bilwa :

Vilva helps in the treatment of cancer as it is known to possess anti-cancer and chemo-preventive properties. Additionally, it can also be used to treat diarrhoea. It comes with anti-microbial, anti-viral, radioprotective, anti-pyretic, ulcer healing, anti-genotoxic, diuretic, anti-fertility, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Sadaphala, Sreephala, the fruit is very effective in balathisara, husk of dried fruit is using to keep the Purified mercury.

Venda roxburghi grows on this plant

Taxonomical Classification

Family: Rutaceae

VERNACULAR NAMES

English: bael, Bael tree, Holy Fruit tree
Hindi: Bilva
Malayalam: Koovalam

Synonyms

Synonyms in Ayurveda: bilva, shalatu, shalya, hridyagandha, shivadruma, karkata, trishikha, shaivapatra, duraroha, Vilva, Maloorah, Sreephala, Sadaphala, Sailoosha

Rasa: Kashaya Tikta
Guna: Laghu Ruksha
Veerya: Ushna

Parts used for medicinal purpose

Fruit, Leaves, Root, ,

Morphology:

Medium sized thorny deciduous tree grows up to 10 meters in height. Leaves trifoliate, aromatic, and alternate. Leaflets are ovate-lanceolate. Lateral leaflets are sub sessile and terminal long petioled. Flowers are greenish white, found in axillary panicles. Fruits are globose woody berry with yellow pulp. Seeds are numerous, oblong and embedded in pulp.

General Use:

Unripe fruit of this tree is very good for digestive problems. When the fruit is half ripe (green) the pulp is taken and dried in Sun. This is then powdered and preserved 3 to 10 grams can be taken twice or thrice a day to cure diarrhoea, dysentry and worm infestation. It is also a very good source of vitamin C and treats scurvy.

Ripe fruits is nutritious and laxative. The pulp of ripe fruits can be seived well and seeds are removed. It is a very good for toning the Intestine and cures constipation. In North India, Sharbat or drink is prepared from the seived pulp of Vilvam, milk and sugar. It is a very good drink perticularly in Summer season.

Decoction of bilva leaves is good for peptic ulcer.

Leaf juice 10 to 15 ml can given daily for treating Diabetes.

Leaves can be soaked over night in water then ground well next morning and given with the remaining water to Diabetes patients.

Powder of leaves and Turmeric powder can be given in the dose of half teaspoon twice or thrice a day to treat Diabetic ulcers

Oil prepared from Vilvam leaves, gingelly oil and pepper is good bath oil if massaged regularly over the vertex before bath helpfull to treat Kapha problems.

Oil prepared from leaves and gingelly oil can be used as Ear drops for Ear problems.

Therapeutic Uses:

Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, vata, body pain, poison, diarrhea, dysentery, vomiting, and intermittent fever. Pulp of unripe fruit is constipating whereas that of ripened fruit is laxative. Leaves cure diabetes, cough, inflammation and asthma.

Ayurvedic Formulations:

Common Ayurvedic Formulations of bilwa with their Indications
Agasthya Rasayanam - Agasthya Rasayana for asthma
Vilwadi Lehyam
Brahma Rasayana
Sukumaram Kashayam

KEY WORDS: VILVAM, bilwa, koovalam, കൂവളം