Areca Palm / Betel Nut
(Areca Catechu)
The Areca nut is the seed of the Areca palm (Areca catechu),
a straight and graceful palm tree growing in most tropical
countries. Areca nuts are chewed with betel leaf for their
effects as a mild stimulant, causing a hot sensation in
the body, heightened alertness and sweating, although the
effects vary from person to person.
In China, East and North-East India 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 tooth powders.
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.
back