Discover more medicinal effects of betel leaves
Betel leaf (commonly known as "giau khong" in the Northern Delta) is a familiar plant to Vietnamese people, especially this is an indispensable leaf in funerals, weddings or on the offering tray of Vietnamese people.
This is a plant with many good effects, used in many cases of skin diseases, very effective antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.
According to Dr. Huynh Tan Vu, Head of the Daytime Treatment Unit, who is also a traditional medicine specialist at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, betel has other names such as spicy betel, betel nut, and piper lolot. Scientific name: Piper betle L. Family: Piperaceae
Betel originated in Central and East Malaysia, cultivated 2500 years ago, then spread to Madagascar and East Africa. In China, betel was also recorded from the Qin Dynasty 618-907 AD. By the early 15th century, the plant began to be brought to Europe. Today, betel is widely grown throughout tropical countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, South China and Hainan Island.
Used parts: leaves harvested year round, used fresh, roots can be used.
Chemical composition of betel leaves:
Betel leaves contain a variety of chemical components, including:
- Fragrance essential oils; Betel-phenol; Chavicol; Eugenol; Methyl eugenol; Allylcatechol;
- Cadinene; Tannin; Amino acids; Vitamin; p-cymen; Chavibetol
- In betel leaves there is 0.8-1.8%, sometimes up to 2.4% essential oil with a specific gravity of 0.958-1.057, with a creosote (firewood) aroma and a hot taste. In the essential oil, people have identified two phenolic substances, betel-phenol (isomer with eugenol chavibetol C10H12O2 and chavicol), along with a number of other phenolic compounds.
Pharmacological effects of betel: Betel leaf extract and essential oil have inhibitory activity against some bacterial strains (in vitro) such as: Staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus, Staphylococcus albus, Bacillus subtilis, hemolytic streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi... and fungal strains Candida albicans, C. stellatoides, Aspergillus niger... Fungicidal activity is comparable to resorenilol.
According to traditional medicine, betel leaves have a spicy taste, a pungent aroma, and warm properties, and are used to treat the lungs, spleen, and stomach. They have the effect of eliminating rheumatism, preventing cold, lowering gas, reducing phlegm, reducing inflammation, and disinfecting.
In India, betel leaves and essential oil are used to treat secretions, lung diseases and as a poultice and mouthwash. Betel leaves are included in traditional Indian medicines along with other herbs used to treat asthma.
Some remedies with betel leaves
- Wound treatment: Take equal amounts of betel leaves, Chinese clematis leaves, and sawtooth grass leaves. Crush all and apply to the wound. Or to wash the wound: 40g fresh betel leaves, wash, boil with 2 liters of boiling water for 15-20 minutes, let cool, filter the clear water, add 8g alum, dissolve and wash.
- Cure acne: Take equal amounts of betel leaves, cistanche leaves, and hibiscus flowers. Crush them all and apply to the skin.
- Cure frequent urination: Betel root (or use stem, leaves), areca root, each 10g. Boil and drink one dose per day, use for several days until cured.
- Treating dislocations and sprains: 12g betel leaves, 20g old turmeric, 12g each of perilla leaves and xạ can leaves. Crush, mix with a little vinegar, wrap in gauze and apply to the painful swelling. Change the bandage every 2-3 days. Need supervision and guidance from a specialist.
- Cure colds: use betel leaves to treat colds, rub on the spine from top to bottom.
- Cure sore throat: Mint leaves, basil, betel leaves, honey and ginger. Wash the herbs and squeeze the juice. Then mix well with honey and gargle.
- Treat skin diseases such as ulcers, insect bites, prickly heat, eczema and ringworm: 1 handful of betel leaves. Wash the ingredients, then crush the betel leaves and mix with cooled boiled water. Use the water to wash and apply to the damaged skin area.
Betel leaves are a popular medicine in the countryside, easy to find, and can cure many diseases. However, patients should consult a doctor before using betel leaves as a medicine to treat any disease.
