-aki, salsamino, sorci, sorossi, sorossie, sorossies, pare, peria laut, peria

Ampalaya Bitter Melon is a climbing vine that grows up to 5m, with tendrils up to 20cm. long. Amplaya leaves are heart-shaped, 5-10 cm across, cut into 5-7 lobes. Each Ampalaya Bitter Melon plant bears separate yellow male and female flowers. Ampalaya bears fleshy green fruit, oblong shaped with pointed ends, ribbed and wrinkled, bursting when mature to release seeds. Ampalaya seeds are flat with ruminated margins.

Ampalaya / Charantia Momordica Health Benefits as in Traditional Medicine

Health benefits of juice extract from ampalaya fruit.

Used to treat diabetes
Used to treat stomach problems such as colitis, dysentery and intestinal parasites
Used to treat spleen and liver problems
Used to treat mild cough, heal wounds, and to treat rheumatism and gout.

Health benefits from ampalaya leaves

Powered leaves used as astringent to treat haemorrhoids and piles
Sap or juice of leaves used to treat skin problems such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, leprosy and scabies
Pounded leaves used to treat for burns and scald
Infusion of leaves used to treat fever
Infusion used to treat various stomach problems and to improve appetite
Poultice of leaves used to treat headache
Infusion of leaves used as mouthwash to treat tooth ache and other mouth problems

Health benefits from ampalaya seeds, roots and flowers

Decoction of seeds and roots used to treat urethral discharge
Roots are used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac preparations
Decoction of roots used to abort pregnancy
Infusion from bitter melon flower is used to treat asthma

Ampalaya: How is it taken?

Green fruit of ampalaya and young leaves are cooked, taken as food and is included in diet during treatment.

Juice extract from bitter melon fruit or leaves are taken spoonful for adults and teaspoonful for children. 3 times a day until symptoms improve.

Decoction prepared by boiling 50 grams of chopped fruits, seeds, leaves and/or roots of ampalaya to a liter of water, taken as ampalaya tea three times a day until symptoms improve.

Science Based Health Benefits from Ampalaya Herbal Medicine

Ampalaya for Diabetes

Clinical Studies for Ampalaya Bitter Melon demonstrated hypoglycemic properties (blood sugar lowering) or other actions of potential benefit against diabetes mellitus. The hypoglycemic chemicals found in Ampalaya Bitter Melon 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. 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. In one study, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in diabetic rats were returned to normal after 10 weeks of treatment.

Ampalaya for Hemorrhoid

Powdered leaves and root decoction of Ampalaya are applied to hemorrhoids as astringent.

Ampalaya for Stomach Problems

Ampalaya leaf juice is used to expel intestinal parasites, treat dysentery, diarrhea, and chronic colitis. Grounded seeds may also be used. Taken in a spoonfull 3x a day until ailment subsides.

Ampalaya for Cough

Ampalaya leaf juice is used for mild coughs for children. Administered in a teaspoon 3x a day.

Ampalaya for Burns, Scalds and Wounds

Pounded Ampalaya seeds or leaf are used to treat burns, scalds and wounds.

Ampalaya as Anti-Cancer

Two compounds extracted from ampalaya bitter melon, α-eleostearic acid (from ampalaya seeds) and dihydroxy-α-eleostearic acid (from the ampalayafruit) have been found to induce apoptosis of leukemia cells in vitro. Diets containing 0.01% ampalaya bitter melon oil (0.006% as α-eleostearic acid) were found to prevent azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats.

Other acclaimed uses are for the treatment of HIV, treatment of fever and headaches, treatment of rheumatism and gout, disease of the spleen and liver.

Ampalaya Herbal Medicine Preparations, Usage and Side Effects

Ampalaya Herbal Preparation and Usage

Ampalaya are cooked mixed with meat. To lessen the bitterness of the ampalay, sliced ampalaya are washed or even boiled in water with salt.

Powdered Ampalaya or Bitter Melon,. Powdered leaves and root decoction of Ampalaya are applied to hemorrhoids as astringent. Wash the bitter melon leaves with fresh water. Pound to powder. You can use carrier oils to mix with the powder for application.

Ampalaya or Bitter Melon Juice. Ampalaya Bitter melon leaves and fruit (without the seeds) are pounded and juiced to extract concentrated juice. Ampalaya bitter melon juice is then added to other plesant tasting juice for drinking

Where can I get Ampalaya?

Amplaya or Bitter Melon for Cooking. Ampalaya fruits and leaves are usually available in Asian or Chinese markets. They can be bought fresh by the kilo, per piece or by bundles.

Ampalaya or Bitter Melon Capsules, Bitter melon, as its name implies, is quite bitter, which is why many often prefer to take capsules and tablets.Ready-made bitter melon extracts are available in capsules and tablets in many Asian markets, herb shops, and in the supplement department of health food stores.

The internet is full of online stores that sells ampalaya extracts, tablets or capsules, When you do, look for standardized extracts (to 10% charantin for instance) or concentrated whole fruit extracts (4:1 or 5:1) to help insure sufficient activity. If you are in US, Canada or UK, where Asian or Chinese health shops may not be available. Amazon.com provides an alternative. Look for products that have favorable customers reviews such as Bitter Melon GOLD. We are not affiliated with this brand and give this only as a sample reference. There are numerous to pick from, but be sure to review the manufacturer and the comments to ensure quality and safety.