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Aegle marmelos locally called as 'Bilva' is a medium sized tree that grows all over India. It is highly praised in the Ayurvedic texts for various therapeutic benefits. It has anti-psychotic and anti-hypertensive effects. The medication from the fruits prepared in the form of syrup had satisfactory results in these two conditions.
Essential hypertension is a man made clinical condition in which the cardinal symptom is elevated systolic blood pressure. It appears that the Bilva syrup has promising results.
INTRODUCTION
In an ancient science of health, originated in India, called Ayurved, many simple and harmless remedies are described. Bilva is one such herbal remedy. Since time, immemorial Bilva (Aegle marmelos Corr.) plant is used for the treatment of various disorders ranging from irritation and inflammations of the gastro intestinal tract to calming the agitated and aggressive persons. The correct botanical scientific name of 'Bilva' is
Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.Serr.
Since both ripe and the unripe fruits are used in Ayurvedic therapeutics extensively, It is required to specify their indications. The indications fall generally into two broad groups, one for the Gastro intestinal tract (Digestive system) disturbances and the other for the Central Nervous system disturbances.
The unripe fruits are light to dark green in colour. As they mature they become yellowish green to yellow and finally they turn yellowish brown after full maturity. The shape of the fruit is usually round, but sometimes it is elongated. The thickness of the outer skin varies from cultivar to cultivar, from papery thin to appreciably thick and hard.
Charak has quoted Bilva to treat variety of diseases, viz. Arsha, Raktarsha Shotha, Gulma, Medoroga, Kasa, Jwara, Atisar etc. Charak has included Bilva in Arshoghna, Asthapanopagam, Shothahar, Dashamani, Ganas among 50. Mahakashayas. Moreover Charak has used different parts of Bilva for different purposes.
Sushrut, the father of surgery, also indicates Bilva in various disorders. Sushrut includes Bilva in Brihat-Pancha-Mula, Varunadi & Ambashthadi Ganas. In the present study Bilva syrup was tried in diarrhea and daily stress measured in the form of different parameters.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
STANDARADIZATION OF BILVA SYRUP
Unripe fruit is preferred for anti-diarrhoeal purposes. The botanical name of Bilva is as follows:
Order : Sapindales
Family : Rutaceae
Subfamily : Aurantioideae
Tribe : Clauseneae
Genus :...