Other names: Acıdülek – Acıdüvelek – Bitter Melon – Birtlangiç – Çırtlak – Çırtatan – Esekhiyari – Hıyarcık – Ithiyari – Kargadıvelek
Latin Adi : Ecballium elaterium
English name: Squirting cucumber
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Botanical Information:
The ripe fruits of the Cucurbitaceae plant are called Ecballium elaterium. It is a hairy, perennial, herbaceous creeping plant with yellow flowers. Its roots extend up to 30 – 40 cm and its trunk extends up to 1 – 2 m. Its trunk and branches are covered with hard hairs like brushes. Its leaves are triangular-heart-shaped and have toothed edges. It is covered with soft hairs on top and hard hairs underneath. It grows in desolate places. It is common in Southern Europe and Turkey. The fruit is 4 – 5 cm long, small and long egg-shaped, green in color and rough on the surface. It contains a slimy liquid and dark brown to black seeds. As the fruit ripens, a great deal of pressure accumulates inside it and its color turns slightly yellow. Then it explodes and throws its seeds 4 – 6 m away. When the fruits ripen, the color becomes yellowish-green and they are easily plucked from the branch. The seeds and sap are easily removed from the hole where it is plucked.
Important Note: It is poisonous, more than 2 grams will kill. It should not be used together with other medications.
Smell – Taste : The root has an unpleasant odor and a bitter taste.
Parts Used : Fruit’s slimy liquid, juice and root
Benefits:
In cases of jaundice, if the juice is dropped into the nose, it cures jaundice.
If it is placed on a place where blood flows, it will cut the blood.
It will be beneficial if the root is fed to a person bitten by a snake or a scorpion and applied to the place where the sting occurs.
If it is applied to the areas of the teeth that will emerge, it will be removed easily.
If the leaves are cooked with olive oil and applied to the abdomen, it relieves abdominal pain.
If the root is boiled and you sit on its steam, it is good for hemorrhoids.
It is good for ringworm.
Sinus water is dripped.
Side Effects: It should not be used with fresh sap. It causes poisoning caused by abdominal pain, and if taken too much, it irritates the large intestine and causes bloody diarrhea. Again, for sinusitis, very little fruit juice should be dripped into the nose. Because disturbing excessive discharge that lasts for hours may occur.
How to prepare: For sinusitis purposes, dilute 1 teaspoon of ripe fruit juice with a tea glass of water and drop 2-3 drops into the nose. To apply externally to wounds, the inner parts of the root are scraped with a knife to make a poultice. For laxative purposes, 15 gr. Boil the dry root in 1.5 liters of water for 10 minutes and strain it while it is hot. This filtered part is boiled again and half of it is evaporated. You can drink 2-3 glasses a day. Drinking more is dangerous. It causes poisoning that manifests itself with bloody diarrhea.
