BILVA

Description

Bilva is a spinous deciduous and aromatic tree with long, strong and axillary spines. This Bael tree grows up to 18mt in height and thickness of tree is about 3-4ft. Bael Leaves are 3-5 foliate, leaflets are ovate and have typical aroma. Bael Flowers are greenish white in color and sweet scented. Bael Fruits are large, woody, greyish yellow, 8-15 celled and have sweet gummy orange colored pulp. Bael Seeds are compressed, oblong and numerous found in aromatic pulp.

Properties :

Bhe Acharya describes Bael as a sweet, cardiotonic, astringent, heavy and pitta balancing herb. It balances Kapha, diarrhea and jawars (fevers). It helps stimulate both appetite and improves digestive properties.
Acharya Charaka describes Bael with Shothahara (anti inflammatory), Arshoghna (useful in treatment of haemorrhoids) benefits.
Apakva phala)
Rasa Kasãya, Tikta
Guna Laghu, Ruksa
Virya Usna
Vipãka Katu
Karma : Vata-kapha hara, Grãhi, Dipana-Pacana
Chemical Composition:

Bilva is reported to contain biologically important phytochemicals such as the volatile compounds limonene, β-phellandrene, p-cymene, linalool, α-cubebene, cineole, p- cymene, citronella, citral, β-cubebene, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, caryophyllene oxide, humulene oxide, and hexadecanoic acid and coumarins such as aegeline, aegelenine, marmelin, furocoumarins, psoralen, o-isopentenyl halfordinol, and marmelosin. They also contain tartaric acid, linoleic acid, tannins, phlobatannins, flavon-3-ols, leucoanthocyanins, anthocyanins, and the flavonoid glycosides.

Benefits

1. Different parts of the Bael plant are used for different health conditions. Special emphasis has been given to the ripened fruits which are not considered as unnecessary bloating and indigestion.
2. Researches are on to explore more on the hypoglycemic action of this plant and leaves have
3. control diabetic polyuria.
4. Bilva helps pancreas to produce more amount of insulin, which controls diabetes. In Ayurveda, there is a very popular group of herbs known by the term “Dashamoola”. These ten herbs are considered as the best anti inflammatory and pain relieving herbs of all times.
5. Bilva is one of the ten herbs mentioned in this group. Therefore, it can be widely used in a variety of pain producing conditions in the body.
6. Problems of the female reproductive system Like vaginal hemorhages etc. are also relieved with the use of Bilva along with other herbs. It also balances pitta related disorders in the body, infections.
7. The ripe fruit has laxative properties and helps to treat constipation. Unripe fruit is also very effective in treating dysentery, diarrhea and other gastro intestinal disorders. It has power to fight against skin diseases and used to cure various skin disorders. Bilva helps to control functioning of heart, cardiac muscles and cardio vascular system of body.