The Wood Apple: Aegle marmelos

Bael tree (The Wood Apple) is one the most common and religious tree in India. It has hundreds of medicinal importance. The current article focuses on few simple but important medicinal uses of the plant/parts.

The Bael tree is one of the most valuable medicinal plants of India. The plant belongs to family Rutaceae. In Sanskrit, it is known as Bilva or Bael. It reaches up to the height of 12-20 meters. Fruits of the plant are berry type with woody rind, therefore known as "The Wood Apple". The tree generally grows well throughout the deciduous forest areas.

Medicinal importance

Root cures pain in the abdomen, palpitation of the heart, urinary troubles. According to Bhumkas (local healers) of Patalkot valley in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, it acts as laxative and febrifuge when taken fresh; it cleans and tones up the intestines. Root and bark cures intermittent fever. Patalkot tribals use the leaves in the treatment of ophthalmic diseases.

An infusion of Bael leaves is regarded as an effective remedy for peptic ulcer. The leaves are soaked overnight in water. This water is strained and taken in the morning. Unripe fruit of the plant is good to cure chronic diarrhea and dysentery. It is stomachic and digestive in nature. The syrup/ decoction prepared from fruit pulp of the plant is good in dyspepsia.

Tribals prescribe a formulation to cure heat strokes. They prepare juice from the mature fruits and add 4 drops of lemon juice and serve it for 3 days. This formulation is anti diarrhea too. Fruit acts as a tonic for heart and brain.

The pulp of the fresh fruit is mixed with sugar and curd/ buttermilk and given to patient who is suffering from severe fever. Bhumkas claim to cure diabetes by using the fresh leaves of this plant.

The pulp, diluted with water and added with requisite amount of sugar and tamarind, forms a delicious cooling drink.

Fruit captures discharge or bleeding. The immature or half-ripe fruit is excellent for digestion. It is valuable in preventing or curing scurvy. It also reinforces the stomach and promotes its action (Acharya and Shrivastava, 2008).

Note: Readers should consult their family doctors before application of any formulations. This article is for information purposes. The profile and medicinal properties of the tree is part of Digital Library prepared by the author.

The rituals

According to Bhumkas, water, flowers, leaves, grains, etc. are offered to the Lord Shiva, this denotes that the Lord is pleased with such offering. Lord Shiva who is God of health, is believed to live under the Bael tree. Bael is said to be a sacred tree and especially the leaves has broader importance in their rituals. They offer wood apple or Bael leaves and fruit, milk, and jujube/ ber fruit to the Shivlinga. In Hindu mythology, it is a religious plant and the leaves are used for various prayers and pleasing God i.e. Lord Siva and Ganesha.

References

Acharya, D. and Shrivastava, A. 2008. Indigenous Herbal Medicines: Tribal Formulations and Traditional Herbal Practices. Aavishkar Publishers Distributors, Jaipur. ISBN 978-81-7910-252-7.