by Namini Wijedasa
The leaf juice stimulates the liver and is good for fever. The leaf can also be dried in the shade, powdered and used as a drink. This, says Senaratne, is effective in cases of pain and swelling.

Beli (Aegle marmelos) is known in English as bael fruit and in Sanskrit as bilva. There are two varieties, the small and large. Roots, bark, leaves, flowers and fruits are used as medicine.

Normally, the raw fruits is cut into pieces, dried in the shade and stored in airtight bottles, said Lakshmi Senaratne, senior scientist (Ayurveda) at the Bandaranaike Memorial Ayurveda Research Institute. Growing a beli tree in front of one’s house is said to bring good luck.

The juice of the leaf is popularly used for treatment of diabetes. Leaf decoction is effective for burning sensation in the body, thirst and vomiting. The leaf is used to prepare herbal wines that treat thirst, burning sensation, vomiting, gastritis and morning sickness.

For conjunctivitis, put leaf juice in eye For body odour, grind leaf with water, apply on whole body, keep for one hour and bathe. Done regularly and for some period of time, it reduces the bad smell. The leaf paste can also be applied for external pain swelling.

The leaf juice stimulates the liver and is good for fever. The leaf can also be dried in the shade, powdered and used as a drink. This, says Senaratne, is effective in cases of pain and swelling.

Meanwhile, a decoction of the root is effective for fever, indigestion, diarrhoea, malabsorption and loss of appetite.

The raw fruit is used for diarrhoea, malabsorption and haemrrhoids.

The Ayurvedic Institute of New Mexico, USA, (www.ayurveda.com) says that it increases vatha and decreases pitta and kapha. Research of pharmocological action shows that it is astringent. It is used for treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, worms, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, chronic fever, nausea, vomiting, gastritis, enteritis and bleeding disorders.

Senaratne says that the fruit with ginger, jaggery and whey is given for malabsorption. For diarrhoea, boil beli and coriander.

Beli increases appetite, is diuretic and reduces fever. The ripe fruit reduces constipation, increases strength and body weight. It is best with sugar. "It gives a good motion," Senaratne said.

An Indian tip for beautiful hair is to burn the beli fruit the fire, extract pulp and make into paste with water. Apply to scalp for one hour and wash with lukewarm water.

For haemrrhoids, take ripe fruit, add coconut milk, sugar and salt to taste and administer as a drink. Taken after meals, it increases digestion and helps build body tissue.

Those with recurring stomach problems can eat the fruit regularly — boiled with sugar

For indigestion, continuous diarrhoea, malabsorption and heart problems, take the fruit (dried as instructed earlier), boil and administer.

The flowers — beli mal — reduces heat in the body, increases appetite, reduces thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea and indigestion. It is usually taken as a drink with kithul jaggery or sugar and is most popular in hot areas of the country.

A decoction of the roots is used in treatment of asthma.

The hard outer covering of the fruit is also used. It is boiled and drunk as in the case of beli flowers and has the same values.