1. Alias
Jin Litchi, Lai Grape, Red Maiden, Cold Melon.
2. Plant morphology
Annual climbing herb. Multiple branches, with stems and branches covered in soft hairs. The tendrils are unbranched, slender, up to 20 centimeters long, and covered in soft hairs. The petiole is thin, initially covered with white soft hairs, later becoming nearly hairless, measuring 4-6 centimeters in length; The leaf outline is ovate, elliptical, kidney shaped or nearly circular, membranous, with a length and width of 4-12 centimeters. It is green on the top and light green on the back, with obvious soft hairs on the veins. It has 5-7 deep fissures, and the lobes are ovate oblong with coarse serrations or irregular small lobes at the edges. The tip is mostly blunt and round, and the base is curved into a semicircle shape. The leaf veins are palmate. Monoecious plant; Male flowers are solitary, pedunculated, 5-15 cm long, with bracts in the middle or base. The bracts are kidney shaped and have a central shape. The calyx tube is bell shaped, with 5 lobes, and the lobes are ovate lanceolate. The tip is gradually pointed, and the corolla is yellow, with 5 lobes, 1.5-2 cm long, with a blunt or slightly concave tip. The stamens are 3 and adhere to the throat of the calyx tube; Female flowers are solitary and have stems. 5-10 cm long, with bracts at the base, spindle shaped ovary with spikes, beak at the tip, slender style, and 3 stigma. The fruit is oblong, ovate, or narrow at both ends, measuring 8-30 centimeters in length. It has blunt, round, and irregular nodular protrusions throughout, and is orange yellow when ripe. It splits into three petals at the tip. The seed is elliptical and flat, with angular teeth on both ends and uneven stripes on both sides, wrapped in a red fleshy false seed skin. The flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
3. Origin distribution
It is widely cultivated in both the north and south of our country.
4. Harvesting and processing
Harvest fruits in autumn, slice and sun dry or use fresh.
5. Characteristics of medicinal herbs
Dry bitter melon slices are oval or rectangular in shape, with a thickness of about 2-8 millimeters, a length of 3-15 centimeters, and a width of 0.4-2 centimeters. They are wrinkled and curved throughout, with a light grayish brown skin that is rough and has longitudinal wrinkles or nodular protrusions. Sometimes there are seeds or holes left in the middle after seeds fall off. Crispy and easily breakable. It has a slight odor and a bitter taste.
6. Sexual Taste Returning to the Classics
Cold in nature and bitter in taste. Guixin Meridian, Spleen Meridian, and Lung Meridian.
7. Effect and Function
Relieve heat, clear vision, and detoxify. A heat clearing and purging gunpowder classified under the category of heat clearing drugs.
8. Clinical application
Oral administration: decoction, 6-15 grams, fresh 30-60 grams; Or at the end of the calcination study. External use: appropriate amount, fresh product pounded and applied; Or take the juice and apply it. Indications include summer heat, restlessness, thirst quenching, red eye pain, dysentery, sores, abscesses, and toxins.
9. Pharmacological research
Lowering blood sugar levels; Anti-cancer; Antiviral.
10. Chemical composition
This product contains 5,25-sitosterol-3-glucoside, bitter melon glycoside and other ingredients.
11. Usage taboos
People with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold should take it with caution.
12. Compatibility prescription
① Treating heatstroke and heat: Cut off the flesh of fresh bitter gourd, put in tea leaves, then close it up and hang it in the shade to dry. Take 6-9 grams of decoction or slice and soak in hot water as a substitute for tea. (Quanzhou Materia Medica)
② Treat irritability, heat, and thirst by drinking bitter melon juice mixed with honey and taken cold. (Quanzhou Materia Medica)
③ Treat dysentery: Take 1 small cup of freshly ground bitter melon juice soaked in honey. (Quanzhou Materia Medica)
④ Treating abscess: Crush fresh bitter melon and apply it to the affected area. (Quanzhou Materia Medica)
⑤ Treatment of sweat spots: Remove the flesh and seeds of fresh bitter melon, grind 0.6 grams of arsenic powder, put it into the melon, cover the mouth with the substance, roast the juice over fire, and apply the juice to the affected area. (Fujian Pharmaceutical Journal)
⊙ The content of the article is for clinical reference only. Non TCM professionals are not allowed to test drugs.