Uses of betel leaves

Uses of betel leaves:

Diuretic: The juice of betel leaves mixed with sweetened milk helps in easing urination. (Effective in treating water retention in the body)

Colic pain: Betel leaves smeared with castor oil, heated mildly and then placed on the stomach of small infants’ is effective for treatment of colic pain. This is said to give immediate relief.

Lactation: Consumption of betel leaves after meals is advised for lactating mothers as it aids in lactation.

Prevent tooth decay: Water in which 5-6 betel leaves are boiled can be used to rinse the mouth in the morning and evening. This not only reduces bad breath, but also strengthens the gums and prevents tooth decay.

Mouth Ulcers and swollen gums: Water in which 5-6 betel leaves is boiled with salt added to it, when used as gargle is effective in treating mouth ulcers and swollen gums.

Body odour: Betel leaves soaked in water with white sugar added to it, should be consumed daily. This concoction is effective in eliminating body odour.

Cough:  Betel leaves (finely chopped) boiled along with tulasi leaves, cinnamon bark, ginger, cloves and cardamom in 3 cups of water and reduced to ½ a cup is effective in treating cough.

Bronchitis: Drinking a decoction of betel leaves along with sugar cubes is effective in treating bronchitis.

Headache: Betel leaves have analgesic and cooling properties. In Malaysia, betel leaves are used to treat headaches, arthritis and joint pain. A paste of betel leaves applied over the painful area relieves pain.

Nervous weakness: A concoction of betel leaves with honey taken twice a day is effective in treating nervous weakness and nervous pains.

Stomach disorder:  A mixture of betel leaves with pepper taken twice a day is effective in treating indigestion. A decoction of betel leaves is given to small children to aid in digestion.

Respiratory disorder: The leaves soaked in mustard oil and warmed should be applied on the chest to give instant relief from cough and difficulty in breathing.

Constipation in children: The stalk of the betel leaf dipped in castor oil should be introduced into the rectum. This will immediately relieve constipation.

Wounds: For the treatment of wounds, juice of the betel leaves should be extracted and applied on the wound. A betel leaf should be wrapped over the wound and bandaged. This will hasten the healing of the wound.

Boils: Betel leaves are very effective in treating boils. A betel leaf is warmed over light flame, till it becomes soft. Castor oil is smeared on the leaf and then spread on the boil. The leaf has to be changed every few hours. After few applications, the boil will rupture draining out the fluid in it.

Sore Throat: The leaves can be applied locally to get relief from sore throat.

Obesity: Chewing betel leaves along with black pepper helps in treating obesity.

Other uses: Salads are used with the leaves in combination with shredded carrots.

Chopped betel leaves combined with gram flour, spices and water and deep fried is used as snacks.

Significance:

Betel leaf symbolizes prosperity and freshness.

In Hindu culture, no offering to God is complete without the betel leaves and areca nut.

In religious, social and cultural functions, betel quid - a combination of betel leaf along with areca nut, sugar, copra, and slaked lime is served. Sometimes other spices like cardamom, clove, saffron, aniseed and other sweeteners are added depending upon one’s preference and offered to guests after lunch. Betel quid is said to aid in digestion.

In all auspicious ceremonies, betel leaves and areca nuts are used. Paan, two betel leaves with two betel nuts is offered with coconut or fruits to the invitees at Hindu social, ritual and cultural ceremonies as a symbol of goodwill.

In Vietnamese culture, there is a saying “the betel begins the conversation” meaning betel leaves are used in formal occasions or to make a conversation. In a traditional Vietnamese wedding, the groom offers the bride’s parents betel leaves and areca nut, symbolizing an ideal couple bound together by marriage.

In Papua New Guinea, betel is mixed with a mustard stick dipped in lime powder to reduce stress, control hunger and stimulate the senses.

In Bengali weddings, the bride enters the wedding mandap by covering her face with two betel leaves and takes them away to see her bridegroom only in the Shubha Drishti ritual, an auspicious glimpse. In Maharashtra, after the marriage ceremony, the bridegroom holds a paan beda in his mouth and invites his bride to take a bite from the paan.