Piper betle

Description:
Botanical name : Piper betle Linn.

Family : Piperaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMST :amboolavalli, Tamboola, Tamboolavallika

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES:

Rasa : Tikta, Katu

Guna : Lakhu, Visada, Teekshna, Rooksha

Virya : Ushna

Vipaka: Katu

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

English : Betel leaf plant Hindi : Pan Malayalam : Vetta, Vettila,

Distribution – Throughout India, cultivated in southern parts.

PLANT DESCRIPTION : A perennial root climber with semi woody stems. Leaves simple, alternate, ovate, cordate, acuminate or acute, entire and bright green. Male spikes dense and cyllindrical. Female pendulus. Roots arise from each node and that aid in fixing the plant in host tree.

Useful part : Leaf, Stem, Roots,

Betel leaf is the most valuable home remedy for common illness. The Betel (Piper betle) is a spice whose leaves have medicinal properties. The betel plant is a slender, aromatic creeper, rooting at the nodes. The branches of the plant are swollen at the nodes. The plant has alternate, heart-shaped, smooth, shining and long-stalked leaves, with pointed apex. It has five to seven ribs arising from the base; minute flowers and one-seeded spherical small berries.
Betel is a native of central and eastern Malaysia. It spread at a very early date throughout tropical Asia and later to Madagascar and East Africa. In India, it is widely cultivated in Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Offering betel morsel (pan-supari) to guests in Indian subcontinent is a common courtesy.
CONTENTS OF BETEL LEAVES:
Betel leaves contain tannins, sugar and diastases and an essential oil. The essential oil is a light yellow liquid of aromatic odor and sharp burning in taste. It contains a phenol called chavicol which has powerful antiseptic properties. The alkaloid arakene in it, has properties resembling cocaine in some respects.An analysis of the betel leaf shows it to consist of moisture 85.4 per cent, protein 3.1 per cent, fat 0.8 per cent, minerals 2.3 per cent, fiber 2.3 per cent and carbohydrates 6.1 per cent per 100 grams. Its minerals and vitamin contents are calcium, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C. Its calorific value is 44.

USES OF BETEL LEAVES:
The use of betel leaf can be traced as far back as two thousand years. Betel leaves help to heal the following illnesses. Such as:
HEADACHES:
Betel leaf is a popular home remedy for headache. The betel leaf has analgesic and cooling properties. It can be applied with beneficial results over the painful area to relieve intense headache.
SCANTY OR OBSTRUCTED URINATION:
Betel leaf juice is credited with diuretic properties. Its juice, mixed with dilute milk and sweetened slightly, helps in easing urination.
WEAKNESS OF NERVES:
Betel leaves play a vital role in the treatment of nervous pains, nervous exhaustion and debility. The juice of a few betel leaves, with a teaspoon of honey, will serve as a good tonic. A teaspoon of this can be taken twice a day.
SORE THROAT:
Betel leaf is an excellent household remedy in the treatment of cough and sore throat. Local application of the leaves is effective in treating sore throat. The crushed fruit or berry should be mixed with honey and taken to relieve irritating cough.
RESPIRATORY DISORDERS:
Betel leaves are useful in pulmonary affection in childhood and old age. The leaves, soaked in mustard oil and warmed, may be applied to the chest to relieve cough and difficulty in breathing.
CONSTIPATION:
In the case of constipation in children, a suppository made of the stalk of betel leaf dipped in castor oil can be introduced in the rectum. This instantly relieves constipation.
PROBLEM OF BREAST MILK SECRETION:
The application of leaves smeared with oil is said to promote secretion of milk when applied on the breasts during lactation
INFLAMMATION:
Applied locally, betel leaves are beneficial in the treatment of inflammation such as arthritis and orchitis that is inflammation of the testes.
WOUNDS:
Betel leaves can be used to heal wounds. The juice of a few leaves should be extracted and applied on the wound. Then a betel leaf should be wrapped over and bandaged. The wound will heal up with a single application within 2 days.
BOILS:
Betel leaf is also an effective remedy for boils. A leaf is gently warmed till it gets softened, and is then coated with a layer of castor oil. The oiled leaf is spread over the inflamed part. This leaf has to be replaced, every few hours. After a few applications, the boil will rupture draining all the purulent matter. The application can be made at night and removed in the morning.
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PRECAUTIONS:
Cancer of the mouth and lips has been found to be more frequent in areas where the betel chewing habit is widely prevalent. Other ill-effects of pan-chewing like dyspepsia, pyorrhea, cancer of the tongue and cheeks have also been observed amongst excessive chewers.