बिल्व

• Botanical Name: Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa
• Family: Rutaceae
• Synonyms: Sriphal, Shivadruma, Pootivat, Shaelpatra, Lakshmiputra
• Vernacular Name: Commonly known as “Bael” in Hindi, “Bengal Quince” in English, and “Vilvam” in Tamil.
• Classification: A deciduous tree belonging to the Rutaceae family.
• Habitat: Native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, often found in forests, hilly regions, and cultivated lands.
• Morphology: A medium-sized tree, growing up to 13–18 meters tall, with a gnarled trunk and spiny branches. The leaves are trifoliate, aromatic, and ovate. The flowers are greenish-white and fragrant, while the fruits are large, woody, and globose with a sweet, gummy orange pulp.
• Useful Parts: Fruits, leaves, roots, bark, and seeds.
• Chemical Composition: Contains tannins, volatile oils, mucilage, coumarins, alkaloids, and vitamins like riboflavin and thiamine. The fruit pulp is rich in pectin and carotenoids.
• Pharmacological Action: Known for its astringent, digestive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties. It is used in treating diarrhea, dysentery, peptic ulcers, and respiratory disorders.
• Formulation: Used in Ayurvedic preparations like Bilvadi Churna, Bael Sharbat, and herbal teas for digestive health.

Rasa: Kasaya, Tikta

Guna: Laghu , Ruksha

Virya: Ushna

Vipaka: Katu