Aegle marmelos, Bengal Quince

Bael (Unani)
Bilva (Ayurveda)

Herbarium Amboinense, Rumpf, 1755

Roxburgh, Plants of the coast of Coromandel, 1798

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Botanical name:
Aegle marmelos (syn. Crateva marmelos, Belou marmelos)

Parts used:
Unripe fruit pulp; also Root, stem-bark, fruit, leaf

Temperature & Taste:
FRUIT: Neutral (slightly Cool, moist)
UNRIPE FRUIT/ PERICARP: Cool, dry

Uses:
FRUIT:
-chronic constipation, chronic dysentery, diarrhea, colitis, enteritis, vomiting
-nutritive, strengthens the interior, stimulant
-removes roughness of the vessels
-Hemiplegia, Facial Paralysis
-Antipyretic; used as a cooling drink in Summer


UNRIPE FRUIT (Alleviates Vata/Wind and Kapha/Phlegm):
-digestive, stomachic, carminative; reduces obesity
-demulcent
-Astringent; chronic diarrhea and dysentery
-pain and swelling of the Throat
-migraine, internal abscess
-boiled in oil, applied to Hemorrhoids

NOTE:
1. The Leaf and Stem-bark have been used for Diabetes
2. Root is a part of Dashmula (the 10 Roots)

CORRECTIVE:
1. Sugar
2. Celery seed

SUBSTITUTE:
1. Ispaghol (Plantago ovata seed) in Diarrhea and Dysentery (Unani)
2. Tamarind seeds

DOSE:
2–5 grams (up to 12 grams) of the powdered fruit
Decoction (1 in 4): 50–100 mls three times daily.

Main Combinations:
1. Diarrhea:
i. Fruit is used with Buttermilk for Diarrhea (Charaka)
ii. Summer diarrhea, dried fruit is used with Celery seed
iii. dried unripe fruit in doses of 2–3 grams, taken as a powder with Treacle.
iv. unripe fruit is also prepared as a conserve for Diarrhea
v. Diarrhea from malabsorption, paste of the fruit with Ginger, Jaggery and Buttermilk (Chakradatta)
2. Dysentery, Aegle with Symplocos, Black Pepper and Honey (Bhavaprakasha)
3. Heat, and to strengthen the Large Intestine, take with Triphala
4. Bleeding from the Gastrointestinal tract, Aegle with Madder and a little Rhubarb

Cautions:

Main Preparations used: