Karela Powder | Bitter Melon | Bitter Gourd | Momordica Charantia is 100% Natural and Herbal. Bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd or Momordica charantia, is a tropical fruit-like gourd said to offer a variety of benefits. Bitter melon may be consumed as a food, as a juice known as karela juice, or as a tea. Bitter melon is a member of the squash family, Cucurbitaceae. It is commonly known as balsam pear or karela and is widely cultivated in Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and East Africa. Did you know? This fruit has a very warty, ridged exterior and is harvested before ripening, as it becomes increasingly bitter. Bitter melon contains many nutrients that can be beneficial to your health. It's linked to lowering blood sugar, which some studies suggest means it can aid in diabetes treatment. It acts as a blood purifier that helps keeps the skin glowing. It is used in the management of blood boils, scabies, itching, ringworm and other fungal infections. The antioxidants present in Karela protect against skin diseases and prevent skin cell damage.