Medical Encyclopedia

Karela is known not only as an effective tool in controlling diabetes, but also as a good implement in promoting overall health. For that reason it is used for a wide array of conditions which can and may not necessarily be directly associated with diabetes mellitus.

One of the beneficial effects attributed to Karela is reducing and curing the symptoms of respiratory disorders. Respiratory disorders include diseases of the lungs, pleural cavity, bronchial tubes, trachea, the upper respiratory tract as well as of the nerves and the muscles of breathing. All in all, the diseases of the respiratory system range from mild such as common cold to acute and life-threatening such as bacterial pneumonia. The most common respiratory diseases include asthma - the constriction of hypersensitive airways, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which causes shortness of breath, chronic bronchitis - inflammation and scarring of the bronchial tubes, pleurisy - inflammation of the pleural membrane lining the lungs, lung cancer, influenza, pneumonia and common cold. The typical symptoms of respiratory disorders are shortness of breath, dyspnoea, syncope, cough and chest pain. As soon as they manifest themselves, it is necessary to seek professional medical help.

What is really important is that people with respiratory diseases are constantly being reminded that their breathing is impaired, that they are not getting enough oxygen into their lungs and that they cannot enjoy their life as other people do. Finding a relief and comfort is of vital importance for them. And an appropriate medication can bring the desirable effect of alleviation. As always, there is a point of individual compatibility, but all the factors considered, Karela has proved to be a near-ubiquitous purifier enabling people with respiratory disorders to cope with their condition easier.

Karela has some properties of an expectorant and therefore it helps in clearing the lungs. Since this medicine is natural, its effect can be compared to the effect brought about by the plant bitter gourd. Patients suffering from asthma find relief and alleviation in drinking tea made from the leaves of bitter gourd. It acquires particular importance if we think about the offered estimation according to which about 10 percent of Americans suffer from asthma. They have hypersensitive respiratory system airways which constrict when they are triggered. That is why for treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the two most common and at the same time the most serious respiratory diseases, there are two basic types of medications: bronchodilators that expand the bronchial tubes and anti-inflammatory drugs that help subdue the inflammation in the irritated airways. The advantage of Karela is that it combines these two properties. That is why it is often recommended if you suffer from any of the respiratory disorders, no matter if you are a diabetes sufferer or not.