Description:
The bottle gourds have been cultivated since time immemorÂial and they are, probably one of the earliest vegetables cultivated by man. It appears to have originated in Africa where it occurs spontaneously as it also does in India. It is now widely cultivated throughout the tropics, especially India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, tropical Africa and South America. The bottle gourd is a warm season crop and grows best in a warm humid climate.
Common Use:
The cooked vegetable is cooling, diuretic, sedative and antiÂbilious. It gives a feeling of relaxation after eating it.\r\nBottle gourd is very valuable in urinary disorders. A glassful of fresh juice prepared by grating the whole fruit should be mixed with teaspoonful of lime juice. It should be given once daily in the treatment of burning sensation in urinary passage due to high acidity of urine. It serves as an alkaline mixture.\r\nThe juice of bottle gourd is a valuable medicine for excessive thirst due to severe diarrhoea, diabetes and excessive use of fatty or fried foods. A glassful of pla
History:
Lauki (Bottle Gourd) has been a staple in the Indian kitchen and in Indian cuisine for centuries. Its use is even mentioned in the Bible book of Jonah. Now, that’s a long, long history. However, in modern western culture, its medicinal and cosmetic uses are virtually unknown – even though it’s better known as calabash.