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Feature Article
Cerassee and it's anti-HIV activity
Stores in New York are selling cerassee in the form of teabags. What are the benefits of cerassee and is it safe? How exactly does cerassee help one's system? And, how much is too much?
Cerassee, bitter melon, Momordica charantia is grown around the world. The immature fruits are good source of vitamin C and provide some vitamin A, phosphorus, and iron. Cerassee is a fast-growing, trailing or climbing vine with thin stems and tendrils. It is a very popular plant, used for cancer, diabetes and many infectious diseases. It is a powerful weapon against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as it contains series of proteins, dubbed the momorcharins, which have anti-HIV activity. Research has shown that momorcharin can block both the infection of cells by HIV and inhibit HIV replication. A juice extract of cerassee, taken over time is being tested as part of the integrative treatment.
Cerassee is good for treating billiousness. It is a bitter herb so it helps clear the body of toxins. Although the seeds, leaves, and vines of the bitter melon have been used, the fruit is the safest and most prevalent part of the plant used medicinally.
WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE
WEST INDIES (UWI) SHOWS THE FOLLOWING:
- Cerassee can act against S. aureus+ and Streptococcus A++ (human pathogenic bacteria - these bacteria are often what makes your stomach feel weasy)
- Also active against B. microplus (71 AI) - this is an agricultural pest, a mite.
- Leukaemic patients showed increased haemoglobin content.
Active Compounds - at least three different groups of constituents in the bitter melon have been reported to have hypoglycaemic (blood sugar lowering) or other actions and potential benefits in diabetes mellitus. These include a mixture of steroidal saponins known as charantin, insulin-like peptides and alkaloids. It is still unclear which of these is most effective or if all three work together. An as yet unidentified constituent in bitter melon inhibits the enzyme guanylate cyclase, that may benefit people with psoriasis.
Remedies - bitter melon is reported to help in the treatment of diabetes and psoriasis and provide HIV support. The blood-lowering action of the fresh juice of the unripe bitter melon has been confirmed in scientific studies in animals and humans.
Charantin is more powerful than the drug tolbutamide, which is sometimes used in the treatment of diabetes to lower the blood sugar levels. The ripe fruit of the bitter melon has been shown to exhibit some remarkable anti-cancer effects, especially leukaemia. Here are some other uses: for colds, fever, sores, menstrual disorder, cures bad blood and gripe, stomach ache.
Dosage - for those with a taste or tolerance for bitter flavour, small melon can be eaten as food or up to 50 ml of fresh juice can be drunk per day. An option for those who do not care for the bitter taste are bitter melon tinctures, of which 5 ml is generally taken two to three times per day.
Safety - excessively high doses of bitter melon juice can cause abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Small children or anyone with hypoglycaemia should not take bitter melon becuase this herb could theoretically trigger or worsen low blood sugar (Hypoglycaemia)).
Furthermore, diabetics taking hypoglycaemic drugs (such as chlorpropamide, glyburide or phenformin) or insulin should use bitter melon only under medical supervision, as it may potentiate the effectiveness of the drugs and lead to severe hypglycaemia.
- Dr. Sylvia Mitchel / University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Bio-Technology Department
DrMitchel@SpringHillHerbal.Com
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