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Apple (Balsam)
POISON!
Botanical: Momordica balsamina
Family: N.O. Cucurbitaceze
---Synonyms---Balsamina.
---Part Used---The fruit deprived of the seeds.
---Habitat---East India.
---Description---A climbing annual plant cultivated in gardens for the sake of its ornamental fruit, which is of a rich orange red colour, ovate attenuated towards each extremity, angular, warty, not unlike a cucumber. The name is derived from Mordio, to bite, so called from the bitten appearance.
---Constituents---Has not been examined qualitatively.
---Medicinal Action and Uses---A liniment is made by adding the pulped fruit (without the seeds) to almond oil. This is useful for piles, burns, chapped hands, etc. The pulp is also used as a poultice. The fluid extract is used for dropsy.
Caution is required in administering - large doses resulting in death.
---Dosage and Preparation---Dose, 6 to 15 grains.
---Poisons and Antidotes---As for Bitter Apple.
---Other Species---Momordica charantia and East Indian species with bright orange yellow oblong fruits. Momordica mixta has fruit shaped like a bullock's heart, bright red in colour.
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Bear in mind "A Modern Herbal" was written with the conventional wisdom of the early 1900's. This should be taken into account as some of the information may now be considered inaccurate, or not in accordance with modern medicine.
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