Medicinal uses of Aegle marmelos (Bael) The leaves of Aegle marmelos, neem and tulsi are made of a decoction

which is said to decrease symptoms in HIV AI!" patients# $eaves and unripe fruit decoction of the plant is ta%en for dia&etes, cholera, 'aundice and aphthamia# (enerally, it acts as alterative, nutritive, carminative, anti)scor&utic, heart and &rain tonic, aromatic and astringent# The fruit of Aegle marmelos consists of moisture *+#, per cent, protein +#- per cent, fat .#/ per cent, minerals +#0 per cent, fi&re 1#2 per cent and car&ohydrates /+#- per cent per +.. grams of edi&le portion# Its mineral and vitamin contents include calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, thiamin, ri&oflavin, niacin and vitamin 3# Its calorific value is +/0# The chemical constituents that have &een isolated from various parts of the &ael tree include al%aloids, coumarins and steroids# The leaves contain s%imianinc, sterol and aegelin# The fruit possesses marmorosin, which is identical to imperatorin# The odler coumarins found in fruits are altoimperatorin and B sitosterol# The psoralin, 4anthoto4in, scopoletin and tem&amide found in the root The fruit is aromatic, cooling and la4ative# It com&ats &leeding# The unripe or half)ripe fruit is good for digestion, used as a cure and prevention for scurvy, strengthens stomach tissues# 5or constipation6 the ripe Bael (Aegle marmelos) fruit is recommended, it acts as a la4ative# 7ipe fruit of Aegle marmelos cleanses and tones the intestines, and if ta%en for 1)/ months, it throws out the old accumulated faecal matters# In this case, the sher&et is prepared from the ripe fruit# The fruit shell is &ro%en to remove the seeds &y using a spoon, sieved, then mil% and a few amount of sugar are added as a sweetener# But the pulp of the ripe fruit can also &e ta%en without adding mil% or sugar#

5or diarrhea and dysentery6 unripe or half)ripe fruit pulp can &e used in a form of powder#

The leaf or its powder is used in peptic ulcers6 unheaped teaspoon in a cup of warm water can &e ta%en twice a day, and if it8s the leaves6 they have to &e soa%ed in the water the whole night#

5or ear pro&lems6 the root can &e &eneficial if mi4ed with the neem oil and used as an ear drop# The fresh root can &e deepened in the neem oil, or a teaspoonful of powdered root can &e soa%ed in the oil and then s9uee:e out the liguid using a muslin cloth#

5or respiratory disorders6 medicated oil is prepared from Aegle marmelos leaves, mi4ed with an e9ual 9uantity of sesame oil, heated thoroughly, a few seeds of &lac% pepper and half a teaspoon of &lac% cumin are added to the heated oil# After it cools down, it is sieved and stored for daily usage# ;sually a teaspoonful of the oil is massaged on the scalp#

3aution $ong time use of Aegle marmelos may cause conse9uent flatulence in the a&domen, sensation of heaviness in the stomach and lac% of normal elasticity in the intestines# <ac%aging +..grams, 5ruit)pulp powder Bul% &uyers get discount, email to6 sales=aminaher&s#com

Anacardium occidentale (Anacardiaceae) 3A"H>? @;T, >A"T I@!IA@ A$MA@!

The cashew nutBs oil and 'uice are used &y her&alists# The oil, which is corrosive, is applied to growths such as warts# the 'uice is given for disorders of the wom& and is used homeopathically for an4iety and &reathlessness#

As with many tropical forest trees, different parts of the cashew tree are used locally for a range of purposes from insecticide to in%, as well as in medicine# @ative to "outh American 'ungles, the cashew is cultivated in the tropical :ones of other countries# The tree grows to +1 m (C. ft) and has &lunt oval leaves# ?hen its small yellowish)pin% flowers fall, their receptacles swell and produce a %idney)shaped greyish fruit containing the cashew nut %ernel#

<A7T" ;">!

Bar%, 'uice and oil from fruit, %ernels#

A3TIV> I@(7>!I>@T" <rotein6 niacin6 anacardic acid6 cardol6 magnesium6 iron#

A3TIA@" Bar% e4tracts help to reduce fever6 oil from the fruit dissolves protein in dead s%in6 fruit 'uice increases urine production6 %ernels are nutritive#

M>!I3I@A$ ;"> The oil can &e used to remove warts, corns, ringworm, and cancerous ulcers# The fruit 'uice has &een used in wom& complaints# It is also given in homeopathic doses (Anacardium) for an4iety, &reathing difficulties, and digestive tract disorders#

<7><A7ATIA@" 5resh 'uice, oil, dried %ernels, decoction of &ar%, homeopathic remedies#

3A;TIA@ The oil is corrosive, use with care#

Aloe has &een well %nown for centuries for its healing properties, and &oth oral inta%e and topical dressings have &een documented to facilitate healing of any %ind of s%in wound, &urn, or scald ) even speeding recovery time after surgery# "ituations to try it on include &listers, insect &ites, rashes, sores, herpes, urticaria, athleteBs foot, fungus, vaginal infections, con'unctivitis, sties, allergic reactions, and dry s%in# The raw plant is &est, &ut commercial preparations can also &e used, especially for ta%ing orally, as this plant tastes horri&le# Ather topical uses include acne, sun&urn, frost&ite (it appears to prevent decreased &lood flow), shingles, screening out 4)ray radiation, psoriasis, preventing scarring, rosacea, warts, wrin%les from aging, and ec:ema#

Internally, aloe is showing real promise in the fight against AI!", and the virus has &ecome undetecta&le in some patients who used it on a regular &asis, due to its immune system stimulant properties# It also seems to help prevent opportunistic infections in cases of HIV and AI!"# It appears to &e of help in cancer patients (including lung cancer) &y activating the white &lood cells and promoting growth of non)cancerous cells# The @ational 3ancer Institute has included Aloe Vera in their recommendations for increased testing &ecause of these apparent cancer fighting properties# Ta%en orally, aloe also appears to wor% on heart&urn, arthritis and rheumatism pain and asthma, and studies have shown that it has an effect on lowering &lood sugar levels in dia&etics# Ather situations in which it appears to wor% when ta%en internally include congestion, intestinal worms, indigestion, stomach ulcers, colitis, hemorrhoids, liver pro&lems such as cirrhosis and hepatitis, %idney infections, urinary tract infections, prostate pro&lems, and as a general deto4ifier# $astly, many people who ta%e aloe internally report 'ust feeling &etter overall, which is in and of itself something of a testament to its remar%a&le properties#

3ommercially, aloe can &e found in pills, sprays, ointments, lotions, li9uids, drin%s, 'ellies, and creams, to name a few of the thousands of products availa&le# ;nfortunately, the aloe industry is virtually unregulated, and some products that advertise aloe content actually have little to none# Therefore, if you are em&ar%ing on a regimen with aloe, you should &ecome an avid reader of ingredients# $oo% for the word aloe to appear near the top of the ingredient list first and foremost, then follow the guidelines &elowD

"un&urn treatments ) 1.E or more aloe content 3reams F Aintments ) 1.E or more aloe content Guices ) 2,E or more aloe content Beverages ) ,.E or more aloe content !rin%s ) +.E or more aloe content 3apsules ) ,)+.E or more aloe content

As far as dosages are concerned, start small and wor% your way up to a therapeutic dose# Guices are a good way to start, and pills are pro&a&ly the worst way to go with aloe# Aloe pulp is 2,E water, and if you consider the process of drying this, then stic%ing it &ac% together into a pill form, you can see why pills are pro&a&ly not the &est way to go# Also, give your regimen time to wor%# "ometimes it ta%es a couple of months for you to see the real effects of aloe treatments, so donBt give up too soon#

Aloe is safe when used in moderation, &ut there are a few contraindications# If you have a heart pro&lem and use any %ind of digitalis medication, consult your doctor &efore using any aloe product internally, as the interaction may cause irregular heart&eat# Avoid aloe preparations if you are pregnant, &reast feeding, or menstruating, as it can cause uterine contractions#

Botanical "ource#H"pearmint is a creeping)rooted, her&aceous plant, with erect, &ranching, 9uadrangular, smooth stems, + or 1 feet high# The leaves are su&sessile, ovate)lanceolate, une9ually serrated, and smooth6 those under the flowers all &ract)li%e, rather longer than the whorls6 these last and the calyces hairy or smooth# The flowers are pale purple# "pi%es cylindrical and loose# ?horls appro4imated, or the lowest or all of them distant6 peduncles smooth, round, and shining# The caly4 is &ell)shaped and ,) toothed# 3orolla funnel)shaped ($#H?#)#

History and 3hemical 3omposition#H"pearmint (Her&a menthae acutae Ivel 7omanaeJ) is an >uropean her&, &ut li%e the preceding species of mint, is e4tensively cultivated in various moist places in this country on account of its oil, and for domestic use# It flowers in Guly and August6 the whole her& is medicinal, and should &e gathered for medicinal use during dry weather and previous to the full development of the flowers# If gathered to procure its oil, it should &e done after the flowers have &ecome developed, and &efore the ripening of the seeds, It has a strong, peculiar, aromatic odor, and an aromatic, faintly &itter taste, followed &y coolness in the mouth during inhalation# ?hen the plant is carefully dried, these properties are preserved for a long time# Its virtues are due to a volatile oil (see Aleum Menthae Viridis), which may &e o&tained &y distillation with water# Alcohol e4tracts its virtues, also water &y infusion# It contains a little tannin#

!escription#HK$eaves a&out , 3m# (1 inches) long, su&sessile, lance)ovate, acute, serrate, glandular, nearly smooth6 &ranches 9uadrangular, mostly light)green6 flowers in terminal, interrupted, narrow, acute spi%es, with a tu&ular, sharply ,)toothed, caly4, a light)purplish C)lo&ed corolla, and C rather long stamens6 odor aromatic6 taste

pungentKH(;# "# <#)#

Action, Medical ;ses, and !osage#HThe carminative, antispasmodic, and stimulant properties of spearmint are somewhat inferior to those of peppermint6 its principal employment is for its diuretic and fe&rifuge virtues# As a fe&rifuge, it is superior to peppermint, and may &e used freely in warm infusion# The cold infusion is &eneficial in high color, or scalding of urine, difficult micturition, etc#6 it may &e used alone or in com&ination with marshmallow root# In fact, it is one of the &est of simple diuretics, and acts nicely with potassium acetate# A saturated tincture of the fresh her& with gin has &een found servicea&le in gonorrhoea, strangury, suppressed urine, gravel, and as a local application to painful hemorrhoids# The oil is diuretic, stimulant, antispasmodic, and ru&efacient, and is used e4ternally in rheumatic and other pains# !ose, same as peppermint#

Averview <lantain is native to "outheast Asia and India and cultivated in tropical and su&tropical regions# The fruits are pic%ed when they are unripe and starch)rich, &ut when they ripen the starch turns into simple sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose)# Musa paradisiaca is a&out /. feet high and produces green or greenish)yellow seedless fruits, so fruits develop parthenocarpically (in the a&sence of seed development)# The name KplantainK refers to Musa paradisiaca l#, which re9uires coo%ing &efore it is eaten# An into4icating drin% can &e prepared from the fruit# The leaves are cut into strips and woven into mats and &ags# (+,1)#

Historical ;ses Inflammation, rheumatism, gripe, dia&etes, antihypertensive# ;nripe &ananas and plantain fruits are astringent, and used to treat diarrhea# The leaves are used for cough and &ronchitis# The roots can arrest hemoptysis and posses strongly astringent, and anthelmintic properties# <lantain 'uice is used as an antidote for sna%e&ite# Ather uses are asthma, &urns, dia&etes, dysentery, e4cessive menstrual flow, fever, gangrene, gout, headache, hemorrhage, inflammation, insomnia, intestinal parasites, sores, syphilis, tu&erculosis, ulcers, warts (/)# In "urinameBs traditional medicine, the red protecting leaves of the &ud was used against heavy menstrual &leeding (menorrhagia)# Ather therapeutic uses were against diarrhea, dysentery, migraine, hypertension, asthma and 'aundice

<roven "cientific >vidence The leaves have &een studied as treatment for &ronchitis and cold# "tudies in rats demonstrate effectiveness for stone lysis# <lantain 'uice was used as an antidote for sna%e&ite in the >ast, (C, +1)# In animal studies, the e4tract of Musa paradisiaca green fruits reduced hyperglycemia in normal and dia&etic mice (,), and protected the gastric mucosa from aspirin)induced erosion stimulating gastric and colonic mucosa (*), and had direct vasodilation effect (0) and nonspecific rela4ing and inhi&iting effect on aortic and portal smooth muscles# There was evidence in vivo antimicro&ial activity of Musa paradisiaca l# root e4tract (-)# The root e4tracts show in vitro anti micro&ial activity#

;ses

3oconut is one of the ten most useful trees in the world, providing food for millions of people, especially in the tropics# At any one time a coconut palm has +1 different crops of nuts on it, from opening flower to ripe nut# At the top of the tree is the growing point, a &undle of tightly pac%ed, yellow)white, ca&&age)li%e leaves, which, if damaged, causes entire tree to die, &ut if tree can &e spared, this heart ma%es a tasty treat, a BmillionaireBs saladB# ;nopened flowers are protected &y sheath, often used to fashion shoes, caps, even a %ind of pressed helmet for soldiers# Apened flowers provide a good honey for &ees# A clump of unopened flowers may &e &ound tightly together, &ent over and its tip &ruised# "oon it &egins to BweepB a steady dripping of sweet 'uice, up to a gallon per day# It contains +*)/. mg ascor&ic acid +.. g# The cloudy &rown li9uid is easily &oiled down to syrup, called coconut molasses, then crystali:ed into a righ dar% sugar, almost e4actly li%e maple sugar# "ometimes it is mi4ed with grated coconut for candy# $eft standing, it ferments 9uic%ly into a &eer with alcohol content up to -E, called BtoddyB in India and "ri $an%a6 Btu&aB in <hilippines and Me4ico6 and Btuwa%B in Indonesia# After a few wee%s, it &ecomes a vinegar# BArrac%B is the product after distilling fermented BtoddyB and is a common spirituous li9uor consumed in the >ast# @ut has a hus%, which is a mass of pac%ed fi&ers called coir, which can &e woven into strong twine or rope, and is used for padding mattresses, upholstery and life)preservers# 5i&er resistant to sea water and is used for ca&les and rigging on ships, for ma%ing mats, rugs, &ags, &rooms, &rushes, and olive oil filters in Italy and (reece6 also used for fires and mos9uito smudges# If nut is allowed to germinate, cavity fills with a spongy mass called B&readB which is eaten raw or toasted in shell over fire# "prouting seeds may &e eaten li%e celery# "hell is hard and fine)grained, and may &e carved into all %inds of o&'ects, as drin%ing cups, dippers, scoops, smo%ing pipe &owls, and collecting cups for ru&&er late4# 3harcoal used for coo%ing fires, air filters, in gas mas%s, su&marines, and cigarette tips# "hells &urned as

fuel for copra %ilns or housefires# 3oconut shell flour used in industry as filler in plastics# 3oconut water is produced &y a , month old nut, a&out 1 cups of crystal clear, cool sweet (invert sugars and sucrose) li9uid, so pure and sterile that during ?orld ?ar II, it was used in emergencies instead of sterile glucose solution, and put directly into a patientBs veins# Also contains growth su&stances, minerals, and vitamins# Boiled toddy, %nown as 'aggery, with lime ma%es a good cement# @utmeat of immature coconuts is li%e a custard in flavor and consistency, and is eaten or scraped and s9uee:ed through cloth to yield a BcreamB or Bmil%B used on various foods# 3oo%ed with rice to ma%e <anamaBs famous Barro: con cocoB6 also coo%ed with taro leaves or game, and used in coffee as cream# !ried, desiccated, and shredded it is used in ca%es, pies, candies, and in curries and sweets# ?hen nuts are cut open and dried, meat &ecomes copra, which is processed for oil, rich in glycerine and used to ma%e soaps, shampoos, shaving creams, toothpaste lotions, lu&ricants, hydraulic fluid, paints, synthetic ru&&er, plastics, margarine, and in ice cream# In India, the Hindus ma%e a vegetarian &utter called BgheeB from coconut oil6 also used in infant formulas# ?hen copra is heated, the clear oil separates out easily, and is made this way for home use in producing countries# ;sed in lamps# 3a%e residue used as cattle fodder, as it is rich in proteins and sugar6 should not give more than C), l&s animal day, as &utter from mil% will have a tallow flavor# As ca%e is deficient in calcium, it should &e fed together with calcium rich foods# Trun% wood used for &uilding sheds and other semi)permanent &uildings# Auter wood is close)grained, hard, and heavy, and when well seasoned, has an attractive dar% colored grain adapta&le for carving, especially ornamentals under the name of Bporcupine woodB# 3oconut logs should not &e used for fences, as decayed wood ma%es favora&le &reeding places for &eetles# $ogs are used to ma%e rafts# "ections of stem, after scooping out pith, are used as flumes or gutters for carrying water# <ith of stem contains starch which may &e e4tracted and used as flour# <itch from top of tree is sometimes pic%led in coconut vinegar# 3oconut leaves made into thin strips are woven into clothing, furnishings, screens, and walls of temporary &uildings# "tiff midri&s ma%e coo%ing s%ewers, arrows, &rooms, &rushes, and for fish traps# $eaf fi&er used in India to ma%e mats, slippers, and &ags# ;sed to ma%e short)lived torches# 3oconut roots provide a dye, a mouthwash, a medicine for dysentery, and frayed out ma%e tooth&urshes6 scorched, used as coffee su&stitute# Believed to &e anti&lenorrhagic, anti&ronchitis, fe&rifugal, and antigingivitic# 3oconut palm is useful as an ornamental6 its only draw&ac% &eing the heavy nuts which may cause in'ury to man, &east, or rooftop when they hit in falling (!u%e, +201)# 5ol% Medicine

According to Hartwell (+2*0)+20+) coconuts are used in fol% remedies for tumors# 7eported to &e anthelmintic, antidotal, antiseptic, aperient, aphrodisiac, astringent, &actericidal, depurative, diuretic, hemostat, pediculicide, purgative, refrigerant, stomachic, styptic, suppurative, and vermifuge, coconut, somewhere or other, is a fol% remedy for a&scesses, alopecia, amenorrhea, asthma, &lenorrhagia, &ronchitis, &ruises,

&urns, cache4ia, calculus, colds, constipation, cough, de&ility, dropsy, dysentery, dysmenorrhea, earache, erysipelas, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, hematemesis, hemoptysis, 'aundice, menorrhagia, nausea, phthisis, pregnancy, rash, sca&ies, scurvy, sorethroat, stomach, swelling, syphylis, toothache, tu&erculosis, tumors, typhoid, venereal diseases, and wounds (!u%e and ?ain, +2-+)#

A&stract The medicinal plants are widely used &y the traditional medical practitioners for curing various diseases in their day to day practice# In traditional systems of medicine, different parts (leaves, stem, flower, root, seeds and even whole plant) of Acimum sanctum $inn (%nown as Tulsi in Hindi), a small her& seen throughout India, have &een recommended for the treatment of &ronchitis, &ronchial asthma, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, s%in diseases, arthritis, painful eye diseases, chronic fever, insect &ite etc# The Acimum sanctum $# has also &een suggested to possess antifertility, anticancer, antidia&etic, antifungal, antimicro&ial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antiemetic, antispasmodic, analgesic, adaptogenic and diaphoretic actions# >ugenol (+)hydro4y)1)metho4y)C) allyl&en:ene), the active constituent present in Acimum sanctum $#, has &een found to &e largely responsi&le for the therapeutic potentials of Tulsi# Although &ecause of its great therapeutic potentials and wide occurrence in India the practitioners of traditional systems of medicine have &een using Acimum sanctum $# for curing various ailments, a rational approach to this traditional medical practice with modern system of medicine is, however, not much availa&le# In order to esta&lish the therapeutic uses of Acimum sanctum $# in modern medicine, in last few decades several Indian scientists and researchers have studied the pharmacological effects of steam distilled, petroleum ether and &en:ene e4tracts of various parts of Tulsi plant and eugenol on immune system, reproductive system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, gastric system, urinary system and &lood &iochemistry and have descri&ed the therapeutic significance of Tulsi in management of various ailments# These pharmacological studies have esta&lished a scientific &asis for therapeutic uses of this plant#