One fruit, two medicines
Bitter melon is an ulcer remedy with olive oil in Anatolia and, as sorosi, a malaria tea in the Amazon.
Side by side
| Bitter melon | |
|---|---|
| Latin name | Momordica charantia |
| Family | Cucurbitaceae |
| Region | Anatolia and the Mediterranean, Amazon |
| Part used | Fruit |
| Use | Healing, Food |
| Scientific evidence | Limited |
| Safety | Caution |
| Legal status in Türkiye | No specific restriction |
Bitter melon
Anatolia
The ripe fruit is steeped in olive oil, and the oil is drunk or applied for stomach ulcers and wounds.
Amazon
In the Peruvian Amazon, sorosi leaves are brewed for fever, malaria and blood sugar.
Science: Some small studies show it lowers blood sugar; systematic reviews find the evidence insufficient and inconsistent.
Safety: With diabetes medicines it can lower blood sugar dangerously. Not for use in pregnancy. The red seed coating has poisoned children.
Last reviewed: · Türkçe
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