Bottle gourd- traditional way to cure a variety of illness

Bottle gourd is the most common Indian vegetable which is consumed in almost all the households. It is a yellowish green colored vegetable with a bottle like shape. Bottle gourd has white pulp with white seeds embedded in the spongy flesh. Bottle gourd is becoming very popular these days especially amongst the girls and women for its variety of benefits.

Bottle gourd is full of water and fiber which helps in reducing the huger pangs. Consuming it regularly or on the alternative days initiates the weight loss and brings glow to the skin enhancing its color. Boosting the immunity and acting as a remedy for tuberculosis comes under another bottle gourd benefits. Not only is the bottle gourd rich in essential minerals, iron, protein and trace elements; it is also rich in fiber. Fiber helps in preventing constipation and other digestive disorders like flatulence and piles. It helps in overcoming jaundice and becomes anti-bilious after cooking. It helps the body to relax but if consumed raw, it might affect the stomach and intestines of the person. It prevents excessive loss of sodium, quenches thirst and helps in preventing fatigue.

Bottle gourd is very effective in the urinary problems too. The bottle gourd juice when mixed with sesame oil acts as an effective medicine for insomnia. The juice is effective for the person suffering from high acidity, burning sensation or diarrhea. The juice also breaks down the stone in the body. The other benefits of bottle gourd and its juice are:

• It helps in the healthy functioning of the liver.

• If consumed with lemon juice, the bottle gourd juice helps in treating the burning sensation in the urinary passage.

• Bottle gourd acts as a traditional nerve tonic which helps in improving obsessive- compulsive disorder.

• It also helps in curing baldness and aids in preventing tooth decay.

• It is also used for the treatment of insanity, epilepsy and other nervous diseases.

• It has an enormous impact when used for treating high blood pressure and heart related disease.

The juice of bottle gourd can be served in the breakfast. Its pulp can be boiled and served dipped in skimmed yoghurt. For lunch the vegetable is sparingly cooked with a dash of turmeric and salt. In dinner the bottle gourd preparation may have ginger chopped into pieces, about 5 mm in size. Ginger is carminative and helps in the digestion of food.

To conclude it can be said that Lauki or bottle gourd though neglected the most, has both healing and cosmetic benefits that many people are unaware of. These easy growing climbers have made a great impact on the domestic gardening segment as well, due to its enormous health benefits. The recent study has declared that bottle gourd juice may be harmful if consumed with other juices. Therefore, the juice should be consumed separately.