“Bitter gourd”, “Indian cucumber” or “pomegranate”, “rabbit melon” - all these are the names of the same plant, officially referred to as momordica. The benefit and harm of this creeper began to worry our fellow citizens with the appearance on the shelves of a strange plant seeds. Many began to grow it in garden plots for decorative purposes. What kind of plant is this, we will deal with you.
What kind of tribe
No wonder it is called "bitter gourd" - the plant belongs to the Pumpkin family. It is an evergreen liana that grows in Africa, Australia, India and other warm countries. Today it is grown in America and the Crimea, even in the northern regions, gardeners manage to grow a heat-loving vine on a windowsill or balcony, and for the summer period they plant it in open ground. So, what is momordica, the benefits and harms of its bright fruits, what is their practical purpose - about all this further.
Application
The first benefit of this unusual creeper is its decorative properties. It resembles the tops of cucumbers, pumpkins, young grapes, eagerly clings its antennae to the support and quickly gains strength under the sun's rays. She will easily braid a small arbor in a short time, and you will be able to proudly demonstrate to your friends that you are growing not something, but momordica. The benefits and harms of its fruits usually begin to interest somewhat later, when they begin to ripen and stand out brightly among the green shoots. In fact, the fruits of this vine contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals and are successfully used in cooking.
Growing
If you have cucumbers growing in your country house, then it will not be difficult to master the art of growing exotic creepers. She will be happy to live in the open ground, especially if you choose a shaded place for her, without direct sunlight. She also develops greenhouses and greenhouses, and even window sills in apartments. Just imagine how you show your fruiting vine to your friends and proudly say that it is a momordica. The benefits and harms that can bring its benefits will be discussed below.
The plant propagates by seeds. Despite the presence of a hard shell, they do not require stratification and have almost 100% germination. Before planting in the soil, you need to soak them for a day in a pale pink solution of manganese. Do not wait until they hatch, otherwise the seeds will rot. Seedlings are easiest to grow in peat pots, into which light, fertile soil is poured. Momordica is demanding on the composition of the soil, responsive to the application of organic fertilizers.
In each pot to a depth of 1.5 cm an edge is placed one seed. From above it needs to be filled with soil and watered. The following hydration should be done after 2-3 days. If a temperature of 20-22 degrees is maintained, then seedlings will appear after 2 weeks. With cooler contents, you have to wait longer.
Transplanting seedlings to the main “place of residence”, establish vertical supports, plan the location of plants so that they have enough light, the ovary will crumble in the shade or the fruits will be small.
Beneficial features
Momordica is a special fruit. More precisely, it is a vegetable. It significantly changes its taste as it matures, but its benefits remain unchanged. Not only fruits are useful, but also shoots, as well as leaves. The plant is rich in calcium, which is necessary not only for the growth and development of teeth and bones, but also contributes to the normal contraction of the heart muscle. If there are problems with the cardiovascular system, then momordica is what the doctor ordered.
In addition to calcium, it is rich in selenium, which normalizes the activity of the thyroid gland; It contains silicon, which is involved in the synthesis of bone and muscle tissue, it is especially necessary during the recovery period after injuries and fractures. Being a source of phosphorus, fruits help stimulate brain activity. The rich composition of vitamins regulates the metabolic processes of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, normalizing body weight. The antioxidant properties that momordica possesses are known. A fruit with the same composition still needs to be searched.
ethnoscience
The properties of momordicism do not end there. Chinese healers have long been using this plant in the manufacture of various medicinal formulations and dietary supplements. Momordika has effectively proven itself in the treatment of diseases and infections of the gastrointestinal tract, it helps to relieve inflammation, get rid of diarrhea, hepatitis and even parasites.
Recent studies have shown another wonderful property - momordic in diabetes can significantly improve the patient's condition. Its active components reduce cholesterol and blood sugar, in addition, Indian pumpkin activates the production of insulin and the patient is less likely to have to use injections. Modern pharmacology also uses extracts of bitter gourd. Based on them, preparations are made for the treatment of psoriasis, flu and colds.
In folk medicine, momordica is also widely used. The benefits of the treatment are amazing. The plant has an analgesic property, helps with diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and even with leukemia. A persistent improvement in vision and eye condition was noted. Various infusions and decoctions work well in the treatment of prostatitis, urolithiasis, sclerosis. Among other things, they improve brain function and enhance immunity.
Cooking use
The pulp of the fruit is similar to a pumpkin, but with a noticeable bitterness. While the fruits are young and green, bitterness is almost imperceptible; they taste like cucumber. They can be fried in oil, added to salads. Fully ripened fruits hide inside red seeds that taste like persimmon and pomegranate at the same time. They are quite tough, so you can boil them before use.
To remove the bitterness from the ripened fruits, they are pre-soaked in saline. After that, they can also be fried and served with meat. Craftsmen went even further, got the hang of pickling fruits in banks. It turns out a very original product, not like anything else, its taste is very pleasant and refreshing. In addition, from the soaked fruits of this vine, a very tasty and healthy jam is made, according to which you can never say that his parent is a bitter momordica. Reviews confirm its high taste, albeit with a certain degree of exoticism.
For daily use, you can use fresh leaves, just a couple of pieces can be put in a teapot in the morning, pour boiling water and enjoy an invigorating and healthy drink.
We have not mentioned the roots of the plant. They are used for infusions and decoctions, since they are stored for a long time in dried form. In addition, it is the root that has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. It is enough to cut off a fresh plate and apply, for example, to a sore gum to relieve inflammation and achieve an analgesic effect.
Use in Dietetics
If there is no individual intolerance, then you can include a small amount of a miracle vegetable in your daily diet. Due to its rich composition, these fruits normalize metabolic processes in the body, stimulate smooth weight loss and give a person a huge amount of energy. Eating the same amount of food, but feeling vigorous and full of strength, a person will do much more work in a day. This means that energy will be spent for good, and not “deposited” on the stomach and in other places.
Contraindications
So, today we told you about a surprisingly useful vegetable called momordica. Instructions for use (if I may say so) recommends introducing it into food for almost all people. This is a real pantry of nutrients. But we must remember that many of the elements in its composition are in an active state, and therefore an overdose can only do harm. Treat momordica as an extremely useful supplement, seasoning, the excess of which will only worsen the taste of the dish.
These exotic vegetables are contraindicated in pregnant women, as they can provoke premature birth. If you suffer from food allergies, then introduce momordica into the diet with extreme caution.
Momordica Compositum
Not every city today can buy fruits or even seeds of this wonderful plant. That is why pharmacological companies have released a special drug that contains an extract from vegetables and called it “Momordika Compositum”. This is a solution for injection, which has astringent, analgesic, antispasmodic, antiemetic and sedative properties. It normalizes the activity of the thyroid gland, is used in the treatment of pancreatitis. This drug is homeopathic because it contains nothing but extracts of the medicinal plant. However, before use, you should always consult your doctor.
To summarize
A truly wonderful gift of the rainforests - momordica - is useful in its entirety. Its leaves, shoots, roots, fruits and berries are used. Today, research is being conducted on the ability of this plant to suppress and neutralize cancer cells. If they become successful, we will receive a cure for the worst disease. But even so today there is something to thank this unusual vegetable for. His healing power is truly immense.