The gourd-like fruit has a long history in Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine both a healthy food and medicine and its use as a treatment for diabetes is supported by scientific studies here in the west. Bitter melon improves the body's ability to use blood sugar and improves glucose tolerances. James Duke writes "One of the phytochemicals, charantin is said to be more potent than tolbutamide, and has fewer side effects.” and recommends eating one small melon a day 1 Several clinical trials have shown that bitter melon extract and juice lower blood sugar in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. There is good scientific evidence (Level B2) that bitter melon is effective at reducing blood glucose levels in diabetics.
The easiest place to find bitter melon is an Asian food market. Bitter melon is often used in stir fry dishes and combines well with ginger, lime, cilantro and garlic.
Bitter melon can be taken in whole fruit form or as a momordica extract, tincture, or juice. The latter forms are most likely to be available from practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
Bitter melon is light, easy to digest and calms kapha and pitta doshas. It is a good food for diabetes, is a mild laxative and liver tonic.
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