Traditional Drugs Abroad: Trying Betel Nut in Sulawesi - myWanderlist Traditional Drugs Abroad: Trying Betel Nut in Sulawesi 10th November 2013 / 15 comments Traditional drugs abroad: Chewing Betel nut in Sulawesi, Indonesia One shocking thing you will notice in the rural areas of Sulawesi is everyone smiling proudly, showing off their purple-stained slivers of teeth and a thick, bloody liquid oozing from their mouths. I was immediately curious what is driving the popularity of chewing this degenerative substance that makes them spit blood on the sidewalk. In the name of research (of course) I had to try it. Widespread Abuse Betel nut is an increasingly popular drug cocktail using a combination of locally-grown narcotic plants common to Southeast Asia. It is the 4th most used drug in the world behind caffeine, alcohol and nicotine. It is sold on the street corners of most small towns. In Sulawesi, these gifts are presented in sacred silver boxes at funerals as a symbol of friendship as ancient as their bizarre customs. Betel is the perfect gift for any local homestay in Tana Toraja. What is Betel Nut?

Betel nut goes by various names in each country but typically consists of and areca nut is wrapped in betel pepper leaves with mineral lime and sometimes includes spices to mask the bitter flavor of the areca nut. Tobacco leaves are often added, increasing addictiveness substantially. In Sulawesi, betel is also prepared with a mustard stick dipped in lime. Copius amounts of these ingredients can be bought for around US40 cents. These piles of innocent areca nuts adorning the sidewalk stands pack a punch A Hillbilly Drug Cocktail This homegrown concoction of medicinal plants contains a variety of drugs that creates a melody of effects on the body. Betel leaf is a mild stimulant, creates a warming sensation and creates a sense of alertness. Areca nut, which grows on a palm tree, contains arecoline, a powerful muscarinic that can rapidly cross the blood-brain barrier and increase alertness, stamina, and euphoria. Mustard stick is a stimulant used to suppress hunger, reduce stress and increase focus.

For the newbies, pre-made clods of betel nut are available A Cure for Everything Betel nut is prescribed by local witch doctors to kill worms, remove phlegm, improve breath, aid in digestion, incite passion, reduce stress and even to control schizophrenia. Believe it or not, this deformative substance was once marketed as a high-end toothpaste in the iconic Harrod’s Department Store in London. What could be so compelling about a debilitating drug that someone would proudly display their betel teeth in public? My notes from a night chewing betel nut with locals in Sulawesi, Indonesia Step 1: Cut open the areca nut to reveal the spotted center. I wrap it in leaves from the betel pepper plant. I chew it for a few minutes into a mushy consistency and form the contents into plug and place it between my gums and cheek. “The nut is soft with a strong, sour and bitter flavor and the spicy betel leaf mellows out the taste. It has a gritty consistency. After a few seconds my whole head and face is burning and flushed red.

My heart starts beating wildly.” The bitter meat of the areca nut creates intense feelings of euphoria Step 2: Dip the bean-shaped mustard fruit into a bag of white powder that made from crushed snail shells. The lime in this powder activates the chemicals in the areca nut. Bite the mustard seed directly into the wad. Caustic mineral lime made from snail shells activates powerful narcotics within these natural ingredients “The mustard fruit has an intense, face-warping bitter flavor that immediately makes me cringe. Despite creating a drying feeling in my mouth, I’m salivating like crazy, and it is a very gritty consistency. As I spit into a cup, my saliva is a deep orange red color like blood. I feel euphoric, dizzy and my legs are wobbly. I’m a bit high, but focused and energized.” Step 3: Add some raw tobacco to the mix and begin chewing… Spittling blood into a glass at dinner would cause an uproar anywhere else inthe world. Here, it is normal. “Within two minutes I have a deep mellow buzz. There is a tingling in my mouth where the wad is touching my cheek.

The concoction slowly turns a darker red color, the taste develops into a deep nutty smoky flavor that is quite refreshing.” Betel chewing | Infopedia Betel chewing The buah keluak (Pangium edule) tree is indigenous to Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, and is known as kepayang and ... ~ Related Pictures ~ Betel chewing (known in colonial days as betel-nut chewing) requires 3 different plants used in combination, namely, the betel nut which is the seed of the areca palm, the betel leaf which comes from the pan plant and lime juice. Originating from India, this addictive habit is the Asian parallel to tobacco chewing. A pan leaf is smeared with lime paste, then packed with boiled areca nut and spices, rolled into a quid then chewed until it reddens the mouth. Origins References to the Betel nut appear in ancient Greek, Sanskrit and Chinese literature as early as the first century BC. Its use has also been documented by ancient historians in Ceylon and Persia around 600 AD and parts of the Arab world by the 8th and 9th century.

It is believed that betel was brought to Europe by Marco Polo around 1300 and became an important commodity in the western pacific, particularly with the Dutch in the mid-1600s who gained from tax revenues on it. Today, it is cultivated mainly in India, Malaysia, Polynesia, Micronesia and most places in the South Pacific Islands. Description of plants The areca-nut palm (Areca catechu Linn.) is an unbranching, long plant extending up to 15 m and crowned with 6 to 9 palm fronds. The nut is the seed found within the egg-sized fruit. The nut is mottled brown with greyish white markings. It is gathered just before ripening usually between August and November, boiled and dried until it turns brown. The major active ingredient of betel nut is arecoline, constituting about 0.25%. It also contains small amounts of Pilocarpine and Muscarine. These ingredients have properties similar to the brain neurotransmitter acetycholine. The effects of chewing betel nut is similar to that of Nicotine. It produces a feeling of euphoria and acts as a stimulant.

If taken on an empty stomach, it can cause a decrease in appetite and diarrhoea. As a distant relative of cocaine, it is not so potent but it still has addictive element in the narcotic alkaloid arakene inherent in the nut. The Pan plant is a subtropical vine with heartshaped leaves that have a smooth glossy surface and visible veins running through it. Usage The active ingredients in betel nut has been used in veterinary medicine as a purgative and for deworming. It has also been used in toothpaste in England around 1842 but claims that betel strengthens enamel and removes tartar are questionable. On the contrary, it has been proven that betel stains teeth dark red and causes tooth decay. Aside from being a remedy for bad breath, there are various Ayurvedic or Hindu medicinal uses for the betel leaf. It is said to be good for the heart tissue, lowers the calorie intake, acts as a diuretic and is mildly addictive. Paan The art of Paan or the chewing of Betel dates back to the pre-Vedic Saivite Harappan empire. In Malaysia and Singapore the activity is known as makan sireh.

The prepared nuts boiled, sliced and sundried are wrapped with a Betel leaf from the Betel pepper. The combination of betel nut and other condiments is also known as quid. The leaf is wrapped and sprinkled with burnt lime or chunam made from limestone or burning sea shells or coral stones in water -- the process producing a chemical called calcium hydroxide. The lime releases alkaloids and causes salivation. Other spices include catechu gum from the Malayan acacia tree (Acacia catechu), tumeric and cardamom. In India, tobacco is sometimes used in this mixture. A clove corn joins one end of the betel leaf to the other so that all the goodness of this culinary speciality is neatly packaged into one morsel. Then the package is chewed and sucked on for several hours. A Betel chewer is recognised by the red staining of the mouth, gum, teeth and lips. Generating large amounts of saliva, the betel nut chewers like tobacco chewers, spit out the excess juices. It acts as a mouth freshner helping digestion and creating a sense of euphoria almost like chocolate does. These little morsels are sold as candy on the streets or market.

However, in traditional Indian households, a good host would after a sumptuous meal, offer a silver tray piled with a pyramid pile of Paan. In ancient India, women used to chew paan to acquire a redness on their lips and mouth, serving as a primitive lipstick. It is traditionally regarded as a medicinal substance and an aphrodisiac drug. The practise of chewing Paan was adopted by Buddhism and thus the habit widened beyond India and moved to China, Vietnam, Burma, Thailand Cambodia, Malaysia, Sumatra and Bali. The habit was popular not only with the Far East but also amongst the Chamorros or Guamanians, where archaeological evidence indicates that this habit was practised thousands of years. Legend and Myth An undated legend of Vietnamese origins centre around the betel leaf and Areca nut. The story begins with a pair of twin brothers who both fell in love with one woman. It was the older of the twin brother, Tan that married the woman as Vietnamese custom called for the elder to marry first. However one day in the confusion of identifying the right twin brother as her spouse the woman showed her affection to the younger of the twin brother, Lang.

Considered an extremely profane act, the younger Lang, filled with remorse, left home and died in a far flung place across the river. On the spot where he died, a slender tree bearing nuts in the shape of a heart sprung out. Concerned for his missing brother, the older brother similarly set off and by a twist of fate, rested by the areca plant died at the same spot where his younger brother laid. He in turn changed into a block of limestone. Finally, the wife set out and found the place where her husband and his twin had died and she too collapsed in despair. She became a betel vine that crept and twined round the limestone. The story is symbolic of the strong bonds of love and marriage and explain the use of betel chewing with lime and areca nut to signify love in marriage. Betel leaves are still offered at engagements and weddings. However, because of the natural high that this activity gives, chewing betel today has become a culinary speciality offered after a meal only for an honoured guest.

The Dangers Involved Almost as high as 7% of regular Betel chewers have precancerous lesions or leukoplakia on the muscosal lining of the mouth or on the tongue often leading to serious cancers in the oesophagus. A loss of elasticity in the tissue lining the mouth causing difficulty in eating and mouth ulcers are further negative effects. Betel nut's narcotic high is invariably addictive and thus detrimental. The habit of spitting out the chewed betel is also believed to aid the spread of diseases like tuberculosis. Variant Names Scientific name: Areca catechu, family name Palmaceae, part of the palm family. Indian name: Siri Supari (Hindu). Chinese name: Pin lang. Other names: Arcea Nut, Pinang, Penang. Betel leaf Common name: Betel pepper, Betel vine, Pan plant. Scientific name: Piper betle, family Piperacea. Indian name: Tambula (Sanskrit) for the betel leaf. Author Suchitthra Vasu References Jaffe, H. J. (1995). Encyclopedia of drugs and alcohol (pp. 161-163).

New York: Macmillan Library Reference. (Call no.: R q362.2903 ENC) The new encyclopaedia Britannica (15th ed.). (1997). Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica. (Call no.: R q031 NEW) Betelnut: Mama'on. (n.d.) Retrieved October 13, 2003, from ns.gov.gu/pugua.html The Epicurean, Palliative Pleasures of Paan. Hinduism Today. (1994, February). Retrieved December 16, 2004, from Further Readings Beran, H. (1988). Betel-chewing equipment of East New Guinea . Aylesbury: Shire. (Call no.: RSEA 732.209953 BER) Rooney, D. (1993). Betel chewing traditions in South-East Asia . Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press. (Call no.: R 394.14 ROO) Chewing over a favourite pastime. (1996, March 24). The Straits Times, Sunday Plus!, p.

4. The information in this article is valid as at 1999 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic. Subject Supari or betel nut (Areca catechu, Linn.) - Namah Journal Journal of New Approaches to Medicine and Health Namah Journal Supari or betel nut (Areca catechu, Linn.) Dr. K.H. Krishnamurthy The betel nut is a nut that is chewed as a mild stimulant. It is probably used much more frequently than other masticatory agents including tobacco, chewing gum and cola. This very ancient practice was indulged in by all classes of people throughout history. The habit is prevalent from the Reunion islands and Zanzibar to India, Burma, Malaysia, Vietnam, South eastern China, Indonesia, the Philippines and islands of the Pacific Ocean. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus described the habit as far back as 340 B.C. itself.

Chewing betel is so widespread in India that over 100,000 tons of nuts are used in India alone. It is usually chewed after meals or more commonly along with betel leaf or pan, with or without tobacco, and some-times with a variety of many other ingredients that are prepared in rather elaborate ways. Its chewing has become a ceremonial necessity in this country. It forms an auspicious material for greeting elders, guests and gods. Betel or areca nut (probably named after its name in Kannada, viz., adake) are the seeds of the betel palm, Areca catechu. They belong to the same family as the coconut i.e. Palmae. Chamber’s English Dictionary traces the root of the term Areca to a Portuguese adaptation of the Malaysian word, adekka, for the plant. The term catechu refers to a dark extract of some Indian plants such as acacia. In Malay, this is called cachu while in India, it is more known as cathaa, though the term kachu is also found in North Karnataka.

The plant is native of Malaysia especially the Sunda Islands, but it is extensively cultivated wherever the nuts are used, for instance, in India and the eastern Archipelago. Betel chewing is often a complex art. The simplest and the most common method is to take a mixture of three ingredients, betel leaf, betel nut and lime. Slices of cured or semi ripe or fully ripe nuts are placed in the mouth with fresh leaves of betel smeared with lime. It gives a fine fragrance to the breath, but stains and destroys teeth and gums. It however aids digestion. Quite often an elaborate mixture of cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and other spices are added along with the betel leaf. Another method is to use tobacco. The use of betel is however habit inducing. Names Sanskrit offers a long list of names to this auspicious plant.

They are: akota, chataphata, chikkana, dirgha padapa (an elongated tree), dridha valkala (with a firm bark), ghonta, gopadala, guvaka, kapitana, khapura, kra-muka, puga, pugi, raja tala (the royal tala), suranjana, tambula, tantu sara (fibrous fruit) and valkataru. This is called buah or puah in Assam; qua, supari in Bengali; supari in Hindi; adake, puga, kaungu in Kannada; atekka, ghonta, kamuka in Malyalam; kamugu, pakku, pugam in Tamil; chikinamu, gautopoka, kolapoka, kramukamu in Telugu and supari in Urdu. Apart from betel and areca nut the two most common terms, the English also call it by many other interesting names. They are: catechu palm, catechu tree, drunken tree, date tree, fasel nut, medicinal cabbage tree, penang palm and supari palm.

Most European languages use the word, areca, as the base and call this plant accordingly. Thus, the tree in French is arec, arec de l’Inde; in German, areca palme; betel palma in Russian, and in Swedish it is known as areka. Botanical aspects The genus Areca has two species in India: A. catechu Linn., the areca nut which is well known and A. nagensis Griff. of the Naga Hills, which is not so well known, being restricted to the Eastern Himalayas. The latter has a lesser height of 9 – 12 meters. The trunk is attached to the soil by innumerable black fibrous roots. The fruit is somewhat similar to that of areca. Nagas actually use this material as a substitute to it. They call it talpat. There are two more plants whose fruits are used as a poor substitute for betel nut by the local population. They are: Penanga dicksoni, found in the mountains of Kerala and Western Karnataka.

This is called kanakamukha (gold faced) in Malyalam, konda (the hill betel nut) in Telugu and kadu adike (forest or wild betel nut) or jandarige in Kannada. The other plant is Loxodoccus rupicola Windl. This is almost restricted to Sri Lanka, where it is called dotaly. The plant areca catechu has a characteristic, tall, unbranched, slender and perfectly erect stem, rising to a height of 12 – 30 metres, usually about 50 centimeters in circumference and uniformly thick. A plantation of areca nut gives the distinctive appearance of straight pillar like trees. These graceful pillars hold a crown of elegant leaves. They are also large and much like those of the coconut palm, huge and pinnate, with leaflets arranged on either side of a large central rachis, like the feathers of a bird. The leaflets are numerous, 30 – 60 centimeters long, the upper ones being united and all smooth, hairless, shiny and richly green.

The spathe or large bract of the inflorescence is double in nature and is compressed, smooth and bald. The spadix or fleshy inflorescence bears male and female flowers together, both stalkless and much branched. The male flowers are numerous while the female ones are solitary and situated at or near the base of each branching spadix. The fruit is 3 – 8.5 centimeters long, smooth, green when young, becoming orange or scarlet at maturity. It is a drupe with the wall differentiating into three distinct regions. The regions are: the outer thin epicarp, the middle fibrous mesocarp and the inner stony endocarp. Inside the fruit, there is a single seed which bears an endosperm that is stony hard at maturity and deeply ruminate in structure, i.e. it appears as if it is deeply but irregularly cut. It is this endosperm that is exposed, cured, dried in the sun and used as the supari or betel nut. The seed is hard, heavy and bluntly conical. Areca nut plantations are an exacting agricultural exercise.

They require constant care, but this is highly remunerative as the nuts are always costly and in great demand here and abroad. There are many cultivated varieties of the areca nut such as jahaju which is a long nut, manak chandi (shaped as a sphere), Shrivardhini (a place near Ratnagiri in Maharashtra) and so on. The first two are most common. Constituents The part most used is the kernel or endosperm of the seed or its extract. The root and tender leaves are also employed medicinally. A black coloured extract called catechu is prepared from the seeds and used in various ways. In fact, it is the watery extract of the betel kernel that yields the commercial catechu. The kernel contains catechu, tannin, gallic acid, oily matter (with 14 per cent fat), gum and characteristic alkaloids (which act as stimulants) such as arecaidine, guvacoline, guvacine and choline. The last two appear only in traces. All of these alkaloids are also related to one another chemically. Arecoline is a colourless volatile material much resembling nicotine, the unique alkaloid in tobacco.

Of all the alkaloids, it is the arecoline that is the most important. It is also an anthelminthic. Pharmacology or drug action Fresh, uncured betel nuts are intoxicating, producing giddiness in some people. But the dried and cured nut, in which form it is mostly used, is a stimulant, astringent and febrifuge i.e. remover of fever. Chewing the nut increases the formation of saliva. It decreases perspiration, sweetens the breath, strengthens the gums and generates a mild exhilaration giving the feeling of a good disposition. Since arecoline is readily absorbed into the body, it is not advisable to use it in a pure condition for destroying tape worms for which purpose it is often recommended. Instead, it is better to use the powdered nut. Pharmacologically the action of arecoline very much resembles that of muscarine, palleterine and pilocarpine all of which are violent stimulants of the parasympathetic nervous system. They stimulate the intestines, constrict the bronchi decrease the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Arecoline also stimulates salivation and decreases sweating.

The nut is used medicinally in various forms, as powders (in dosage of 10 – 30 grams), fluid extracts (doses of 10 to 30 minims) and tinctures (1 to 2 drachms). Arecoline hydrobromide is a statutory drug in the Indian, British, German and French pharmacopias. Taenine is a preparation containing areca nut extract, forming a liquid medicine used in veterinary practices against tape worms. The advised dosage of this medicine for a dog is one minim for every pound of body weight. Modern work Recent studies have concentrated on polyphenol, an important constituent of the areca nut. The effect of this element when isolated from fresh and unripe nuts was studied on the uterus of rats under various hormones. The ethyl acetate fraction of the aqueous extract was stimulant to a low degree on all the uteri but its spasmogenic activity was comparatively more on the uteri treated with progesterone. The alcoholic extract of the nuts exerted distinct oxytocic action on an isolated rat uterus in a dose of 100mg.

The petroleum ether and aqueous extracts of the nuts were found to provide encouraging antifertility activity in rats. Extracts of areca nuts taken in water, alcohol, alkali and acid have been shown to have a constrictive effect on capillaries to a varying degree when tested by a technique known as rat hind limb perfusion. The alkaline extract was found to be most potent in intensity and duration. Arecoline, the characteristic alkaloid from the nuts, when given in a dose of 1 mg per kilogram body weight to rats intraperitoneally, induced slight sedation after five minutes. After 30 minutes however, the rats regained their activity but took more time to reach their goal. They also showed a loss of appetite. This indicates that the alkaloid has a depressing action on the central nervous system. Another important discovery is that aqueous extracts of the betel nut have been shown to have an inhibiting action on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton rubrum. The effect was seen in vitro.

The alcoholic extracts of the betel nut are shown to have a similar effect on the growth of some other micro-organisms, such as Escherichia coli (causing diarrhoea), Candida albicans and C. tropicalis (causing skin disease) and Trichophyton interdigitale (causing a skin affliction between the fingers). The action of the extract of areca nuts was also tested on the white blood corpuscles in vitro. It was seen that this depressed the normal phagocytic effect of the white blood corpuscles. Medicinal uses Apart from its value when chewed, the nut has considerable uses in medicine too. Paan chewing with betel nut is popularly believed to prevent tooth decay. But with regular practice, a constant irritation in the mucous membranes of the mouth and gums results, bringing inflammation, a loosening or loss of teeth and sometimes even cancer. Ayurveda regards it as heavy for digestion, cooling, dry and astringent in taste. It destroys pitta and kapha, is intoxicating, a stimulant and laxative. The raw and the unripe nut is poisonous and harmful to the eyesight.

The cured hard centre is excellent for destroying all three doshas. In general it can be said that the betel nut is like poison when young, purgative in the middle stage, but an elixir when fully ripe and dry. The nut should therefore be taken only in the third stage. According to Yunani physicians betel nut is considered digestive, contractive and diuretic, strengthening the heart and regulating menstrual flow. It is used for overcoming swollen eyes, mental confusion, chronic urinary distress and pus formation. It is also a nerve tonic and an aphrodisiac. A gum-like exudation occurs on the bark of the fully grown trees. This is heavy, cooling, intoxicating, bitter and acrid. It causes pitta but destroys vata dosha. 1. Gastrointestinal problems i) Powdered nuts are given in a dosage of 5 rattis to one masha in cases of diarrhoea caused by debility at an interval of 3 to 4 hours. Such a procedure also proves beneficial for disorders in urination. ii) Areca nut burnt to charcoal with catechu and 1/4rth of its quantity of cinnamon makes a good tooth powder.

iii) The unripe nut is rubbed with milk and drunk to destroy tape worms. iv) A pinch of its powder mixed with turmeric powder and sugar will stop vomiting. v) The tendency of skin peeling off at the mouth is stopped by sprinkling the ashes of betel nut with cardamom. vi) An excellent vermifuge can be prepared by rubbing approximately 4mg of betel nut powder in 20ml of fresh lemon juice. It is administered in a dose of one teaspoonful, after fasting for 12 to 14 hours, with ghee or more preferably, floating on milk. A positive action is noticed within an hour of administration for both round and tape worms. This is also employed for colicky pains in horses and men. In large doses (say 6 drachms to one ounce) however, it causes gripping (painful contractions), irritation and loose motions. vii) 1 drachm of the tincture of areca in 4 ounces of water is used as a gargle against bleeding gums. 2. Eyes i) A lotion from it is sometimes used to constrict the pupils like atropine.

ii) Nuts are burnt, powdered fine and used as collyrium to prevent discharges and inflammations of the eyes. 3. Muscle relaxant An extract from tender young leaves is made for massaging the muscles and tendons of the waist, in case of aches and pains there. 4. Urinary disorders i) A decoction of betel nut and khair (khadira) taken with honey cures minor urinary affections. ii) A sprinkling of betel nut powder cures syphilitic ulcers. 5. Lumbago The juice of tender leaves is mixed with a bland oil and applied as lotion) in cases of lumbago. 6. Ulcers In Sri Lanka, the nut is scraped and applied externally to heal ulcers. 7. Poison The young green shoots are used to bring about abortion in early pregnancy. Side effects i) Two harmful effects of areca are: it causes roughness in the chest and urinary stones. Katira (exudation from the tree of the Astragalus strobilifera) and cardamon can effectively counteract these ill effects. ii) Excessive use of supari leads to anaemia and the appearance of jaundice.

Bibliography 1. A.V.S.S. Samba Murthy and N.S. Subramaniam. A Text Book of Economic Botany. New Delhi: Wiley Eastern Limited, 1989. pages 482-483, 698,700. 2. K.M. Matthew. An Excursion Flora of Central Tamil Nadu. New Delhi, India; Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., 1991, p. 189. 3. K.M. Nadkarni. Indian Materia Medica, Vol. I. Mumbai Popular Prakashan Private Ltd., 1982. 4. K.R. Kirtikar and B.D. Basu. Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol II. Dehradun; International Book Distribution, 1988. 5. Naveen Patnaik. The Garden of Life. New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers, 1993. 6. N.K. Shanmugam. Mooligai Kalai Kalangium. Chennai; Kalaiselvi Publications, 1997. 7. P.K.

Warrier, V.P. Nambiar, C. Ramankutty. Indian Medicinal Plants. Chennai; Orient Longman Limited, 1996. 8. S. Kannusamy Pillai. Siddha Vaidya Pathartha Guna Vilakkam (Moola Vargam). Chennai; B. Rathina Naikar & Sons, 1990. 9. The Wealth of India. New Delhi; Publications and Information Directorate, CSIR, 1976, [Vol.X]: 171-77. 10. The Useful Plants of India. New Delhi; Publications & Informations Directorate, CSIR, 1986. Dr. K.H. Krishnamurthy has written about medicinal plants as used in the Indian context with deep interest. He is a botanist by profession and poet by sentiment. Betel B Betel The Betel (Piper betle) is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and Kava. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties.

The betel plant is an evergreen and perennial creeper, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkin . The Betel plant originated from South and South East Asia ( India and Sri Lanka ). Vernacular names The betel leaf is known as Paan in Urdu /Hindi/Bengali, and Taambuul and Nagavalli in Sanskrit . Some of the names in the regions in which it is consumed are: Vetrilai Tamil,Tamalapaku Telugu, Vidyache pan Marathi , veeleyada yele Kannada , Vettila Malayalam, Plū Mon, Malus Tetum, Maluu Khmer, Plue Thai, Malus Tetum, Bulath Sinhalese, Malu Tokodede, Bileiy Divehi, bulung samat Kapampangan language, daun sirih Malay language, Papulu Chamorro and Trầu Vietnamese. Cultivation The betel leaf is cultivated in most of South and Southeast Asia. Since it is a creeper, it needs a compatible tree or a long pole for support. Paan cultivation is a special type of agriculture. High land and especially fertile soil are best for betel.

Waterlogged, saline and alkali soils are unsuitable for its cultivation. In Bangladesh, farmers called barui prepare a garden called a barouj in which to grow betel. The barouj is fenced with bamboo sticks and coconut leaves, and on top it is also covered by paddy leaves. The land is dug well and laid out into furrows of 10-15 m length, 75 cm width and 75 cm depth. Oil cakes, cow dung, rotten farmyard manure and leaves are thoroughly incorporated with the topsoil of the furrows and wood ash. The creeper cuttings are planted after proper dressing in the months of May and June, at the beginning of the monsoon season. The plants are neatly arranged in parallel rows about two feet apart, and the saplings are twined around upright sticks of split bamboo and reeds. Proper shade and irrigation are essential for the successful cultivation of this crop. The plants are regularly watered in the hot months. The leaves of the plant become ready for plucking after one year of planting and the production of the barouj lasts for several years from the date of planting. Betel needs constantly moist soil, but there should not be excessive moisture.

Hence, frequent light irrigations are given. The quantity of irrigation water should be such that the standing water should not remain for more than half an hour in the bed. If water logging by heavy rains or excess irrigation occurs, drainage should be arranged immediately. The best time for irrigation is morning or evening. Dried leaves and wood ash are applied to the furrows at fortnightly intervals and cow dung slurry is sprinkled. Application of different kinds of leaves at monthly intervals is found advantageous for the growth of the betel. In about 3–6 months time, vines grow to a height 150-180 cm. At this stage branching is noticed in the vines. Leaves are removed along with the petiole with the right thumb. Once harvesting is commenced, it is continued almost every day or week. The interval of harvesting varies from 15 days to about a month till the next lowering of vines. After each harvest, manuring has to be done. There are various types of leaves, the most popular being : Calcutta, Banarasi, Magahi, etc.

In Bangladesh Dinajpur, Rangpur , Chittagong , Faridpur, Jessore, Narayanganj, Barisal and Sylhet are the areas producing most betel. The harvested leaves are used both for domestic consumption and for export to Middle East, to European countries, USA, UK, Pakistan, and Myanmar. Paan is one of the major economic sources of rural Bangladesh. The best Betel leaf is the "Magadhi" variety (literally from the Magadha region) grown near Patna in Bihar , India. In Kerala, the famous variety of betel leaf is from Venmony near Chengannur and it is called "Venmony Vettila". Betel leaf cultivated in Tirur, Kerala is also of fine quality. Betel leaves exported from Tirur are famous in Pakistan as "Tirur Pan". Compounds The active ingredients of betel oil, which is obtained from the leaves, are primarily a class of allylbenzene compounds.

Though particular emphasis has been placed on chavibetol (betel-phenol; 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyallylbenzene), it also contains chavicol (p-allyl-phenol; 4-allyl-phenol), estragole (p-allyl-anisole; 4-methoxy-allylbenzene), eugenol (allylguaiacol; 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-allylbenzene; 2-methoxy-4-allyl-phenol), methyl eugenol (eugenol methyl ether; 3,4-dimethoxy-allylbenzene), and hydroxycatechol (2,4-dihydroxy-allylbenzene) . Several terpenes and terpenoids are present in the betel oil as well. There are two monoterpenes, p- cymene and terpinene, and two monoterpenoids, eucalyptol and carvacrol. Additionally, there are two sesquiterpenes, cadinene and caryophyllene.

Chewing There is archaeological evidence that the betel leaves are chewed along with the areca nut since very ancient times. It is not known, however, when these two different stimulants substances were put together for the first time. In most countries the mixture of both has a ceremonial and highly symbolical value. In India, Burma, Nepal , Sri Lanka and other parts of South Asia, as well as Southeast Asia, the leaves are chewed together in a wrapped package along with the areca nut (which, by association, is often inaccurately called the " betel nut ") and mineral slaked lime ( calcium hydroxide ). Catechu , called "Kattha" in Hindi, and other flavoring substances and spices might be added. The lime acts to keep the active ingredient in its freebase or alkaline form, thus enabling it to enter the bloodstream via sublingual absorption. The areca nut contains the alkaloid arecoline, which promotes salivation (the saliva is stained red), and is itself a stimulant. This combination, known as a "betel quid", has been used for several thousand years. Tobacco is sometimes added.

Betel leaves are used as a stimulant , an antiseptic and a breath-freshener Paan. In India, the betel and areca play an important role in Indian culture, especially among Hindus. Many traditional ceremonies governing the lives of Hindus use betel and areca. For example to pay money to the priest, they keep money in the betel leaves and place it beside the priest. The betel and areca also play an important role in Vietnamese culture. In Vietnamese there is a saying that "the betel begins the conversation", referring to the practice of people chewing betel in formal occasions or "to break the ice" in awkward situational conversations. The betel leaves and areca nuts are used ceremonially in traditional Vietnamese weddings. Based on a folk tale about the origins of these plants, the groom traditionally offer the bride's parents betel leaves and areca nuts (among other things) in exchange for the bride. The betel and areca nut are praised as an ideal combination to the point that have become important symbols of the ideal married couple bound together in love. Therefore in Vietnamese the phrase "matters of betel and areca" (chuyện trầu cau) is synonymous with marriage.

The high rate of oral cancer in South Asia is thought to be due to the chewing of betel preparations; the inclusion of tobacco may worsen the risk, but there is also evidence that the areca nut, alone or as part of a betel quid, may cause cancer even without tobacco. See its article for more discussion of this point. The addition of tobacco leaf to the chewing mixture is a relatively recent one, introduced during colonial times a mere few centuries ago. The muddling between the betel leaf and the areca nut, by calling the nut "betel nut", is restricted to the colonial languages, like English , French, Dutch and German . This lack of accuracy may be a legacy of the colonial era in which chewing the mixture was restricted to "the natives". In the languages of the places where the Areca nut is traditionally chewed there is a clear and separate term for the areca nut and another for the betel leaf. This clear distinction is important in societies where both the areca nut and the betel leaf have a ceremonial and even sacred value. Furthermore, there is commonly a specific verb for the activity of chewing both of them together.

Medicinal properties In India, betel is used to cast out (cure) worms . And according to traditional Ayurvedic medicine, chewing areca nut and betel leaf is a good remedy against bad breath ( halitosis ). They are also said to have aphrodisiac properties. In Malaysia they are used to treat headaches, arthritis and joint pain. In the Philippines , Thailand , Indonesia and China they are used to relieve toothache . In the Philippines, they are used specifically as a stimulant and was believed to strengthen the teeth and gums. In Indonesia they are drunk as an infusion and used as an antibiotic . They are also used in an infusion to cure indigestion , as a topical cure for constipation , as a decongestant and as an aid to lactation . Almost all Indonesian women use sirih leaves in bath water after giving birth as it shrinks the vaginal canal. It also counters unpleasant smells. The Indonesian government has endorsed betel leaves (daun sirih) as a natural medication against vaginal discharge. A related plant P. sarmentosum, which is used in cooking, is sometimes called "wild betel leaf".

(Wikipedia) Betel Nut - Wiki Wiki Vegetables Betel Nut Areca nut is the seed of the areca palm (Areca catechu), which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. It is commonly referred to as betel nut, as it is often chewed wrapped in betel leaves. The International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that chewing areca nut is carcinogenic to humans after reviewing the published medical research. Description The areca nut is not a true nut, but rather a drupe. It is commercially available in dried, cured and fresh forms. While fresh, the husk is green and the nut inside is soft enough to be cut with a typical knife. In the ripe fruit, the husk becomes yellow or orange and, as it dries, the fruit inside hardens to a wood-like consistency.

At that stage, the areca nut can only be sliced using a special scissors-like cutter (known as aḍakattera in Telugu, adake kattari in Kannada,bajjeai in Tulu, adakitta [अडकित्ता] in Marathi, giraya in Sinhala, jaanti in Bengali, adakka അടക്കാ in Malayalam, pakku (பாக்கு) in Tamil, sarautaa in Hindi, guaa (ଗୁଆ) in Oriya, and sudi in Gujarati). Usually for chewing, a few slices of the nut are wrapped in a betel leaf along with lime (not to be confused with the citrus fruit named lime) and may include clove, cardamom, catechu (kattha) and/or other spices for extra flavouring. Betel leaf has a fresh, peppery taste, but it can also be bitter to varying degrees depending on the variety.

The combination of areca nut with betel leaf is called tamul (তামূল/ "তামোল")in Assamese, kavala in Kannada, tambulam in Sanskrit, bajjai in Tulu, and paan in Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, and Urdu. Areca nuts are chewed with betel leaf for their effects as a mild stimulant, causing a warming sensation in the body and slightly heightened alertness, although the effects vary from person to person. The effect of chewing betel leaf and areca nut together is relatively mild, and could be compared to that of drinking a cup of coffee. The areca nut contains the tannins arecatannin and gallic acid; a fixed oil gum; a little terpineol; lignin; various saline substances; and three main alkaloids — arecoline, arecaidine and guvacine — all of which have vasoconstricting properties. The betel leaf chewed along with the nut contains eugenol, another vasoconstrictor.

Many chewers also add small pieces of tobacco leaf to the mixture, thereby adding the effect of nicotine, which causes greater addiction than the drugs contained in the nut and the betel leaf. In almost all parts of India, Sri Lanka and southern China, areca nuts are not only chewed along with betel leaf, but are also used in the preparation of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines. Powdered areca nut is used as a constituent in some dentifrices. Other medicinal uses include the removal of tapeworms and other intestinal parasites by swallowing a few teaspoons of powdered areca nut, drunk as a decoction, or by taking tablets containing the extracted alkaloids. According to traditional Ayurvedic medicine, chewing areca nut and betel leaf is a good remedy against bad breath. Diplomat Edmund Roberts noted that Chinese people would mix areca nut with uncaria gambir during his visit to China in the 1830s. Recently it has been reported that areca nut powder extract is capable of reducing silver ions to silver nanoparticles, which may be useful as antimicrobial agents.

Tradition Chewing the mixture of areca nut and betel leaf is a tradition, custom or ritual which dates back thousands of years in much of the geographical areas from South Asia eastward to the Pacific. It constitutes an important and popular cultural activity in many Asian and Oceanic countries, including Pakistan, the Maldives, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Palau, Yap, Guam, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It is not known how or when the areca nut and the betel leaf were first combined into one psychoactive drug. Archaeological evidence from Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines suggests they have been used in tandem for at least 4000 years. In Vietnam, the areca nut and the betel leaf are such important symbols of love and marriage that in Vietnamese the phrase "matters of betel and areca" (chuyện trầu cau) is synonymous with marriage. The tradition of chewing areca nuts starts the talk between the groom's parents and the bride's parents about the young couple's marriage.

Therefore, the leaves and juices are used ceremonially in Vietnamese weddings. The folk tale explaining the origin of this Vietnamese tradition is a good illustration of the belief that the combination of areca nut and the betel leaf is ideal to the point they are practically inseparable, like an idealized married couple. Areca nut cutter from Bali/Indonesia Malay culture and tradition hold betel nut and leaves in high esteem. Traditionally, guests who visit a Malay house are presented with a tray of areca nuts and betel leaves, in much the same way as drinks are offered to guests in many cultures around the world. There is even a Malay proverb about the betel nut, "bagaikan pinang dibelah dua", loosely translated, like a betel nut divided in half. It usually refers to newlyweds, who are compatible to each other, just like a betel nut when divided in half. The proverb is analogous to the English "two peas in a pod". In the Indian subcontinent, the chewing of betel and areca nut dates back to the pre-Vedic period Harappan empire. Formerly, in both India and Sri Lanka, it was a custom of the royalty to chew areca nut with betel leaf.

Kings had special attendants whose duty it was to carry a box with all the necessary ingredients for a good chewing session. There was also a custom for lovers to chew areca nut and betel leaf together, because of its breath-freshening and relaxant properties. A sexual symbolism thus became attached to the chewing of the nut and the leaf. The areca nut represented the male principle, and the betel leaf the female principle. Considered an auspicious ingredient in Hinduism and some schools of Buddhism, the areca nut is still used along with betel leaf in religious ceremonies, and also while honoring individuals in much of southern Asia. In Assam, it is a tradition to offer pan-tamul (betel leaves and raw areca nut) to guests, after tea or meals, served in a brass plate with stands called bota. Among the Assamese, the areca nut also has a variety of uses during religious and marriage ceremonies, where it has the role of a fertility symbol. A tradition from Upper Assam is to invite guests to wedding receptions by offering a few areca nuts with betel leaves.

During Bihu, the husori players are offered areca nuts and betel leaves by each household while their blessings are solicited. Spanish mariner Álvaro de Mendaña reported observing Solomon Islanders chewing the nut and the leaf with caustic lime, and the manner in which the habit stained their mouths red. He noted the friendly and genial chief Malope, on Santa Isabel Island, would offer him the combination as a token of friendship every time they met. In Bhutan areca nut is called doma. The raw areca nut, which is soft and moist is very potent and when chewed can cause palpitation and vasoconstricting. This form is eaten in the lower regions of Bhutan and in North Bengal, where the nut is cut into half and put into a local paan leaf with a generous amount of lime. In the rest of Bhutan the raw nut, with the husk on, is fermented such that the husk rots and is easy to extract. The fermented doma has a putrid odour, which can be smelled from miles.

Traditionally, this fragrant nut is cut in half and placed on top of a cone made of local betel leaf, which has a dash of lime put into it. "Myth has it that the inhabitants of Bhutan traditionally known as Monyul, the land of Monpas where Buddhism did not reach lived on raw flesh, drank blood and chewed bones. After the arrival of Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century, he stopped the people from eating flesh and drinking blood and created a substitute which is betel leaf, lime and areca nut. Today, chewing doma has become a custom. Doma is served after meals, during rituals and ceremonies. It is offered to friends and is chewed at work places by all sections of the society and has become an essential part of Bhutanese life and culture." The addition of tobacco leaf to the chewing mixture is a relatively recent innovation, as tobacco was not introduced from the American continent until the colonial era. Effects on health The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) regards the chewing of betel and areca nut to be a known human carcinogen.

The media has reported that regular chewers of betel leaf and areca nut have a higher risk of damaging their gums and acquiring cancer of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach. Studies have found tobacco and caustic lime increase the risk of cancer from areca nut preparations. Studies have been conducted on the use of a "pure" paan preparation: areca nut, betel leaf, and lime only. One animal study done in 1989 found that unprocessed areca nuts, even at high doses, displayed only a very weak carcinogenicity in mice, whereas use of processed areca nuts, as commonly used in paan preparations, caused cancer. Since 1971, many studies have showed areca nut extracts to cause cancer in rodents. In 2003 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reached the conclusion that there is sufficient evidence that the habit of chewing betel quid, with or without tobacco, is carcinogenic to humans. Support for this conclusion is provided by a recent study which found that paan, even without concurrent tobacco use, is a risk factor for oral cancer. The Merchant et al.

study further determined that paan, when consumed with and without tobacco, increased oral cancer risk by 8.4 and 9.9 times, respectively, compared to those who do not consume paan. Chewing areca nut alone has been linked to oral submucosal fibrosis. According to Medline Plus, "Long-term use [of betel-areca preparations] has been associated with oral submucosal fibrosis (OSF), pre-cancerous oral lesions and squamous cell carcinoma. Acute effects of betel chewing include asthma exacerbation, hypertension, and tachycardia. There may additionally be a higher risk of cancers of the liver, mouth, esophagus, stomach, prostate, cervix, and lung with regular betel use. Other effects can include a possible effect on blood sugar levels, which may in turn increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes." The use of areca nut paste to clean teeth is mentioned in fiction, notably in James Joyce's Ulysses, set in 1904. However, the increase in mouth ulcers and gum deterioration caused by chewing areca nut and betel may outweigh any positive effects.

Use of areca nut has been associated with deterioration of psychosis in patients with preexisting psychiatric disorders In October, 2009, 30 scientists from 10 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a World Health Organization sponsored group, to reassess the carcinogenicity of various agents including areca nut, and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. They concluded there is sufficient evidence that areca nut, with or without tobacco, can cause cancer. Teratogenic effects of areca nuts Scientific teams from Taiwan, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea have reported that expectant mothers who chew paan (and/or other areca nut and betel leaf formulations) during pregnancy significantly increase adverse outcomes for the baby. The effects were similar to those reported for mothers who consume alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy. Incidences of lower birth weight, reduced birth length and early term were found to be significantly higher. Thanks to wikipedia.org Betel Quid - Medicinal Herb Info Betel Quid Where Found The betel leaf is cultivated in most of South and Southeast Asia. Since it is a creeper, it needs a compatible tree or a long pole to prop the vine against it. Paan cultivation is a special type of agriculture.

High land and special fertile soil are best for betel. Waterlogged, saline and alkali soils are unsuitable for its cultivation. Farmers who are called barui prepare garden for this. Paan garden is called barouj. Barouj is fenced with bamboo sticks and coconut leaves and on top it is also covered by paddy leaves. The land is dug well and laid out into furrows of 10-15 m length, 75 cm width and 75 cm depth. Oil cakes, cow dung, rotten farmyard manure and leaves are thoroughly incorporated with the topsoil of the furrows and wood ash. The creeper cuttings are planted after proper dressing in the months of May and June, at the beginning of the monsoon season. The plants are neatly arranged in parallel rows about two feet apart, and the saplings are twined around upright sticks of split bamboo and reeds. Proper shade and irrigation are essential for the successful cultivation of this crop. The plants are regularly watered in the hot months. The leaves of the plant become ready for plucking after one year of planting and the production of the barouj lasts for several years from the date of planting.

Betel needs constantly moist soil, but there should not be excessive moisture. Hence, frequent light irrigations are given. The quantity of irrigation water should be such that the standing water should not remain for more than half an hour in the bed. If water logging by heavy rains or excess irrigation occurs, drainage should be arranged immediately. The best time for irrigation is morning or evening. Dried leaves and wood ash are applied to the furrows at fortnightly intervals and cow dung slurry is sprinkled. Application of different kinds of leaves at monthly intervals is found advantageous for the growth of the betel. Betel leaf and Areca nut consumption in the world. In about 3-6 months time, vines grow to a height 150-180 cm. At this stage branching is noticed in the vines. Leaves are removed along with the petiole with the right thumb. Once harvesting is commenced, it is continued almost every day or week. The interval of harvesting varies from 15 days to about a month till the next lowering of vines. After each harvest, manuring has to be done. There are various types of leaves, the most popular being : Calcutta, Banarasi, Maghai, etc.

In South Asia Dinajpur, Rangpur, Chittagong, Faridpur, Jessore, Narayanganj, Barisal and Sylhet are the areas producing most betel. The harvested leaves are used both for domestic consumption and for export to Middle East, to European countries, USA, UK, Pakistan, and Myanmar. Paan is one of the major economic sources of rural Bangladesh. The best Betel leaf is the "Magadhi" variety (literally from the Magadha region) grown near Patna in Bihar, India. In Kerala, the famous variety of betel leaf is from Venmony near Chengannur and it is called "Venmony Vettila". Betel leaf cultivated in Tirur, Kerala is also of fine quality. Betel leaves exported from Tirur are famous in Pakistan as "Tirur Pan". Biochemical Information The active ingredients of betel oil, which is obtained from the leaves, are primarily a class of allylbenzene compounds.

Though particular emphasis has been placed on chavibetol (betel-phenol; 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyallylbenzene), it also contains chavicol (p-allyl-phenol; 4-allyl-phenol), estragole (p-allyl-anisole; 4-methoxy-allylbenzene), eugenol (allylguaiacol; 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-allylbenzene; 2-methoxy-4-allyl-phenol), methyl eugenol (eugenol methyl ether; 3,4-dimethoxy-allylbenzene), and hydroxycatechol (2,4-dihydroxy-allylbenzene). Several terpenes and terpenoids are present in the betel oil as well. There are two monoterpenes, p-cymene and terpinene, and two monoterpenoids, eucalyptol and carvacrol. Additionally, there are two sesquiterpenes, cadinene and caryophyllene.

Legends, Myths and Stories There is archaeological evidence that the betel leaves are chewed along with the areca nut since very ancient times. It is not known, however, when these two different stimulants substances were put together for the first time. In most countries the mixture of both has a ceremonial and highly symbolical value. In India, Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other parts of South Asia, as well as Southeast Asia, the leaves are chewed together in a wrapped package along with the areca nut (which, by association, is often inaccurately called the "betel nut") and mineral slaked lime (calcium hydroxide). Catechu, called "Kattha" in Hindi, and ther lavoring substances and spices might be added. The lime acts to keep the active ingredient in its freebase or alkaline form, thus enabling it to enter the bloodstream via sublingual absorption. The areca nut contains the alkaloid arecoline, which promotes salivation (the saliva is stained red), and is itself a stimulant. This combination, known as a "betel quid", has been used for several thousand years. Tobacco is sometimes added.

The betel and areca also play an important role in Vietnamese culture. In Vietnamese there is a saying that "the betel begins the conversation", referring to the practice of people chewing betel in formal occasions or "to break the ice" in awkward situational conversations. The betel leaves and areca nuts are used ceremonially in traditional Vietnamese weddings. Based on a folk tale about the origins of these plants, the groom traditionally offer the bride's parents betel leaves and areca nuts (among other things) in exchange for the bride. The betel and areca nut are praised as an ideal combination to the point that have become important symbols of the ideal married couple bound together in love. Therefore in Vietnamese the phrase "matters of betel and areca" (chuyện trầu cau) is synonymous with marriage. The addition of tobacco leaf (the most harmful and addictive component) to the chewing mixture is a relatively recent one, introduced during colonial times a mere few centuries ago. The muddling between the betel leaf and the areca nut, by calling the nut "betel nut", is restricted to the colonial languages, like English, French, Dutch and German.

This lack of accuracy is likely a legacy of the colonial era in which chewing the mixture was restricted to "the natives". In the languages of the places where the Areca nut is traditionally chewed there is a clear and separate term for the areca nut and another for the betel leaf. This clear distinction is important in societies where both the areca nut and the betel leaf have a ceremonial and even sacred value. Furthermore, there is commonly a specific verb for the activity of chewing both of them together. There was a certain amount of prejudice among the European colonial powers against the tradition of chewing of Areca nut and betel. Unlike the quick adoption of tobacco by Europeans in the American colonies, chewing areca nut and betel was an addictive habit not adopted by the colonizers of South and Southeast Asia. Officers freshly posted in the East India or Indochina colonies, whether British, French or Dutch, regarded the red-stained mouths of pan-chewers with dread, as something too foreign for them. This abhorrence is not only evident in the writings of authors of the Victorian era, but also in the works of more recent writers like George Orwell, Somerset Maugham and V.S. Naipaul.

Often this spirit expresses itself in mockery and ridicule, like in the Broadway musical South Pacific tune "There Is Nothing Like a Dame," with the line "Bloody Mary's chewing betel nuts... and she don't use Pepsodent." Uses Betel leaves are used as a stimulant, an antiseptic and a breath-freshener Paan. In India, the betel and areca play an important role in Indian culture, especially among Hindus. Many traditional ceremonies governing the lives of Hindus use betel and areca. For example to pay money to the priest, they keep money in the betel leaves and place it beside the priest. In India, betel is used to cast out (cure) worms. And according to traditional Ayurvedic medicine, chewing areca nut and betel leaf is a good remedy against bad breath (halitosis). They are also said to have aphrodisiac properties. In Malaysia they are used to treat headaches, arthritis and joint pain. In the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and China they are used to relieve toothache. In the Philippines, they are used specifically as a stimulant. In Indonesia they are drunk as an infusion and used as an antibiotic.

They are also used in an infusion to cure indigestion, as a topical cure for constipation, as a decongestant and as an aid to lactation. A related plant P. sarmentosum, which is used in cooking, is sometimes called "wild betel leaf". Warning The high rate of oral cancer in India is thought to be due to the chewing of betel preparations, though it is unclear whether this can be attributed to the betel leaf, the areca nut, or to the tobacco which is added to some betel preparations. There is an association between the chewing of betel preparations and oral and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. It is also unclear whether similar health risks exist with traditional recipes as those that are associated with modern betel mixtures.

Question: The areca nut (often with betel leaf), a popular stimulant in Asia, is traditionally prepared for?
Answer: Chewing