AEGLE MARMELOS

AEGLE MARMELOS

(Bel Fruit)

PHARMACY - Aegle. Aegle marmelos. Bel fruit. Bael fruit. Bae! tree. N. 0. Rutaceae. Historical dose: Tincture and all potencies.

CLINICAL - Allergies. Asthma. Backache. Bronchitis. Coccygodynia. Conjunctivitis. Constipation. Coryza. Dermatitis. Diarrhea. Dyspepsia. Dysentery. Dysmenorrhea. Eczema. Headaches. Hoarseness. Infertility. Intermittent fever. Laryngitis. Lumbago. Migraines. Palpitations. Polyps, nasal. Rheumatism. Rhinitis. Ringworm. Scabies. Spring catarrh. Stomatitis. Styes. Vertigo.

HERBAL - The Aegle Marmelos tree is indigenous to India and is found wild all over the Sub-Himalayan forests, in Bengali, in Central and South India, and in Burma. It is also cultivated to a great extent.

Different parts of the bel tree are used in Ayurvedic medicine. The root bark is used in the form of a decoction as a remedy in hypochondriasis, melancholia, intermittent fever and palpitation of the heart.

It constitutes an ingredient in the "Dasam-ul" often roots used by the Ayurvedic physicians. The leaves are made into a poultice and applied to inflamed parts. The fresh juice is bitter and pungent, and when mixed with water is praised as a remedy in catarrh and feverishness.

The fruit, both green and ripe, is used against diarrhea and intestinal conditions. For diarrhea and dysentery, the roasted or sun-dried unripe fruit cut in slices is general used. The astringent rind of the ripe fruit is employed in dying and tanning and it is also used medicinally.

Ayurvedic physicians note that the ripe fruit is nutritious, delicious, aromatic, alter-native and a laxative. It is given with sugar candy to prevent the growth of piles and to remove habitual constipation.

When taken in excess it often causes flatulence. Syrup of ripe fruits is used in dyspepsia. The root bark is a refrigerant, and is given in fevers and asthma, with palpitations of the heart.

ln native practice, a poultice of the leaves is applied to the chest in acute bronchitis.

The decoction of the Aegle leaves is given in asthma, a marmalade of bel fruit is a household remedy for diarrhea and dysentery.

HOMEOPATHIC - A proving of Aegle marmelos was done by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy of the Ministry of health and family welfare, Government of India, giving a good array of symptoms. It showed a marked affinity for the gastrointestinal tract, skin and upper respiratory tract though it has also evoked symptoms from head, eyes, genitalia, back and extremities.

A study to clinically confirm the symptoms elicited during proving is in progress and the data obtained so far show its positive application in vertigo, styes, rhinitis, stomatitis and gastritis. Nocturnal seminal emission with amorous dreams.

Backache and cramps in calf muscles. Lachrymation and burning in eyes, better closing eyes. Allergic conjunctivitis. Styes, especially when accompanied with stitching pain and sensation of dust particles in eyes with lachrymation (Sulph., Staph.). Aphthae with difficulty in eating.

MIND- Disinclination to talk. Disinclination to work, with sadness. Irritability. Hypochondria is. Melancholy.

Abdomen - Pain in abdomen around umbilicus. Rumbling in abdomen with diarrhea and increased thirst.

Back - Backache, better lying down worse, turning in bed. Pain in right lumbar region, worse walking, stooping. Pain in coccyx, worse getting up, better walking, lying down.

Chest - Burning sensation in chest. Eruptions, small round patches on chest itching, burning, worse from bathing, sun, and friction of clothes.

Eyes - Redness of eyes, worse from straining. Stitching pain in eyes. Swelling of both upper eyelids. Sensation as if dust particles in righteye, worse touch. Stye in the left lower eyelid. Burning lachrymation with irritability and disinclination to talk. Blurred vision in left eye 

Face - Small eruptions on forehead and cheek. Black, raised eruption on chin. female Dysmenorrhea with pain in the back and legs. worse sitting. Menses dark, blackish.

Food-Thirst increased. Appetite increased. with pam in abdomen.

Head – Bursting pain, better from tea. sleep. Pain as 1f beaten by hammer, with anger and disinclination to talk, worse after sleep. Hammering pain. left side. worse looking at an object or after sleep, better from closing eyes and in the afternoon.

Limbs - Pain in knee and ankle joints. with sadness and disinclination to work, better pressure. bath111g. and sitting. worse walking. Sensation as if legs were being cut. Pain and weakness in left leg, cramping pain worse flexing knee, sitting. Pain in left leg worse walking, feels as 1f stretched. Pain in calf muscles. itching on both lower limbs.

Male - Nocturnal seminal emissions.

Mouth Pain in teeth. Itching over tongue with aching. Aphthae.

Nose - Coryza with sensation of heat in whole body and thirstlessness. Coryza with achiness. Sneezing with itching in nostrils. watery discharge. Thick. white nasal discharge. Burning in right nostril with raw and red surface.

Rectum - Constipation Loose stool. Pro-fuse, yellowish emission stool. Odorless stool with pain and rumbling in abdomen, increased thirst.

Stomach - Sinking sensation in stomach, not relieved by eating

Throat - Pain, constricting with difficult speech. Voice heavy and hoarseness, worse from talking. Pain in throat and in the right ear, worse morning, evening. Stitching pain. worse swallowing, drink-mg and eating.

Vertigo - Vertigo with tendency 10 fall for-ward. Vertigo with constipation. Vertigo better lying down. Vertigo worse walking, sitting and standing.

COMMENTS- R. N. Khory. in the Materia Medica of India, noted many traditional uses for Aegle. Aegle marmelos is held sacred by the Hindus. and its leaves are presented to Shiva as an offering by the devotees. It is often planted near the temples. The Hindus consider it an emblem of fertility and a very auspicious plant. No herbal remedy has been longer and better known or appreciated by the in habitants of India than the bael fruit. Two types of fruit are available in the market: a small. wild variety and a cultivated variety. The full-grown fruit of either variety, when in just begins to ripen. is best for medicinal purposes.

The unripe or half-ripe fruit is regarded as an astringent. digestive, stomachic and is said to he an excellent remedy for diarrhea owing to the presence of tannins or mucilaginous substances. It is said to be particularly useful in chronic diarrhea. It is sometimes used in combination with opium by ayurvedic practitioners.

The fruit is also sliced and a configure made from it. which 1s commonly used by Hindu physicians in the treatment of diarrheas and dysentery.

The ripe fruit is sweet, aromatic and cooling. When taken fresh, it possesses laxative proprieties. The dried pulp is pale orange or flesh colored, and when mixed with water, makes a pleasant orange colored food which has mild astringent properties.

REFERENCES – Ghose.