Momordika: benefit and harm. Properties of Momordica

"Bitter pumpkin", "Indian cucumber" or "pomegranate", "rabid melon" - all these are names of the same plant, officially referred to as a momordica. The benefits and harms of this liana began to worry our fellow citizens with the appearance on the shelves of seeds of outlandish plants. Many began to grow it on garden plots for decorative purposes. What kind of plant is this, we'll figure it out with you.

What kind of tribe

No wonder it is called "bitter gourd" - the plant belongs to the Pumpkin family. It is an evergreen vine that grows in Africa, Australia, India and other warm countries. Today, it is grown in America and Crimea, even in northern regions, gardeners manage to cultivate a heat-loving vine on a window sill or balcony, and in summer they are planted in open ground. So, what is a Momordica, the benefit and harm of its bright fruits, what is their practical purpose - about all this further.

Application

The first benefit of this unusual vine is its decorative properties. It resembles the tops of a cucumber, pumpkin, young grapes, willingly clings to the antennae for support and quickly gaining strength under the sun's rays. A small gazebo it will easily fly in a short time, and you can proudly show your friends that you are not growing anything, but a mommordika. Benefits and harm to its fruits begin to interest usually a little later, when they begin to keep up and stand out among green shoots. In fact, the fruits of this creeper contain a large number of vitamins and trace elements and are successfully used in cooking.

Cultivation

If you have cucumbers growing in your cottage, then it will not be difficult to master the art of growing an exotic vine. She will willingly live in the open ground, especially if for her to choose a shaded place, without direct sunlight. She also develops hotbeds and greenhouses, and even window sills in apartments. Just imagine how you will show your fruit-bearing liana to your friends and proudly say that this is a Momordica. Benefits and harms that can bear fruit are discussed below.

The plant multiplies seeds. Despite the presence of a solid shell, they do not require stratification and have almost 100% germination. Before planting in the soil, they must be soaked for a day in a pale pink solution of manganese. Do not wait until they proklyutsya, otherwise the seeds will rot. Seedlings are easiest to grow in peat pots, in which light, fertile soil is poured. Momordika 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 with a rib one seed is placed. From above it must be filled with soil and watered. The next humidification should be made after 2-3 days. If the temperature is maintained at 20-22 degrees, the shoots will appear after 2 weeks. With a cooler content, you will have to wait longer.

Transplanting shoots to the main "residence", establish vertical supports, plan the arrangement of plants so that they have enough light, in the shade the ovary will fall or the fruits will be shallow.

Beneficial features

Momordica is a special fruit. More precisely, it's a vegetable. It significantly changes its taste properties as it ripens, but its usefulness remains unchanged. Useful not only fruits, 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 reduction of the heart muscle. If there are problems with the cardiovascular system, then momordika is what the doctor prescribed.

In addition to calcium, it is rich in selenium, which normalizes the activity of the thyroid gland; Contains silicon, involved in the synthesis of bone and muscle tissue, especially it is necessary in the recovery period after injuries and fractures. As 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 of momordica are known. Fruit, which has the same composition, still need to look.

ethnoscience

On this, the properties of the Momordica do not end. Chinese healers have long used this plant for the manufacture of various medicinal compounds and biologically active additives. Momordica has proved effective in treating diseases and infections of the digestive tract, it helps to relieve inflammation, get rid of diarrhea, hepatitis and even parasites.

Recent studies have shown another wonderful property - momordika in diabetes can significantly improve the patient's condition. Its active ingredients reduce the level of cholesterol and blood sugar, in addition, the Indian pumpkin activates the production of insulin and the patient rarely has to resort to injections. Modern pharmacology also uses extracts of bitter gourd. Based on them, preparations are prepared for the treatment of psoriasis, influenza and colds.

In folk medicine, too, is widely used momordika. The benefits of treatment are amazing. The plant has an anesthetic property, it helps with heart and vascular diseases and even with leukemia. Durable 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.

Use in Cooking

The flesh of the fruit is similar to the pumpkin, only with noticeable bitterness. While the fruits are young and green, bitterness is almost invisible, they tasted like cucumber. They can be fried in oil, added to salads. Fully ripe fruits hide inside the red seeds, which taste like persimmon and pomegranate at the same time. They are quite tough, so you can cook them before consuming them.

To remove the bitterness from the ripened fruit, they are pre-soaked in a saline solution. After that, they can also be fried and served on a garnish for meat. Folk craftsmen went even farther, they managed to marinate fruits in cans. 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 are cooked a very tasty and useful jam, which you will never say that his parent is a bitter momordik. The reviews confirm his high taste, albeit with a certain amount of exoticism.

For daily use, you can use fresh leaves, just a couple of pieces can be put in the morning in the brewer, pour boiling water and enjoy an invigorating and wholesome drink.

We also did not mention the roots of the plant. They are used for infusions and decoctions, as 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 a fresh plate and attach, for example, to the diseased gum to relieve the inflammation and achieve an analgesic effect.

Application in dietology

If there is no individual intolerance, then it is possible to include a small amount of miracle-vegetable in the daily diet. Due to its rich composition, these fruits normalize metabolic processes in the body, stimulate a smooth weight loss and give the person a huge amount of energy. Using the same amount of food, but feeling vigorous and full of energy, a person for a day will do much more things. This means that energy will be spent for good, and not "postponed" on the stomach and in other places.

Contraindications

So, today we told you about an amazingly useful vegetable called momordica. Instructions for use (if you can put it that way) recommends to introduce it to food for almost all people. This is a real storehouse of nutrients. But we must remember that many elements in its composition are in active state, and therefore an overdose can only do much harm. Treat Momordica as a very useful additive, seasoning, the excess of which will only worsen the taste of the dish.

These exotic vegetables are contraindicated for pregnant women, since they can provoke premature birth. If you suffer from food allergies, then introduce momordica into the diet extremely carefully.

"Momordika compositum"

Not in every city today you can buy fruits or even seeds of this wonderful plant. That is why pharmacological companies have produced a special preparation that contains a hood from vegetables and called it "Momordika Compositum". This solution for injection, which has astringent, anesthetic, antispasmodic, antiemetic and sedative properties. It normalizes the activity of the thyroid gland, it is used in the therapy of pancreatitis. This drug is homeopathic, since it contains nothing but extracts of a medicinal plant. Nevertheless, before use, always consult with your doctor.

Let's sum up the results

A truly wonderful gift of tropical forests - Momordica - is useful whole. 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 most terrible disease. But even so today there is something to thank this unusual vegetable. His healing power is truly immense.