10 Wonder Benefits of Petha (White Gourd)

Petha overview

Petha is a native of Malaysia but now, it is widely found throughout the tropics. It’s a climbing herb and fruits are cylindrical or spheroidal gourd. The young fruit is used as a vegetable and make into curries, while the ripe fruit is cut into pieces and candied.

Petha or white gourd is beneficial for insanity, epilepsy, nervous diseases, asthma, cough, diabetes, fever, vitiated conditions of Pitta dosha, etc. Its extract is also good in the treatment of peptic ulcer and gastritis.

Different names of petha

• English: White Gourd, White gourd Melon, Wad Gourd, Tallow Courd, Ash Pumpkin, Ash Gourd
• Hindi: Petha, Golkaddu, Kondha, Kudimah, Kumra, Phuthia, Koharat
• Sanskrit: Kushmanda, Kushmandaka,” Kushmandi, Kushpandahaj,  .Nagapushpaphala. Pitapushpa, Pushpaphala, Brihatphalaj, Ghrinavasa, Gramyakarkati, Karkaru, Karkotika, Kunjaphala, Shikhivardhaka, Suphala, Timisha, Kumbhanda
• Punjabi: Chalkumra, Golkaddu, Petha, Kaddu

Nutritional facts of petha

The nutritional value in 100 gram of the fruit is

• Carbohydrate:  3gm
• Protein: 4gm
• Fat: 4 gm
• Calcium: 28 gm
• Phosphorous: 35 mg
• Iron: 0.4mg
• Vitamin A in traces
• Vitamin B2: 62 mg
• Niacin: 0.4mg
• Vitamin C: 4mg
• Sodium:2mg
• Potassium: 211m

Medicinal properties of petha

The petha fruit is full of medicinal values. It has many medicinal characteristics and properties. The fruits are sweet, styptic, anabolic, cooling, laxative, diuretic, aphrodisiac, alternative, anti-mercurial, anti-periodic, nutritive, tonic and is best suited as a wholesome nutritious vegetable to all, particularly to diabetics and obese. It supplies the food in bulk having low calories and imparts a cooling effect on the body during summer. The seeds are sweet, cooling, anthelmintic, brain-tonic, anti-pyretic, and anti-syphilitic. The oil extracted from the seeds is soporific, sweet, brain-tonic and liver tonic

Top10 benefits of petha

The health benefits of petha are known since ancient times. It has many pharmacology and therapeutics benefits. Some of its important benefits and uses are given below:

1. Peptic ulcer: The diluted extract of ash gourd is beneficial in the treatment of peptic ulcers. Method: The extract, squeezed out from grated ash gourd with an equal amount of water added to it, should be taken daily in the morning on an empty stomach. It is helpful in the treatment of gastritis.
2. Hysteria: The fresh juice of the ripe fruit is useful in hysteria. Method: Take fresh juice of the fruit (7-14ml), Mulaithi (GlycyrrhizaGlabra) -1/2teaspoonful. Now, mix together and may be taken in the case of hysteria, twice a day.
3. Hyperacidity: It is good to reduce the impact of burning sensation in the stomach and body. Method: Take the juice of fruit pulp (10-20 ml), sugar candy (2 teaspoon). Mix together and take twice or thrice a day in cases of hyperacidity, burning sensation in the stomach, nervousness, urticaria, itching all over the body, gastric ulcer, and duodenal ulcer.
4. Burning urination: If you are suffering from burning urination, it is beneficial to take petha. Method: Take the juice of fruit pulp (4 tablespoons), Potassium carbonate (1 teaspoon), Asafoetida (1teaspoon), and sugar (5 teaspoons). It is suggested to take it twice a day in case of difficult micturition, burning micturition, renal colic, and inflammation of the male organ.
5. Epilepsy and mental disorders: The beneficial impacts of petha have also been seen in epilepsy and mental disorders. Method: Take pure Cow’s Ghee (1tablespoon), Glycyrrhizaglabra(9 tablespoons), and juice of Petha (9 tablespoon).  Mix all together and process it to prepare a Ghritam. This is a very effective medicine for epilepsy.
6. Piles: For the treatment of piles, the use of petha shows positive results. Method: Take the pulp of Petha (2 teaspoon), Jaggery(1 teaspoon), Sesame seeds (1 teaspoon), and Terminalia chebula (1/2 tablespoon). Make a paste of jaggery and sesame seeds, then add Terminalia chebula. It can be taken twice a day with milk till the symptoms subside. It can be given in bleeding especially in bleeding piles. It is also effective in the case of anal fistula and anal fissure.
7. General Tonic: Petha is also used as a tonic to strengthen the body system. Method: Take the juice of Petha ( 10 parts), Piper longum (1 part), dry ginger(1 part), white cumin (1 part), coriander seeds (1 part), cardamomum zylanicum (1 part), cinnamon(1 part), ghee(1part),  and sugar (1 part). Mix all together and prepare on a mild heat so that it may look like Jam form. This mixture has multiple benefits tones up the weak organs of the body, increase libido, and cures bleeding disorders, itching sensation, thirst, leucorrhoea, bronchitis, asthma, vomiting, heart problems, laryngitis and tuberculosis, etc.
8. Syphilis: Since in medicinal world, it is known as a great tonic, the fresh juice of the fruit is applied internally to treat syphilis.
9. Tuberculosis: It is one of the best fruits to treat tuberculosis. It is good for the liver and control pitta dosha.
10. Urinary bladder: The regular use of petha is helpful to clear bowl as well as urinary bladder and it is also given to people who are suffering from jaundice.

Top 10 uses of petha

1. It is used as an effective antidote of many kinds of vegetable, mercurial and alcoholic poisoning.
2. It is used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
3. It is used in pickles, preserves, condiments, sweetmeats, or confections.
4. It has anthelmintic properties and used in cases of taenia.
5. As a vermifuge, it is used against tapeworms and lumbricoid.
6.  It is used to induce sleep.
7. It has blood-clotting properties.
8. Due to its diuretic action, it increases the urine output and wash out wastes from the body.
9. The juice is good for those who have an aggressive and violent nature. It helps to cool down these disorders.
10. It gives the feeling of calmness thus acts as a stress buster.