Karela – Goodness hidden in bitterness, A valuable herb gifted to us by Mother Nature !!!

Bitter melon (Karela) is a valuable herb gifted to us by Mother Nature. It is one of the healthiest vegetables known to man. Apart from being eaten mainly as vegetable, it is particularly reputed as a folk medicine due to its therapeutic properties. Although the bitter taste can turn you away, but it can really improve your health. The Indians and Chinese have used the karela for centuries as a vegetable and also as a medicine. Its medicinal uses find place especially in the authentic Ayurvedic system of traditional Indian medicine.

 

Karela is used in Ayurveda for as digestive, carminative, antihelminthic, anti-inflammatory and as blood purifier. It is known for controlling obesity, lipids and blood sugar. Through recent researches it is proved that Bitter melon helps in controlling Diabetes, Psoriasis. The blood lowering action of the fresh juice of the unripe bitter melon has been confirmed in scientific studies in animals and humans. Charantin is more powerful than the drug tolbutamide, which is sometimes used in the treatment of diabetes to lower the blood sugar levels. The ripe fruit of bitter melon has been shown to exhibit some remarkable anticancer effects, especially leukemia. Karela has excellent properties of blood purification, detoxification, improving immunity and thus protects heart, brain, liver, kidney and other vital organs of body. Apart from having a host of medicinal properties the karela fruit is also rich in nutrients. Nutritionists opine that it is rich in iron.

English Name : BITTER MELON, BITTER GOURD, BALSAM PEAR, BALSAM APPLE, MELEGA SAGA, KARELA . In some English texts the plant or the fruit may be called by its local names, which include kǔguā (苦瓜 “bitter gourd”, in Chinese), pare or pare ayam (in Javanese and Indonesian), Pavayka or Kayppayka in Malayalam, goya (ゴーヤー) or nigauri (in Japanese, the former from an Okinawan language), paakharkaai ( in Tamil), karela/karella (in other languages of India and Nepal), ampalayá (in Tagalog), muop dang (mướp đắng) or kho qua (khổ qua, in Vietnamese), caraille/carilley (in Trinidad and Tobago), and cerasee/cerasse (in the Caribbean and South America).

 

The karela fruit has been known to have a curative effect on anemia, hypertension constipation and viral infection. It also acts as a purgative, aphrodisiac, appetite stimulant and as immune system booster. The fruit is especially good for promoting good liver functioning. It also contains anti tumor agents and helps inhibit HIV-1 infection. The fruit has also been known to produce a beneficial effect in case of scabies, infections, halitosis, cough and common cold.

Researches conducted over a period of time confirm the anti diabetic property of the karela. This has been proven to be even more effective than the conventional drugs prescribed for lowering blood sugar. This accounts for its increased usage as a food supplement in the form of tea and capsules for lowering elevated blood sugar levels.

 

Benefits of Karela / Bitter Melon/ bitter gourd

Karela / Bitter Melon/ bitter gourd is extremely beneficial in treating Diabetes mellitus.

Karela / Bitter Melon/ bitter gourd helps in lowering blood sugar levels and also helps in suppressing sugar out flow in urine.

Karela / Bitter Melon/ bitter gourd help to attain supportive sugar regulating outcome by suppressing the neural retort to sweet taste stimuli.

Karela has exposed significant antilipolytic and lipogenic movement.

Bitter gourd is an outstanding blood purifier and helps in maintaining good and clear skin

Bitter Melon treats worm infestations and also helps in evading parasitic attack

Bitter gourd excite pancreas, spleen and liver and helps in admirable absorption of food in the GI tract

Karela is helpful as an emetic, purgative, as an anthelmentic, in piles, and jaundice
Karela or bitter gourd is extensively grown plant in Indian subcontinent. It is a climber and it generally twins around the various adjoining support. The plant part used is fruit for the medical purpose. Bitter gourd is also commercially cultivated in India sub continent.

In the age old medicinal science, Ayurveda, the fruit of bitter melon is considered as emetic, purgative, anti-bilous, tonic, stomachic, stimulant and alternative. It has been established to be tremendously brilliant in treating Diabetes mellitus.

The fruit of karela is extremely supportive in conditions like gout, rheumatoid arthritis and sub-acute cases of the spleen and liver related diseases. It is thought to clean the blood and also dispel melancholia and gross humors. It has as well been exposed to have hypoglycemic actions i.e. helps in regulating glucose in the body whiach has been proved in studies carried out in animals and humans.

Place of Karela/ bitter gourd in Ayurveda:

As per the age old science Ayurveda, bitter melon helps in subduing the effect of pitta as well as kapha humor or dosha. Owing to its actions it helps to calm the body and also cooling and thereby is helpful in treating the skin related disorders. Due to its properties it is also helpful in healing of wounds early. As it has a katu or pungent and tickta or bitter, it is extremely beneficial in promoting digestion and normalizing the bowel movement. Due to its tickta rasa it is also helpful in evading parasitic infiltration in the body. It as well helps in limiting infection in the body and in regularizing the urinary tract. It has astonishing properties in maintaining the blood sugar levels to the normal limits.

Diabetes: The bitter gourd is particularly used as a remedy for diabetes because of its hypoglycemic action. It contains insulin-like peptides, alkaloids and charantin, all of which act together to lower blood and urine sugar levels without increasing blood insulin levels. These compounds activate a protein called AMPK, which is well known for regulating fuel metabolism and enabling glucose uptake, processes which are impaired in diabetics. You can take the juice of 4-5 bitter gourds every morning on an empty stomach, add seeds in powdered form to food or prepare a decoction by boiling the pieces of this fruit in water. If you are taking  medications to lower your blood sugar, adding bitter gourd might make your blood sugar drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar carefully.

Blood Purification: It has blood-purifying properties. As a result, the juice is used in the treatment of blood disorders like blood boils and itching due to blood poisoning. Have it little by little on an empty stomach daily, in 4-6 months you will see enhancement in your state.

Piles: Fresh juice of bitter gourd is good for patients suffering from piles. Take a mixture of bitter melon juice and buttermilk every morning for about a month and you will see an improvement. A paste of the roots of bitter gourd plant can also be applied over piles to get a favorable result.

Good for stomach: It contains cellulose which is a very good source of fiber thus preventing constipation. It also good digestive agent and helps in stimulating the secretion of gastric juices. This can be very helpful for people with dyspepsia. However, sometimes it may worsen heartburn and ulcers.

Aids weight loss: It stimulates liver for secretion of bile juices that are very essential for metabolism of fats. Thus, if you want to have a perfect, slim figure, then bitter gourd can help you.

Eye care: It has high amount of beta-carotene that helps alleviate eye problems and improving eyesight.

Immune booster: A glass of bitter gourd juice in the morning can help to strengthen your immune system and increase your body’s fighting power against infection. Researchers hypothesize that bitter melon is as an immunomodulator. One clinical trial found limited evidence that bitter melon might improve immune cell function in people with cancer.

Skin care: Bitter gourd is also effective in treating skin diseases or skin infections, eczema and psoriasis. It also helps in keeping the skin free from blemishes and keeps the skin glowing. The blood purifying properties make sure that you don’t get acne.

HIV: Laboratory tests suggest that compounds in bitter melon might be effective for treating HIV infection. In one preliminary clinical trial, an enema form of a bitter melon extract showed some benefits in people infected with HIV. However, more research is necessary before this could be recommended.

Blood Disorders

Bitter Melon is highly beneficial in reducing blood related disorders like blood boils, scabies, itching, psoriasis, ring-worm and other fungal diseases. A cupful of fresh juice of bitter gourd mixed with a teaspoonful of lime juice should be taken, sip by sip, on empty stomach daily for four to six months in these conditions. Its regular use in endemic regions of leprosy acts as a preventive medicine. 2 Capsules Twice a day can be taken.

Respiratory Disorders

Bitter Melon plant roots are used in folk medicine for respiratory disorders from ancient times. A teaspoonful of the root paste mixed with equal amount of honey or Tulsi leaf juice, given once every night for a month acts as an excellent medicine for asthma, bronchitis, Pharyngitis, colds and Rhinitis. Alcoholism

Leaf juice has been known since ancient times for fighting the problem of alcoholism. It is an antidote for alcohol intoxication. It is also useful in liver damage due to alcoholism. It is an antidote for alcohol intoxication, and helps purify, restore and nourish liver. Its juice is also beneficial in the treatment of a bad hangover.

Cholera

Fresh juice of leaves of Bitter Melon is also a helpful medicine in early stages of cholera and other types of diarrhoea during summer. Two teaspoonfuls of this juice mixed with equal quantity of white onion juice and a teaspoonful of lime juice should be given in these conditions.

Today, in the United States, this vegetable, and its leaves and vines, are being used as an alternative therapy in the form of an antiviral to combat some of the symptoms of HIV and to allegedly stop the replication of the virus. Many HIV+ individuals have reported success with their lab tests and heightened general well being as a result of using this alternative home remedy.

In fact, its extracts are already sold as pills as well and it is being marketed as a blood sugar level reducing medicine. But rather than going for an indirect method of intake why not try to eat some amount of Karela in the form of vegetable/soup/curry in your diets, to get all the benefits.

Although there are several health benefits of including bitter gourd in your diet, it is not recommended to take it in excess amounts as it can lead to abdominal pain and diarrhea. Also, pregnant women are also advised against having bitter gourd.

 

Aloe Vera – Keep yourself healthy and glowing by this magical immortality herb !!!

Our gardens are full of medicine and healing, we just have to know where to look. Aloe Vera is a great example of garden plant that is full of medicinal properties. It is easy to grow as it needs little water or maintenance.
Aloe Vera (Sanskrit name – Kumari,Griha kanya, Ghrita kumarika)has been well known for centuries for its healing properties, and both oral intake and topical dressings have been documented to facilitate healing of any kind of skin wound, burn, or scald – even speeding recovery time after surgery. Situations to try it on include blisters, insect bites, rashes, sores, herpes, urticaria, athlete’s foot, fungus, vaginal infections, conjunctivitis, sties, allergic reactions, and dry skin. The Egyptians referred to aloe as the “plant of immortality” and included it among the funerary gifts buried with the pharaohs. The healing benefits of aloe were recognized in the ancient Indian, Chinese, Greek, and Roman civilizations.
If you have a rash, scar, wound, burn, psoriasis or stretch marks you can break a piece straight off the plant and rub it onto your skin. It works really well for mouth ulcers too. No need for creams and lotions, just go straight to the source and get the pure ingredient. Mother Nature the original pharmacist has all the best ingredients!

Gheekuaara (Hindi), Ghrta kumari (Bengali), korpad (Marathi), Aloe (English), is a medicinal plant which belongs to the family of Cactus. There are several varieties of this plant but only one particular variety is used for medicinal purposes. The medicinal reputation of Aloe Vera dates back to many thousand years. The Latin word Vera meaning true was added to this particular species of Aloe plant to distinguish it from the rest of the aloe plants. Only this particular species has the therapeutic properties. The medicinal properties of the Aloe Vera plant have been re-discovered recently. But it is one of the age old natural remedies used by our ancestors. Aloe Vera is a truly magical herb.

Scientists have found that the Aloe Vera ( botanical name – Aloe Vera Barbadensis) gel is a mixture of antibiotic, astringent, coagulating agent, pain inhibitor, cell growth stimulator and scar inhibitor.
Aloe is also used Ayurveda as a women’s tonic. Aloe Vera helps the flow of blood in the body. This make it a great herb for the female reproductive system as it specifically helps to regulate the uterus. Its cooling properties also make it helpful for women who are suffering from the hot and dry symptoms of menopause.
Aloe Vera gel has enzyme in it which stimulate the growth and formation of new cells. This Ayurvedic remedy for aged skin treats sun-damaged skin when spread on the skin. After using aloe vera for a week, skin begins glowing.

The Aloe Vera gel has the capability to penetrate the outer layer of the skin and it removes the dead cells caused by the infection. The enzymes present in the gel, help in the formation of new cells around the infection and thus heals the part.
Internally, aloe is showing real promise in the fight against AIDS, and the virus has become undetectable in some patients who used it on a regular basis, due to its immune system stimulant properties. It also seems to help prevent opportunistic infections in cases of HIV and AIDS. It appears to be of help in cancer patients (including lung cancer) by activating the white blood cells and promoting growth of non-cancerous cells.

Taken orally, aloe also appears to work on heartburn, arthritis and rheumatism pain and asthma, and studies have shown that it has an effect on lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics. Other situations in which it appears to work when taken internally include congestion, intestinal worms, indigestion, stomach ulcers, colitis, hemorrhoids, liver problems such as cirrhosis and hepatitis, kidney infections, urinary tract infections, prostate problems, and as a general detoxifier.

Aloe vera used to heal skin wounds.
Aloe vera plant is used to heal burn.
Helps in speeding recovery time after surgery.
Aloe vera gel is used on blisters.
Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing insect bites.
Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing rashes.
Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing sores.
Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing herpes.
Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing urticaria.
Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing fungus.
Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing vaginal infections.
Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing conjunctivitis.
Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing allergic reactions.
Aloe gels are applied on dry skins to give them glowing effect.
Helps in reducing acne.
Helps to reduce sunburn.
Aloe vera helps to fight frostbite.
Aloe vera uses includes fighting from shingles.
It helps in screening out x-ray radiation.
Aloe vera used to reduce psoriasis.
Aloe vera used to reduce rosacea.
Aloe vera used to reduce warts.
Wrinkles from aging are reduced by applying Aloe vera.
Aloe vera used to reduce eczema.
Various other health benefits and medicinal uses of aloe vera :
By using gels and sprays containing aloe vera, arthritis patients have experienced lots of relief from joint and muscle pain because they provide faster relief.
Aloe vera extracts are noted to decrease the levels of blood fat lipid, triglycerides and cholesterol. By breaking fat globules down, aloe vera extracts reduce obesity.
Another amazing property that aloe vera juice has is that it contains white crystalline oxidation agents that simulate cell regeneration and has curing properties; hence, aloe vera juice is useful in treating bronchial congestion.

The plant aloe vera has proven to be extremely useful in treating the liver, colon, uterus, as well as ulcers and hemorrhoids. This plant not only offers a healing effect to people suffering from liver, colon, and uterus conditions, but also works on bringing improved function to these organs.

One of the many health benefits of aloe vera gel is in preventing hair loss. Aloe vera gel applied to the entire scalp and hair works as an effective natural treatment for hair loss. Aloe vera contains enzymes which stimulate new hair production. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that are helpful in fighting against Androgenetic Alopecia.
Many people have observed a strong connection between using aloe vera and immune system strengthening, which happens possibly because Aloe Vera contains numerous ingredients such as vitamins, enzymes and minerals, all of which aid in immune strengthening. Also, a newly discovered compound in aloe, called acemannan, is currently being studied for its ability to strengthen the immune system. Studies have shown acemannan to boost T-lymphocyte cells that aid natural resistance.

Another of the medicinal uses of aloe vera is that aloe vera gel works as a mild anesthetic and is useful for reducing pain, swelling and itching. It also improves blood circulation to areas of injury.

Aloe vera extracts are used to lower blood sugar levels. Lastly, many people who take aloe internally report just feeling better overall, which is in and of itself something of a testament to its remarkable properties.

How to use Aloe vera plant:
Preparation Methods & Dosage :Use fresh pressed juice or buy only the pure gel and use topically as needed. The freshest aloe is of course, from your own plant. Leaves up to one foot long may be removed from the plant without causing damage. The best time of day for cutting aloe leaves is mid afternoon, when the plant has moved a maximum amount of sap into the leaves.

Aloe is safe when used in moderation, but there are a few contraindications. If you have a heart problem and use any kind of digitalis medication, consult your doctor before using any aloe product internally, as the interaction may cause irregular heartbeat. Avoid aloe preparations if you are pregnant, breast feeding, or menstruating, as it can cause uterine contractions.

Therefore, as can be seen from the above, based on many reports and documentation, the health benefits of aloe vera in its various forms, such as gel, juice, sap, extracts, pills, and tablets, provide multiple natural remedies and work effectively towards improving the general and overall health of those who use this great plant.