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Bitter Melon
Description: Chinese Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) is a green cucumber-shaped vegetable. It has traditionally been used for preventative medicine, for its believed high Iron content.
Bitter Melon contains two proteins which are known to inhibit AIDS virus.1 Its effectiveness in humans has not been confirmed, however.
Preliminary studies suggest that bitter melon – eaten whole,2 as a juice,3 or in extract form4 – may improve blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetics.

Natural Sources: Bitter Melon may be found in Oriental grocery stores.

Useful in treatment of: diabetes, HIV Support.

Recommended Dosage: No established dosages, but bitter melon tinctures are often used at a dose of 5 ml generally taken two to three times per day.5

Contraindications: hypoglycemia; with high doses, abdominal pain and diarrhea can occur. People taking oral hypoglycemics should consult their physician.

References:

1Zhang QC. Preliminary report on the use of Momordica charantia extract by HIV patients. J Naturopath Med 1992;3:65–9.
2Leatherdale BA, Panesar RK, Singh G, et al. Improvement of glucose tolerance due to Momordica charantia (karela). BMJ 1981;282:1823–24.
3Welihinda J, Karunanaya E, Sheriff MHB, Jayasinghe K. Effect of Momardica charantia on the glucose tolerance in maturity onset diabetes. J Ethnopharm 1986;17:277–82.
4Srivastava Y, Venkatakrishna-bhatt H, Verma Y, et al. Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties of Momordica charantia extract: An experimental and clinical evaluation. Phytother Res 1993;7:285–89.
5Duke JA. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press., 1985, 315-6.
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