Bitter gourd, which is known as karawila in the local language, is considered to have medicinal properties in Ayurveda. The leaves of this plant are crushed, with the resulting juice being applied to the scalp to promote hair growth and reduce the loss of hair. Meanwhile the fruit of this plant, despite its bitterness, is thought to promote the flow of breast milk in lactating mothers if it is consumed in adequate quantities. Additionally, this fruit is regarded as being beneficial for diabetics, as the juice extracted from it is thought to provide favourable results when consumed by them.