Home :: Bottle Gourd

Bottle Gourd - Natural Benefits and Curative Properties

Botanical Name :: Lagenaria vulgaris

Indian Name :: Lauki, Doodhi, Ghia

Description

The bottle gourd is a common vegetable in India. It is yellowish green, having the shape of a bottle. It has white pulp, with white seeds embedded in spongy flesh

Origin and Distribution of Bottle Gourd

The bottle gourds have been cultivated since time immemorial and they are, probably one of the earliest vegetables cultivated by man. It appears to have originated in Africa where it occurs spontaneously as it also does in India. It is now widely cultivated throughout the tropics, especially India. Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, tropical Africa and South America. The bottle gourd is a warm season crop and grows best. in a warm humid climate.

Bottle Gourd*

Natural Benefits and Curative Properties of Bottle Gourd

• Urinary Disorders :- Bottle gourd is very valuable in urinary disorders. A glassful of fresh juice prepared by grating the whole fruit should he mixed with teaspoonful of lime juice. It should be given once daily in the treatment of burning sensation in urinary passage due to high acidity of urine. It serves as an alkaline mixture. It should be given with sulpha drugs in the treatment of urinal infection. It acts as an alkaline diuretic in this condition.
• Excessive Thirst :- The juice of bottle gourd is a valuable medicine for excessive thirst due to severe diarrhea, diabetes and excessive use of fatty or fried foods. A glassful of plain juice with a pinch of salt should be taken everyday in this condition. Its use during summer prevents excessive loss of sodium, quenches thirst and helps in preventing fatigue.
• Insomnia :- This mixture of bottle gourd juice and sesame oil acts as an effective medicine for insomnia. It should be massaged over scalp every night. The cooked leaves of bottle gourd are also beneficial in the treatment of insomnia.