|
Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)
Bitter Melon (Tai He Company) Each bottle, 100 capsules. Each capsule, 500 mg. Test tube studies have shown antiviral and immune modulating effects. Highly concentrated to maximize the presence of all three active proteins. It also has a long tradition of use and data showing an effect on regulating blood sugar levels. Antiviral effects from fruits, seeds, leaves and vines using hot water or alcohol extracts have been seen in vitro. Each gram is equal to 25 grams of whole plant. This product is not standardized to any particular protein (e.g., MAP-30). Take 210 per day; the best bet is probably 5 in the morning, 5 in the evening on an empty stomach. Do not use during pregnancy.
The fruit and leaves of this plant are most often used. The tough part about this product is that the BEST way to use it is as a retention enema. Thats right: you prepare the tea and then fill your guts via your butt and hold it until it is absorbed. This works; the oral use isnt as effective, apparently. Is this a pain in the ass, so to speak? It can be difficult, time-consuming and not entirely comfortable. For a minority of people, this treatment does seem to help improve CD4 counts. This may be due in part to the difficuty of administering it as an enema on a routine basis. The capsules offer an alternative. However, for many, whether taken as a tea, enema or in capsules, it does not appear to have a strong benefit when used alone. Clinical studies of combinations of botanicals with anti-HIV activity are desperately needed.
|
