Bael Fruit

Bael Fruit
Botanical Name: Aegle marmelos
Other English Names: Stone apple, Bengal quince
Indian Name: Bel or Siriphal

The tree is the abode of Lord Shiva. This tree has been traced to Vedic period . The Yajurveda mentions the bael fruit. The bael tree abounds in the vicinity of temples. The leaves of the tree bark is traditionally used as sacred offering to Lord Shiva.

Several chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from various parts of the bael tree. These include alkaloids, coumarins and steroids sterol and aegelin. The fruit has marmorosin. Roots of the tree have been found to contain psoralin, xanthotoxin, scopoletin arid tembamide.

Curative Properties
In the ancient medical treatise in Sanskrit mention all parts of this tree stem, bark, root, leaves and fruit. At all stages of maturity have been used as medicine. The fruit's medicinal value is very high when it just begins to ripen. The fruit is cooling and a laxative. It stops secretion or bleeding. The unripe fruit is good for digestion. It is useful in curing scurvy.

Ear Problems A home remedy for curing ear problems. A stiff piece of the root is dipped in neem oil and lighted. The oil that drips from the burning end. An effective medicine for ear problems. The antiseptic properties of neem combined with the astringent extract of bael root curing infection, chronic inflammation and discharge.

Respiratory Disorders The leaves gives relief from recurrent colds and respiratory inffections. A teaspoon oil should be massaged into the scalp before a head bath. Its regular use builds up resistance to colds and coughs. Theoil is prepared, juice extracted from bael leaves mixed with an equal quantity of gingelly or sesame oil and heated thoroughly. A few seeds of black pepper and half a teaspoon of black cummin are added to the heated oil. Removed from the fire and stored for use when necessary.

Constipation Ripe bael fruit isthe best of all laxatives. It clears and tones up the intestines. Its regular use for 2 or 3 months throws out even the old accumulated faecal matter. Taken in the form of sherbet, which is prepared from the pulp of the ripe fruit. After breaking the shell, the seeds are removed, with the contents spooned out and sieved. Milk and sugar are added to make it more palatable.

Diarrhoea and Dysentery
The unripe fruit is the most effective remedy for chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. The bael fruit, when it is green is sliced and dried in the sun. The dried bael slices are powdered and preserved in airtight bottles.

Peptic Ulcer
An infusion from bael leaves are soaked overnight in water. This water is strained and taken in the morning. An effective remedy for peptic ulcer. . Bael leaves are rich in tannin which reduces inflammation and help in the healing of ulcers.

Be careful that that the ripe fruit is not be taken regularly at a stretch. When used without a break, it produces a lack of normal elasticity of the intestines and consequent flatulence in the abdomen. The bael fruit should also not be taken in excess, as excessive intake may produce a sensation of heaviness in the stomach. The sherbet made of bael must not be very thin. It should be viscous so that it can be thoroughly chewed. It may produce heaviness in the stomach, if taken hurriedly.

Betel Leaves

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