Vegetables · Classically cited
Bitter gourd
Karavellaka·कारवेल्लक
Also called: karela, bitter melon, bittermelone
Intensely bitter, light and cooling — the classic Kapha- and Pitta-reducing vegetable.
How Bitter gourd affects your doshas
In Ayurveda a food's effect depends on your constitution. This is the lens the app uses to suggest what to favour and ease off.
| Dosha | Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vata | Use sparingly | Can raise Vata — go easy when Vata runs high. |
| Pitta | Balancing | Calms Pitta — favour it when Pitta runs high. |
| Kapha | Balancing | Calms Kapha — favour it when Kapha runs high. |
When to go easy
Bitter and drying, so it aggravates Vata.
Classically cited. Directly attested in the classical Ayurvedic corpus.