Ash Gourd
Sanskrit: Kushmanda
Benincasa hispida
A large, pale gourd valued in Ayurveda as a cooling food, most often taken as fresh morning juice.
Also known as
Ash Gourd · Petha · Winter Melon · White Pumpkin · Kushmanda
- hindi:
- Petha
- tamil:
- Neer Poosanikai
- telugu:
- Boodida Gummadikaya
- bengali:
- Chal Kumro
- marathi:
- Kohala
- gujarati:
- Kolu
Parts used
- Fruit flesh
- Fruit juice
- High water content with minerals
Traditional overview
- Fresh juice taken in the morning on an empty stomach
- Cooked as a light, cooling vegetable
- Used in traditional preparations described as calming and cooling
- Made into the sweet petha of North India
Common traditional forms
- fresh juice
- cooked vegetable
- pulp
Wellness tags
- cooling
- morning routine
- calm
Body focus
- stomach
- urinary tract
- brain
Concerns
- acidity
- heat discomfort
- restlessness
- burning urination
What to know before use
Drink fresh juice within minutes of preparing it, in a small glass, on an empty stomach. Use clean utensils and washed fruit. Ongoing acidity, burning or urinary symptoms need medical assessment rather than daily home juice.
Important cautions
A well-tolerated food gourd. Care is mainly about hygiene of fresh juice and choosing a non-bitter, mature fruit.
Who should avoid it
- Anyone with a gourd-family allergy
- People who find cold, raw juice worsens their digestion
- Anyone advised to limit fluid or potassium should check juice quantities with their clinician
Medicine interactions
- No significant medicine interactions at food amounts
PregnancyCooked ash gourd as a food is fine. Take advice before drinking large amounts of raw juice daily in pregnancy.
ChildrenCooked ash gourd suits children. Avoid large quantities of raw juice in young children.
Quality and buying guidance
Choose a mature fruit with a firm, waxy white bloom and no soft, sunken or mouldy patches. Discard any gourd that tastes bitter — bitter gourds of this family can cause vomiting and stomach upset. Cut fruit must be refrigerated and used quickly.
What does the evidence say?
This entry rests on traditional and household use recorded over generations, not on clinical trials. Treat it as cultural and educational information.
Related ingredients
Traditional wellness information only — not medical advice. Start small, and check with a qualified practitioner if you are pregnant, nursing, treating a child, or managing a medical condition.