Beli / බෙලි / Bilva / Aegle marmelos / Bengal Quince / Bilva, Śandilya, Śailusha, Malura, Sriphala /

Botanical Name – Aegle marmelos
Family                  - Rutaceae

English Name     - Bengal Quince

Sanskrit Names – Bilva, Śandilya, Śailusha, Malura, Sriphala

Singhalese Name- Beli

Parts used           - roots, root bark, leaves, both ripe & unripe fruits, and flowers.

Properties:

            Rasa           Kashaya, Tikta

            Guna          Ruksha, Laghu

            Veerya       Ushna

            Vipaka       Katu

Attributes / Karma:

Alleviate Vata & Kapha. Aggravate Pitta

Promote appetite & digestion. Have an anabolic effect on all body tissue.

Unripe fruit – appetizer. Digestant. Astringent.

Ripe fruit    - astringent, mild laxative. An excess dose causes constipation

Leaves        - alleviate edema & pain. Has an anti diabetes property.

Roots          - use in Vata diseases. Astringent                         (B.P)

Medicinal uses:

External

·         Conjunctivitis – past of leaves applied over the eyelids.

·         Backaches      - steam with leaves.

Internal

·         Diabetes  - dried crashed leaves as a hot drink (phanta)

·         Bleeding piles – powdered dried unripe fruit with honey.

·         Diarrhea & digestive disorders – steamed unripe fruit with sugar.

Formulations:

            Dasamūlārishta

            Bilvamūlādi gutika