Alabu — Bottle Gourd

Ayurvedic herb Alabu (Lagenaria siceraria) — Bottle Gourd. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Madhura, Virya Sheeta, Vipaka Madhura. Balances Pitta.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read
This content is for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional.

Bottle Gourd is a cooling, calming vegetable that is very easy to digest, making it ideal for convalescence.

ⓘ Information
PropertyValueDescription
RasaMadhuraMadhura (Sweet) — nourishing, grounding, promotes tissue growth
GunaGuru, RukshaGuru (Heavy) — increases bulk, grounding; Ruksha (Dry) — absorbs moisture, drying
ViryaSheetaSheeta (Cold) — cooling, decreases Pitta and inflammation
VipakaMadhuraMadhura (Sweet) — post-digestive sweet, nourishing
PrabhavaHridaya, BalyaHridaya — cardiac tonic, heart health; Balya — strengthens, increases strength and stamina

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Alabu is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Katutumbi, Tumbi, Ikshvaku

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Alabu are: phala, bija.

Main Indications

Alabu is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Hridroga, Mutrakrichha, Kasa, Shwasa.

Dosha Effects

Alabu pacifies Pitta.

It may aggravate Vata, Kapha when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Alabu is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH

Rasa (Taste)Madhura
Guna (Quality)Snigdha
Virya (Potency)śita 313
Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Madhura
Karma (Action)Pittahara, Kaphahara, Bhedaka, Rucikara, Hrdya, Vrṣya
Dose10-20 ml of fresh drug in juice form.
Therapeutic Uses: Jvara, K¡sa, śv¡sa, Viṣa Roga, śopha, Vraḍa, śūla
Important Formulations: Mah¡ Viṣagarbha Taila
Botanical Name: Lagenaria siceraria (Cucurbitaceae)
Part Used: Fr. Frt.

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part UsedTherapeutic UseIdentifiersReferences
aerial partAntineoplastic agentsMESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392ISBN:9770972795006
flowerAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9770972795006
flowerAnti-inflammatory agentsMESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1ISBN:9788173717048
flowerAntipyreticsMESH:D058633,UMLS:C0003419, ICD-11:XM1RS7ISBN:9788173717048
flowerAsthmaMESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23ISBN:9770972795006
flowerDiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9788173717048
flowerEmeticsMESH:D004639,UMLS:C0013973ISBN:9788173717048
flowerEndophthalmitisMESH:D009877,UMLS:C0014236, DOID:4692, ICD-11:9C21ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717048
flowerExpectorantsMESH:D005100,UMLS:C0015314ISBN:9788173717048
flowerPainMESH:D010146,UMLS:C0030193, ICD-11:MG3ZISBN:9788173717048
flowerToothacheMESH:D014098,UMLS:C0040460, ICD-11:DA0A.YISBN:9788173717048
fruitAcne vulgarisMESH:D000152,UMLS:C0702166, DOID:6543, ICD-11:ED80.ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitHair lossMESH:D000505,UMLS:C0002170, DOID:987, ICD-11:ED70ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAnalgesicsMESH:D000700,UMLS:C0002771, ICD-11:XM49F7ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAntiemeticsMESH:D000932,UMLS:C0003297, ICD-11:XM4VY6ISBN:81-204-0828-4
fruitAnti-obesity agentsMESH:D019440,UMLS:C0376607, ICD-11:5B81ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAsthmaMESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006
fruitBronchial diseasesMESH:D001982,UMLS:C0006261, DOID:1176, ICD-11:CB40.YISBN:81-204-0828-4
fruitCardiotonic agentsMESH:D002316,UMLS:C0007209, ICD-11:XM91S1ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006
fruitCatharticsMESH:D002400,UMLS:C0007422, ICD-11:XM6GE9ISBN:9770972795006
fruitColicMESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9770972795006
fruitCoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006
fruitDiabetes mellitusMESH:D003920,UMLS:C0011849, DOID:9351, ICD-11:5A14ISBN:9770972795006
fruitDiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1ISBN:9770972795006
fruitDiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361792
fruitDysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitDyspneaMESH:D004417,UMLS:C0013404, ICD-11:MD11.5ISBN:9770972795006
fruitEdemaMESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1ISBN:9770972795006
fruitEmeticsMESH:D004639,UMLS:C0013973ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361792
fruitFeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006
fruitFibrinolysisMESH:D005342,UMLS:C0016017, ICD-11:3B20ISBN:9770972795006
fruitHemorrhoidsMESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitHyperlipidemiasMESH:D006949,UMLS:C0020473, ICD-11:5C80.ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitHypertensionMESH:D006973,UMLS:C0020538, DOID:10763, ICD-11:BA00.ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitImmunosuppressive agentsMESH:D007166,UMLS:C0021081ISBN:9770972795006
fruitInflammationMESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368ISBN:9770972795006
fruitJaundiceMESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1ISBN:9770972795006
fruitNight blindnessMESH:D009755,UMLS:C0028077, DOID:8499, ICD-11:MC1YISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788171360536
fruitObesityMESH:D009765,UMLS:C0028754, DOID:9970, ICD-11:5B81ISBN:9770972795006
fruitPainMESH:D010146,UMLS:C0030193, ICD-11:MG3ZISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAnti-poisoningMESH:D011041, ICD-11:NE6ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitPostnatal careMESH:D011181,UMLS:C0032782ISBN:9770972795006
fruitRhinitisMESH:D012220,UMLS:C0035455, DOID:4483, ICD-11:CA09.0ISBN:9788171360536
fruitStress, physiologicalMESH:D013312,UMLS:C0449430, ICD-11:6E40.4ISBN:9770972795006
fruitTuberculosis, lymph nodeMESH:D014388,UMLS:C0041316, DOID:4889, ICD-11:1B12.6ISBN:9788171360536
fruitUlcerMESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006
fruitUrolithiasisMESH:D052878,UMLS:C0451641, DOID:0080653, ICD-11:GB7ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitVomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361792
fruitWounds and injuriesMESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251ISBN:9770972795006
fruitCooling effect on bodyUMLS:C0678568ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361792
leafHair lossMESH:D000505,UMLS:C0002170, DOID:987, ICD-11:ED70ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717048
leafAnalgesicsMESH:D000700,UMLS:C0002771, ICD-11:XM49F7ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717048
leafAnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9770972795006
leafAntidepressive agentsMESH:D000928,UMLS:C0003289, ICD-11:6A7ZISBN:9770972795006
leafAnti-inflammatory agentsMESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1ISBN:9770972795006
leafAntipyreticsMESH:D058633,UMLS:C0003419, ICD-11:XM1RS7ISBN:9788173717048
leafAsthmaMESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717048
leafBronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717048
leafBurnsMESH:D002056,UMLS:C0006434, ICD-11:NE2ZISBN:9770972795006
leafCentral nervous system depressantsMESH:D002492,UMLS:C0007681, ICD-11:XM6QP4ISBN:9770972795006
leafCoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717048
leafDental cariesMESH:D003731,UMLS:C0011334, DOID:216, ICD-11:DA08.0ISBN:9788173717048
leafEdemaMESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1ISBN:9770972795006
leafEmeticsMESH:D004639,UMLS:C0013973ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717048
leafExpectorantsMESH:D005100,UMLS:C0015314ISBN:9788173717048
leafFeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:9788173717048
leafFlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9788173717048
leafFurunculosisMESH:D005667,UMLS:C0016867, ICD-11:1B75.0ISBN:9770972795006
leafHeadacheMESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.ZISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717048
leafInflammationMESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368ISBN:9788173717048
leafJaundiceMESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717048
leafLeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717048
leafLymphadenitisMESH:D008199,UMLS:C0024205, DOID:1602, ICD-11:BD90ISBN:9770972795006
leafSkin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717048
leafSnake bitesMESH:D012909,UMLS:C0037379ISBN:9770972795006
leafThyroid diseasesMESH:D013959,UMLS:C0040128, DOID:50, ICD-11:5A0YISBN:9770972795006
leafOtorrheaUMLS:C0155540, DOID:10261, ICD-11:AB70.0ISBN:9770972795006
rootAbnormal deliveryUMLS:C0549629, ICD-11:JB0ZISBN:9770972795006
rootAbortifacient agentsMESH:D000019,UMLS:C0000782, ICD-11:JA00.1ISBN:9770972795006
rootConstipationMESH:D003248,UMLS:C0009806, DOID:2089, ICD-11:ME05.0ISBN:9788171360536
rootDysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9770972795006
rootEmeticsMESH:D004639,UMLS:C0013973ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717048
rootEpilepsyMESH:D004827,UMLS:C0014544, DOID:1826, ICD-11:8A6ZISBN:9770972795006
rootHeadacheMESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.ZISBN:9770972795006
rootInflammationMESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717048
rootJaundiceMESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1ISBN:9770972795006
rootWounds and injuriesMESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251ISBN:9770972795006
seedAbdominal painMESH:D015746,UMLS:C0000737, SYMP:0000457, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9770972795006
seedAnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788172362461
seedAntirheumatic agentsMESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2ISBN:9770972795006
seedBrain diseasesMESH:D001927,UMLS:C0006111, DOID:936ISBN:9788173717048
seedCoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9788173717048
seedDiabetes mellitusMESH:D003920,UMLS:C0011849, DOID:9351, ICD-11:5A14ISBN:9770972795006
seedDiet, food, and nutritionMESH:D000066888,UMLS:C4042949ISBN:9788172361792
seedDiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717048
seedEaracheMESH:D004433,UMLS:C0013456, ICD-11:AB70.2ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717048
seedEdemaMESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717048
seedFeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:9788173717048
seedHeadacheMESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.ZISBN:9770972795006
seedHemagglutinationMESH:D006384,UMLS:C0018903ISBN:9770972795006
seedHemorrhoidsMESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.ZISBN:9770972795006
seedInflammationMESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368ISBN:9788173717048
seedKidney calculiMESH:D007669,UMLS:C0022650, ICD-11:GB70.0ISBN:9770972795006
seedUrinary tract infectionsMESH:D014552,UMLS:C0042029, DOID:0080784, ICD-11:GC08ISBN:9788173717048
seedWounds and injuriesMESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251ISBN:9770972795006
seedOtorrheaUMLS:C0155540, DOID:10261, ICD-11:AB70.0ISBN:9770972795006
shootConstipationMESH:D003248,UMLS:C0009806, DOID:2089, ICD-11:ME05.0ISBN:9770972795006
Antirheumatic agentsMESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2ISBN:9770972795006
CatharticsMESH:D002400,UMLS:C0007422, ICD-11:XM6GE9ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792
ConstipationMESH:D003248,UMLS:C0009806, DOID:2089, ICD-11:ME05.0ISBN:9770972795006
CoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9788172361792
Diabetes mellitusMESH:D003920,UMLS:C0011849, DOID:9351, ICD-11:5A14ISBN:9770972795006
DiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9788172361792
EmeticsMESH:D004639,UMLS:C0013973ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792
HeadacheMESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.ZISBN:9788172361792
JaundiceMESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1ISBN:9770972795006
PainMESH:D010146,UMLS:C0030193, ICD-11:MG3ZISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792
Tuberculosis, lymph nodeMESH:D014388,UMLS:C0041316, DOID:4889, ICD-11:1B12.6ISBN:9788172361792
VomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1ISBN:9788172361792
Cooling effect on bodyUMLS:C0678568ISBN:9788172361792