Native of the Malay peninsula, the areca palm is widely cultivated in India, particularly in Assam, West Bengal and the West Coast. Even though known as a maritime tree in India, the palms can be found growing even at a distance of 300 kms from the seacoast. They also reach higher elevations, up to 3,000 feet above sea level.The arecanut is traditionally chewed in combination with betel leaves, chuna (slaked lime) and spices like cardamoms, coconut, cloves, fennel, nutmeg, rose-petals or gulkand.

It's good for digestion

Arecanuts contain as active ingredients, tannoids (15 to 20%) and a host of alkaloids (30 to 50%) which impart a mild astringency. Folk medicine makes full use of this potential, particularly in the treatment of diarrhoea and urinary infection. Village veterinarians use the nuts for their livestock as a vermifuge for eradicating tapeworms and various other parasites.

Taken in moderation, it aids in deodorising the mouth, improving digestion and cooling the heat in the human body. There is widespread belief in the subcontinent that paan chewing has an aphrodisiac effect and hence it is customarily banned for children, widows and ascetics.

Although well known for its anthelmintic action in the Chinese and Indian traditional medicines, frequent use of arecanut is suspected to cause oral carcinoma.

A Word of Caution

The chewing of raw (uncured) nut is not recommended, as there are possibilities of getting severe giddiness, tightness in the throat or profound secretion of mucus due to its intoxicating properties.

While arecanut taken in moderation prevents halitosis, it can be harmful in excess: it blackens the teeth, to start with, and eventually results in their loosening and even loss. It is also reported to cause leucophlegmatia, incipient jaundice, which results in paleness and bloating of the face.

Arecanut Toothpowder: A Home-made Dentifrice

Burn the betelnut till it is charred. Mix in equal quantities of katha and cloves. Finely powder and store in an airtight bottle. Use it as a tooth powder to combat bleeding gums, gum infections, halitosis etc.

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