Bitter Melon Contraindications

The bitter melon fruit is grown in tropical areas, parts of the Amazon, east Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, for use as food and medicine. The plant is a vine, with long leaves and yellow flowers; the fruit, an oblong gourd, resembles a cucumber, although it turns to an orange-yellow color as it ripens. Bitter melon is used by natural health practitioners for cancer, diabetes, viruses, colds, high cholesterol and psoriasis.

Pregnancy and Breast Feeding

• Bitter melon is not recommended during pregnancy, as this natural medicine has been used to end pregnancies. The fruit has been documented to stimulate activity in the uterus and could lead to pre-term labor. Breast-feeding women should also refrain from taking bitter melon, as the chemicals in the fruit can be transferred through breast milk. Effects of the bitter melon on children can be harmful.

Loss of Friendly Bacteria

• Long-term use may result in a decrease of of friendly bacteria in the gut, resulting in an overgrowth of yeast or candida. The plant should be taken in cycles of 21 to 30 days and then stopped for a week. If using bitter melon for longer than 30 days, pro-biotics should be added to the diet in order to maintain a healthy balance of friendly bacteria.

Diabetics

• Although bitter melon is believed to lower blood sugar, there is not sufficient research documenting the results of bitter melon use in diabetics. Those diabetics who are thinking of taking bitter melon should be closely supervised by a qualified health-care provider.

Effects on Fertility

• The bitter melon plant has been noted to reduce fertility in both men and women. For this reason, the fruit should be restricted in individuals who are currently undergoing fertility treatment or trying to become pregnant.

Too Much

• Overeating of the bitter melon fruit can lead to abdominal pain and diarrhea. Daily consumption should be kept to less than two ounces.