Bael is also known as Bilva in Sanskrit language. In Ayurveda, it is more commonly known by the same name. This herb has great medicinal, spiritual and religious significance. Its fruits and leaves are considered sacred and used as offerings to the Hindu Gods like Lord Shiva. This is why it is also known as “Shiva druma” or the tree of Shiva in ancient scriptures.

Bilva is also known for its great properties of keeping blood sugar levels under control for which it is being explored far and wide. It is also great for digestion and helps to keep the intestines healthy.

Different parts of this herb are used for different purposes. Its fruit is relished as a whole as well as for its chilled juice which is very good to beat the heat in hot and scorching summers like those of northern India.

The leaves are also a significant contributor to the many beneficial properties that Bilva herb exhibits. The old yellow fruits of this tree turns green after one year. It contains tannic acid, volatile oil and mucilaginous liquid.

• Green fruits: These possess effective digestive, astringent and stomachic properties. They are used in preparing ‘murabbas’.
• Ripe fruits:Relieves chronic dysentery and diarrhea. They act as tonic for brain and heart. They also relieve bacillary dysentery and assist in relieving of ulcerated mucosa of intestine.
• Roots: In the decoction form, roots relieve intermittent fever, melancholia and palpitation of heart. It is also an ingredient in preparing an Ayurvedic medicine called, ‘dashmool’.
• Leaves: Bitter tasting leaves act as febrifuge. ‘Poultice’ prepared using them relieves ophthalmic disorder and ulcer. Fresh leaves are used to relieve conditions like weak heart, beri-beri and dropsy.

• Constipation: Fresh and unripe fruit relieves constipation.
• Jaundice: Consuming 10 to 15 ml of liquid relieves jaundice.
• Leucorrhoea: Consuming three to six grams of the root- powder relieves Leucorrhoea.
• Dehydration of ruminants and Diarrhea: Bark, roots, stem, flowers and leaves relieve these conditions.
• Bronchitis: Consuming juice of Aegle Marmelos once a day relieves bronchitis.
• Wound, inflammation and pain: Paste of Aegle Marmelos relieves these conditions.
• Menstrual problem: Extract from the whole plant relieves this condition.
• Brain: Aegle Marmelos extract acts as brain tonic.
• Others: Miscarriages, placenta retention, vaginal hemorrhage, milk fever, orchiditis, tachycardia, swelling of throat, bradycardia, pneumonia, hemorrhagic septicemia, lumbar fracture, polyurea and so on are relieved using pulp of ripe and unripe fruit.

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