Bitter Gourd Soup

Indications

• Anemia
• Asthma
• Bleeding diseases
• Breathing difficulty
• It does not increase Vata
• Cough
• Diabetes
• Effectively lowers blood sugar
• Fever
• Gout
• Increases the appetite
• It is not aphrodisiac
• It pacifies Pitta and Kapha
• It relieves anorexia
• Jaundice
• Pitta disorders
• Rheumatism
• Skin diseases
• Spleen disorders
• Ulcers
• Urinary stones
• Worms

The potency of bitter gourd is more than some medicines, lowering their efficacy. Hence, it is not advisable to take bitter gourd while on medications, especially while taking the Ayurvedic medicines containing minerals..

Properties

• Light to digest
• Hot in potency
• Drying in nature
• It is bitter and pungent in taste
• Pungent in vipaka (taste after digestion)
• Rich in vitamin C, potassium, copper, iron and fair in phosphorus, sodium, alkaline salts.

Preparation

Ingredients

Bitter gourd - 100 gm
Onion - 2
Tomatoes - 2
Green gram (peeled) - 25 gm
Pepper - 1gm
Rock salt - according to taste

(The smaller varieties of bitter gourd are the best).

Method

Lightly fry the onions, tomatoes and bitter gourd. Add peeled green gram to the fried content. Add water and boil it over low flame until it becomes soft. Pour the contents into a food processor and strain . Add pepper, rock salt and basil to the soup and then serve.

Glossary

Vata - It refers to one of the three doshas. It is made of air and ether. This functional unit of the body is characterized by movement, coldness, lightness and dryness. When out of balance, it produces pain in various body parts.

Pitta - It is one of the three doshas and is made up of fire and water. Pitta is characterized by heat, temperature and digestion in the body. When imbalanced it produces heat and a burning sensation in the body.

Kapha - Constitutes one of the three doshas. This is made of earth and water. It is characterized by fluidity, strength and nourishment. When imbalanced it produces heaviness and phlegm in the body.