Bael Tree(Bel)
Babool Also known as-
Latin : Aegle marmelos
English : Bael tree, holy fruit tree
Sanskrit : Vilvah, sriphalah
Hindi : Bel
Marathi : Bela
Tamil : Kuvilam
Telugu : Bilwamu, Maredu
Malayalam : Kulakam
Kannada : Belapatri
How it looks—It is a medium-sized deciduous tree with typical straight sharp thorns at the axil and yellowish brown furrowed bark. The leaves are also notedly trifoliate and
aromatic while the flowers are greenish white and sweet scented. The fruits are globose and woody with yellowish rind with numerous seeds.
What we use—Roots, leaves, fruits (usually unripe ones are used)
What it does—Roots—Astringent, febrifuge
Leaves—Astringent, laxative, febrifuge, expectorant Unripe fruits—Astringent, digestive stomachic
Ripe fruits—Astringent, aromatic, cooling, febrifuge, laxative and tonic
(to the heart & brain)
How we use it—
In piles—Make a decoction of the roots of Bael and seat the piles' patient in a basin filled with the lukewarm decoction such that the pile masses are immersed in it. Do this
everyday for 20-30 minutes and watch the astringent Bael gradually shrink the pile masses.
In dysentery and diarrhoea—Paste the pulp of an unripe bael fruit with a few sesame seeds and mix some thick yogurt in it. Take this preparation twice a day to arrest mucous
and blood-accompanied loose stools.
In blood-accompanied stools—Mix the powder of the dry pulp of bael fruit with some saunph seeds and honey and drink 2 tsp of this mixture with some rice wash.
In foul body odour—Apply the juice of the fresh leaves of bael fruit all over the body everyday to prevent unpleasant odour emitting from the body. The astringent nature of
the juice closes sweat pores and prevents excessive perspiration causing foul odour.
In vomiting—Make a decoction of bael roots and drink it with a tsp of honey to suppress vomiting.
In bleeding piles—Mix the pulp of a bael fruit with a glass of butter milk for relief from bleeding piles.
In swelling—Whether of the feet or any part of body, swellings can be helped by taking half a glass of the juice of bael leaves with the powder of a few black peppers.
In colic pains—In pains due to undigested food material, take the powder of the dry pulp of bael fruit with a little jaggery for digestion and to subside pain.
In typhoid and seasonal fevers—Take a tsp of powder of the dry pulp of bael fruit to bring down temperature.
In decomposing wounds—Paste the leaves without adding water. Apply this on wounds which are pus-oozing with great benefit.
