How to Increase the Immune System with Natural Bitter Melon
Bitter melon (Karela) is a unique vegetable more commonly used in Asia and the Caribbean than the United States. With an appearance similar to a cucumber with warts, the melon, or gourd, is sometimes called the most bitter of all vegetables. Despite that, it has several health benefits that can increase the functioning of your immune system. Naturopathic healers have found bitter melon effective in treating HIV/AIDS, diabetes, viruses, colds, infections, tumors, high cholesterol, psoriasis, cholera and eye disorders.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Bitter melon tea
- Bitter melon plant leaves
- Bitter melon supplements
- Bitter melons
- Bitter melon extract
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1
Drink bitter melon tea. The leaves from bitter melon plants can be used to make a medicinal tea. The fruit and seed of the melon can also be used for this purpose but are not as easily available for purchase, if you live in non-tropical areas
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2
Take bitter melon supplements. Pills and capsules are available with recommended dosages ranging from 1 to 3 pills per day.
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3
Eat bitter melon fruit. The fruit or flesh of bitter melons can be eaten to improve your immune system. Where not commonly grown, the melons can often be purchased from Asian grocery stores.
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4
Drink bitter melon juice. If the bitter taste of the fruit is too much for you to handle, the fruit or leaves can be juiced and consumed in liquid form. To decrease bitterness, soak the melon or leaves in salt water for 30 minutes prior to juicing.
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5
Take some tincture. Bitter melon tinctures or liquid extracts are also available in health food stores. A dropper full can be added to your water or juice up to 3 times per day.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Don't overdo it. Overuse of bitter melon products could cause pain in the abdominal area or diarrhea, so adhere to recommended dosages.
Bitter melon has been found to lower insulin and blood sugar levels, therefore, sufferers of hypoglycemia and children should use with caution. The vegetable also can induce abortions so pregnant women should avoid consumption.
