Ivy gourd is a plant. The leaves, root, and fruit are used to make medicine.
Ivy gourd is most often used for diabetes. People also use ivy gourd for gonorrhea, constipation, wounds, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Ivy gourd fruit and leaves are also used as a vegetable in India and other Asian countries.
Is It Effective?
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
- Diabetes. Taking ivy gourd leaf by mouth seems to improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes.
- Constipation.
- Gonorrhea.
- Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
- Scaly, itchy skin (psoriasis).
- Wound healing.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of ivy gourd for these uses.
Is it Safe?
When taken by mouth: Ivy gourd leaf is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth for up to 6 weeks. Side effects are mild and may include headache, nausea, or dizziness. There isn't enough information to know if ivy gourd is safe when used long-term.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if ivy gourd is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Surgery: Ivy gourd might lower blood sugar. There is some concern it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using ivy gourd at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Ivy gourd might lower blood sugar levels. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking ivy gourd along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to be too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Ivy gourd might lower blood glucose levels. Using it with along with other products that have this same effect might lower blood sugar too much. Some natural products that can lower blood sugar include alpha-lipoic acid, bitter melon, chromium, devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut seed, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng, and others. Don't use ivy gourd with any of these.
There are no known interactions with foods.
The appropriate dose of ivy gourd depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for ivy gourd. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Calabacita, Calabaza Hiedra, Coccinia cordifolia, Coccinia grandis, Coccinia indica, Coccinia Índica, Courge Écarlate, Kovai, Little Gourd, Tela Kucha, Tindola.
Information on this website is for informational use only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While evidence-based, it is not guaranteed to be error-free and is not intended to meet any particular user’s needs or requirements or to cover all possible uses, safety concerns, interactions, outcomes, or adverse effects. Always check with your doctor or other medical professional before making healthcare decisions (including taking any medication) and do not delay or disregard seeking medical advice or treatment based on any information displayed on this website.
© TRC Healthcare 2024. All rights reserved. Use and/or distribution is permitted only pursuant to a valid license or other permission from TRC Healthcare.