Isang tropical at subtropical vine ng family Cucurbitaceae ang Ampalaya o Bitter Melon. Itinatanim ito sa Southeast Asia tulad ng Philippines dahil kanyang sustansyang nabibigay. Ang Ampalaya, o bitter gourd, ay mayroong mapait na lasa (bitter) dahil sa momordicin.
Ampalaya (Bitter Melon) has been a folkloric cure for generations but is said to be proven to be an effective herbal medicine for many aliments.
The Philippine Department of Health has endorsed Ampalaya Bitter Melon (Momordica Charantia) as an alternative herbal medicine for liver problems. Research about Ampalaya has shown that Ampalaya increases the production of beta cells by the pancreas, thereby improving the body’s ability to produce insulin that controls the blood sugar for diabetics.
Health benefits of juice extract from ampalaya fruit.
- Used to treat diabetes. Clinical studies for Ampalaya Bitter Melon demonstrated hypoglycemic properties (blood sugar lowering) or other actions of potential benefit against diabetes mellitus.
- Used to treat stomach problems such as colitis, dysentery and intestinal parasites
- Used to treat spleen and liver problems (sakit sa atay)
- 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 (almuranas) and piles
- Sap or juice of leaves used to treat skin problems such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, leprosy and scabies (kurikong o surot)
- 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 (pampagana)
- Poultice of leaves used to treat headache (sakit sa ulo)
- Infusion of leaves used as mouthwash to treat tooth ache (sakit ng ngipin) and other mouth problems
- Ampalaya are applied to hemorrhoids as astringent.
- 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. Eating or drinking the juice from the melon can help prevent certain types of cancer. It is also known to decrease and kill leukemic cancer cells, according to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. It can stop cancer cells from spreading and this can increase chances of a full recover. But the diet must be consistent for this to be in an effective way to treat this disease otherwise it will not work.
- HIV/AIDS - 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.
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
- Infusion from bitter melon flower is used to treat asthma (hika)
Juice extract from bitter melon fruit or leaves are taken spoonful for adults and teaspoonful for children. 3 times a day until symptoms improve.
Ampalaya ay isang magandang source ng nutrients, twice the calcium of spinach, twice the potassium of banana, twice the beta-carotene of broccoli, manganese, zinc, folic acid, alkaloids, peptides, steroidal saponins, fiber, phosphorus and vitamins C, B1, B2, B3 than most vegetables and fruits.
