Momordica charantia

Known Contraindications

• • Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold patterns (bitter-cold nature aggravates)
• • Pregnancy (traditionally avoided)
• • Excessive use in constitutionally cold patients
• • May potentiate hypoglycemic medications — monitor blood glucose
• • GI discomfort in sensitive individuals
• • Avoid in G6PD deficiency (vicine content in seeds)
• • Hypoglycemia risk with concurrent insulin/sulfonylureas
• • Pregnancy
• • Scheduled surgery (discontinue 2 weeks prior)
• • Vata-predominant Prameha without Kapha involvement
• • Krisha (emaciated) patients
• • Concurrent hypoglycemic medications (additive effect)
• • G6PD deficiency (favism risk with seeds)
• • Pregnancy (emmenagogue properties)
• • Frío-type conditions (already cold constitution)
• • Young children
• • Concurrent hypoglycemic medications (additive glucose-lowering)
• • G6PD deficiency (vicine content)
• • Scheduled surgery (blood sugar effects)
• • Pregnancy (considered too cold and bitter for pregnant women)
• • Hypoglycemia risk with concurrent insulin/oral hypoglycemics
• • G6PD deficiency (Momordica — vicine content)
• • rLung disorders (bitter taste aggravates rLung)
• • Me-drod deficiency without Bad-kan excess (further cooling may worsen)
• • Concurrent hypoglycemic medications (risk of additive hypoglycemia)
• • Pregnancy (may stimulate uterine contractions)
• • Surgery — discontinue 2 weeks prior (blood sugar effects)
• • Not during pregnancy (traditional restriction)
• • Not for very young children (too bitter, may cause stomach upset)
• • So-Eum constitutional type without heat signs (too cold)
• • Spleen-Stomach cold deficiency (may worsen diarrhea)
• • Pregnancy (potential uterine stimulant)
• • Concurrent hypoglycemic medications (additive effect — monitor blood glucose)
• • Hypoglycemia risk with concurrent diabetes medication
• • Pregnancy (uterotonic properties)
• • G6PD deficiency (vicine content in seeds)
• • Cold-type stomach conditions (already frío)
• • Pregnancy (traditional prohibition)