Bael tree is considered a sacred tree. Its leaves are offered in prayers. It is known as Adhararutha in Sanskrit, Iyalbudi in Tamil, Sriphalamu in Telugu, Billi in Gujarati, Bengal quince or stone apple in English and Bel in Hindi and Bengali.1 Its scientific name is Aegle marmelos,and might prove to be one of the most important medicinal plants in India, Ceylon and Burma.2
”No drug has been longer and better known nor more appreciated by the inhabitants of India than the Bael fruit,” said Chopra accurately in his book, Indigenous drugs of India (1982). Bael has been used in the Ayurveda as a part of various formulations since ancient times to help with boils, dysentery, earaches, discharge from ears and fever/cold.2
Did You Know?
Bael is rich in the following nutrients:
| Nutrients | Percentage content (%) |
| Proteins | 1.8 |
| Fats | 0.3 |
| Minerals | 1.7 |
| Fibre | 2.9 |
| Carbohydrates | 31.8 |
| Calcium | 0.085 |
| Phosphorous | 0.050 |
| Potassium | 0.60 |
| Vitamin C | 0.008 |
Table depicting the nutritional value of bael3
I have observed that Bael fruit has been traditionally used for the management of jaundice. Bael contains compounds that help in improving liver function and promoting the elimination of toxins from the body. These properties of Bael may support the recovery from jaundice and help in restoring normal liver function.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD
Bael has various properties, and it might plays a role to help with many diseases.5 It might possess the potential properties such as:
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Bael might have the following potential uses:
According to animal studies, oral intake or injection of Bael fruit extract might help to lower blood glucose and haemoglobin-bound glucose levels. It might also help increase the level of insulin in the blood and might help the conversion of glucose in the liver.2 Certain compounds (coumarins) present in the bael fruit extract might help in the secretion of insulin from the liver, thus might be helpful in lowering blood sugar levels.2
Furthermore, as per a clinical trial, lowering of blood cholesterol and slight lowering of blood glucose might be possible in some patients with diabetes to whom Bael leaf extract was administered.2 However, more research is required. Kindly consult a doctor for seriosu conditions such as diabetes which must be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.
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Bael might have stomach protective effects. Stomach ulcers are mainly formed due to the accumulation of free radicals in the stomach cells (oxidative stress).Bael might exhibit antiulcer properties through its potential antioxidant activity and might eliminate the oxidative stress in the stomach lining and ulcer formation. Additionally, the unripe Bael fruit might help with the damage to the stomach lining induced by absolute ethanol (alcohol) in the stomach.2 However, more research is required. Kindly consult a doctor, please do not self-medicate.
Bael extracts might help in the reduction of swelling, pain and fever.2 The alcoholic extract of Bael leaves might potentially inhibit the activation of a receptor (histamine receptor), which is responsible for inflammation and most of the symptoms of allergy and asthma.2 However, more research is required. Moreover, you should consult a doctor before using bael for health.
In one of the studies, the administration of Bael has shown the potential to interfere with the growth of a tumour.2 The exact mechanism has not yet been established, but the alcoholic extract of Bael might have the potential to help against the growth of cancer cells.2 A bioactive compound present in the leaf extract of Bael might show a potential to interfere with the growth of breast cancer cells.2 However, more research is required. Moreover, cancer is a serious condition and must be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.
Bael might be effective for various infections caused by bacteria, indicating that it might act as a potent antibacterial agent.2
Studies have shown that the 50% ethanolic extract of Bael might have an effect on the Ranikhet disease virus.2 It might also act on the early activities of the virus in the body and may stop it, which is in contrast to the activity of modern drugs being used to treat viral diseases.2
Furthermore, Bael leaf oil may show a protective effect against fungal infections.2 This activity may be due to its interference in the mechanism that leads to the growth of fungus in the body.2 Various studies have shown that it might have effectiveness against common fungal infections.2owever, more research is required to ascertain such claims.
The root extract and the unripe fruit pulp of Bael might help with diarrhoea, this potential use has been mentioned even in the ancient Indian texts. This may be due to its potential effect against various bacteria causing stomach infections.5 However, more studies are required. Kindly do not self-medicate.
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Based on my experience, I have seen positive effects of Bael fruit in the management of ulcer disease. The fruit contains certain compounds that have been found to possess anti-ulcer properties, which may help in reducing the symptoms of ulcers.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
Though there are studies that show the potential useof bael in various conditions, but these are insufficient and there is a need of further studies to establish the true extent of benefits of baelon human health.
Based on the recommendations from nutrition scientists, it is advised to include a minimum of 115 grams of bael fruit in your daily diet for a balanced nutrition. This fruit is rich in essential nutrients that can support optimal growth and development of the human body. By providing the necessary nutrients, bael fruit can promote overall health and well-being.
Dr. Smita barode, BAMS
Bael is a traditional medicinal plant, and all of its parts are utilised for their various therapeutic properties. The parts that can be used are:
Your Ayurvedic physician will prescribe you the form and dosage as per your health condition.
It is a traditional recipe commonly found in the households of North Eastern India, especially during summers.
Take bael fruit, wash it and break the hard shell from all around. Once it broke, remove the pulp in a bowl. Mash the pulp till it softens and strain the mixture to remove any solid particles or impurities. You can add chilled milk, cardamom powder, jaggery, and black salt to the bael pulp if you want.
Now that you understand the benefits of bael. Let’s look at some easy bael recipe ideas you can try out:
Get all the benefits of bael with these tasty recipes. Don’t be afraid to venture outside your comfort zone, while bael juice recipes may be easy, there are so many other ways to consume this fruit!
There are no common side effects reported with the use of Bael. However, if any kind of side effect is noticed, a physician should be consulted for expert opinion.
You should ensure to take general precautions before using bael for its potential health uses, especially by pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, elderly individuals and children. However, an Ayurvedic physician should be consulted for its use in specific conditions as the physician will prescribe the appropriate dosage and form.
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More research is required to study the interactions of bael with other drugs. Therefore, precaution should be taken and a doctor should be consulted to ensure the safety of using bael for you. Please do not self-medicate, alter, replace or discontinue any ongoing treatment by yourself.
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Bael might be helpful for diarrhoea. It has been used for centuries to deal with diarrhoea due to its potential activity against various bacteria which may cause it.5 However, please consult a doctor and do not self-medicate.
There are no published reports suggesting the benefit of Bael for hair.
Bael leaves might have potential properties and may help with elevated blood sugar levels, blood cholesterol levels, and for various infectious diseases etc.2 However, more studies are required to prove such claims. Kindly consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment of conditions.
Patients with diabetes may be able to consume Bael. It might help lower blood sugar levels and might have anti-diabetic properties.2 however, more studies are required to prove such effects of bael.
No reports regarding the usage of Bael as a cure for cataracts have been documented. Please consult a doctor.
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1. Patkar A, Desai N, Ranage A, Kalekar K. A review on AEGLE MARMELOS: A potential medicinal tree. Int Res J Pharm. 2012;3(8):86–91. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292739276_A_review_on_Aegle_marmelos_a_potential_medicinal_tree
2. Dhankhar S, Ruhil S, Balhara M, Dhankhar S, Chhillar AK. Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa: A potential source of Phytomedicine. J Med Plants Res. 2011;5(9):1497–507. Available from: https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380546385_Dhankhar%20et%20el.pdf
3. Pradesh M, Nadu T. Health Benefits of Bael Fruit Botanical Information on Fruit. :3–5. Available from: https://vikaspedia.in/health/ayush/ayurveda-1/ayurvedic-herbal-healing/health-benefits-of-bael-fruit
4. Mujeeb F, Bajpai P, Pathak N. Phytochemical evaluation, antimicrobial activity, and determination of bioactive components from leaves of aegle marmelos. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014. Available from: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2014/497606/
5. Rahman S, Parvin R. Therapeutic potential of Aegle marmelos (L.)-An overview. Asian Pacific J Trop Dis. 2014;4(1):71–7. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4027346/
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
A fruit which is not so good looking but loaded with essential nutrients”¦!
Yes, we are talking about bael fruit, or in Hindi, it is called bilwa. It is a sweet, aromatic fruit that grows on the bael tree. Bael is also known as the tree of Lord Shiva is of sacred value in India.
Bael or wood apple that goes with the botanical name Aegle marmelos is a middle-sized tree with slender branches, pale brown bark that often oozes edible gum. It is also an important medicinal plant with several uses in traditional medicine. All parts- root, leaf, trunk, fruit, and seeds of bael are beneficial in treating various diseases. The raw fruits look greenish-grey, while the woody exterior turns yellow upon ripening.
Bael is an uncommon but nutritious fruit. This fruit is rich in-
Bael fruit has ant-bacterial and anti-parasitic properties that help reduce diarrhea. Tannins present in bael help in fighting against the infection called shigellosis that causes diarrhea and cholera.
Young children, travelers, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to Shigella infection. Some studies suggest that consuming ripe bael may control cholera and diarrhea.
Bael is the best fruit for all digestive problems that have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties. Its magical juice may control gastric ulcers caused due to the imbalance of mucosa and levels of oxidative stress in the gastric tract. It also has laxative properties that prevent constipation.
Bael juice helps in cholesterol control and also reduces blood cholesterol levels. It is a cardio-protective fruit that is rich in antioxidants that reduces the risk of heart diseases.
The bark and branches of bael are rich with a compound-Feronia gum that reduces the elevated blood glucose level. In Ayurveda, bael is an essential remedy for diabetes. Bael stimulates the pancreas and helps them to produce insulin that controls sugar levels in the blood.
Due to the presence of anti-bacterial, anti-fungus, and anti-inflammatory properties of bael, it is an excellent remedy for skin infections. Bael leaf oil inhibits common types of fungus that infect the skin. It can also be beneficial for skin rash and itchy bumps.
It is a blood purifier because it is rich in minerals that help flush all toxins from the body. It is a natural detoxifying agent and thus, prevents kidney and liver dysfunctions.
Bael is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants that help control your symptoms of scurvy. Scurvy can cause a deficiency of Vitamin C in the body resulting in sore arms and legs and weakness. Bael juice is a good source of vitamins and cures this disease.
Extract from bael fruit contains antioxidants with the ability to scavenge for free radicals. Those free radicles may beneficial to reduce the cancer risk. The study suggests that consumption of this juice regularly prevents or cures breast cancer.
Bael juice is a powerhouse of vitamin C and antioxidants that boost immunity. Drinking a bael juice during monsoons will help in preventing infections due to bacteria and viruses.
Daily consumption of bael may stimulate the production of prolactin and corticoids. It turns to induces galactagogue action and thereby helps in improving lactation and the quality of breast milk. For good results, drink bael juice with dry ginger powder and jaggery by the infant mothers.
It is a traditional recipe commonly found in the households of North Eastern India, especially during summers.
Take bael fruit, wash it and break the hard shell from all around. Once it broke, remove the pulp in a bowl. Mash the pulp till it softens and strain the mixture to remove any solid particles or impurities. You can add chilled milk, cardamom powder, jaggery, and black salt to the bael pulp if you want.
Now that you understand the benefits of bael. Let’s look at some easy bael recipe ideas you can try out:
Get all the benefits of bael with these tasty recipes. Don’t be afraid to venture outside your comfort zone, while bael juice recipes may be easy, there are so many other ways to consume this fruit!
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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
