Does Bitter Gourd have medicinal properties?
Yep! The scientific name is Momordica charantia and it has a multitude of effects on glucose uptake (both intestinal absorption and muscle cell uptake), etc. Overall, it will decrease blood glucose levels and increase insulin sensitivity. It’s a pretty potent herb, so use it with caution. There’s no known toxicity associated with bitter melon, but it can absolutely cause hypoglycemia. ***If you’re already taking meds for DM, be aware that this herb will definitely potentiate the meds (increase their effects.)*** Dosage is 10 – 60 ml of expressed juice (raw vegetable) daily. And it shouldn’t be used for more than 4-6 weeks at a time without evaluation/guidance.
