Areca, Betel nut, Bing Lang 槟榔Bing Lang (Seed, TCM)Da Fu Pi (Fruit peel) Faufal (Unani) |
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Koehler, F.E., Medizinal Pflanzen, 1890
Chaumeton, F.P., Flore médicale (vol. 1), 1833
Sliced Betel nut
Betel nut(Photo by Thamizhpparithi Maari) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Areca catechu
Parts used:
Seed; also the Fruit peel
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry (Warm in TCM). Bitter, pungent
“Cold and Dry in the third degree”. (Avicenna)
Classifications:
3Q. ANTHELMINTIC
TCM:
S. Worms and Parasites
Uses:
1. Moves Qi, Opens Obstructions: (TCM, Ayurveda)
-stagnation of the digestive system
-Food Stagnation
-abdominal distention, constipation
-chewed to sweeten the breath and promote appetite and digestion
-also for Gall Stones
-“used in hot and hard Swellings” (Avicenna)
2. Moves the Qi, Clears Damp, Promotes Urine: (TCM, Ayurveda, Tibet)
-Edema (in cases of excess, not deficiency)
-Swelling of the legs with Heat
-Oliguria
-Kidney diseases in Tibet
-Diarrhea and Dysentery with Damp-Heat
3. Kills Worms: (TCM, Ayurveda, Tibet)
-especially for Tapeworm
-also Pinworms, Roundworms, Blood Flukes, Intestinal Flukes (fasciolopsis buski)
4. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation:
-Amenorrhea
5. Treats Malaria: (TCM)
-Malarial disorders
-Intermittent Fevers
6. Externally:
-an astringent wash for the eyes, causing pupil dilation
-conjunctivitis, the ash is applied
-“suitable for persons suffering from Ophthalmalgia” (Avicenna)
-mouth wash for mouth sores and ulcers, bleeding of the gums, to strengthen the teeth and gums
-topically for watery leukorrhea
-powder can be applied to Eczema, Scabies and Tinea
-strong decoction as a wash for various dermatophytes
BETEL HUSK (Da Fu Pi)
1. Opens Obstruction, Guides Qi Down:
-obstruction of the digestion by Phlegm or Damp and Qi stagnation
-abdominal distention with sluggish bowels
2. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, swollen legs
-fluid retention with abdominal distention and food stagnation
Dose
BETEL NUT:
6–15 grams in Decoction (60–120 grams for Tapeworm and Flukes)
2–4 grams in Powder
BETEL HUSK: 4–9 grams in Decoction
Comment:
Betel nut and Betel husk have the same function, but the husk is milder in effect. Betel nut has a strong effect at driving Qi down and breaking stagnation and also Kills Worms. Betel husk is slower and more mederate and isn’t used to kill Worms. It has a more superficial effect so can be used for fluid under the skin.
Preparation:
BETEL NUT:
1. Dry-fried until the color changes, it is milder and better for old, young or weak patients. It is also best for Indigestion.
2. Scorched it is used to harmonize the Stomach and treats Food Stagnation.
3. White Betel nut: the fruit is gathered in early Autumn, boiled, baked to dry, then sliced. It is most effective to move Qi downward, open obstructions, and promote Urine. It is relatively weaker to kill worms.
Correctives:
BETEL NUT:
1. Tragacanth
2. Lime
3. Lesser Cardamon (Unani)
Substitute:
BETEL NUT: Red Sandalwood (Unani)
Comment:
Don’t confuse with Piper betel which is also called Betel; the leaf of it is used.
Main Combinations:
BETEL NUT:
1. Food stagnation:
i. from Qi stagnation Betel nut (Bing Lang) with Costus and Green Tangerine peel (Qing Pi) (TCM)
ii. with Spleen Qi deficiency, Betel nut (Bing Lang) with Atractylodes Bai Zhu and germinated Barley (Mai Ya) (TCM)
iii. Food stagnation with accumulation of Water and Qi stagnation, Betel nut (Bing Lang) with Rhubarb (Da Huang), Pharbitis Qian Niu Zi (Morning Glory Seed), Gleditsia Zao Jia, Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu) (as in Bin Lang Si Xiao Wan)
2. Indigestion:
i. with Damp-Heat and abdominal distention, Betel nut with Costus Mu Xiang, Coptis Huang Lian, Rhubarb (Da Huang)
ii. Infantile Indigestion and malnutrition (including that coming from Worms), Betel nut, Quisqualis Shi Jun Zi, Picrorhiza Hu Huang Lian.
3. Dysentery:
i. from Damp-heat, Betel nut with Paeonia Bai Shao, Costus and Coptis Huang Lian (TCM)
ii. Dysentery with Blood, Betel nut with Dang Gui, Coptis Huang Lian, Costus Mu Xiang, Licorice (Gan Cao), Rhubarb root (Da Huang), Scutellaria Huang Qin, Cinnamon bark (Gui Pi) (as in Shao Yao Tang, from Su Wen Bing Ji Bao Ming Ji)
4. Difficulty Urinating, Betel nut with Imperata Bai Mao Gen, Cynanchum paniculatum, Akebia, Dianthus, Talcum, and Glauber’s Salt (Mang Xiao) (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
5. Edema, fluid accumulation, Betel nut (Bing Lang) with Water Plantain root (Ze Xie)
6. Worms:
i. Worms in general, Betel nut (15–30 grams), Pumpkin seed (50 grams). Decoct and take half each morning for 2 mornings, followed an hour later by a dose of Magnesium sulphate.
ii. Betel nut with Torreya Fei Zi (TCM)
iii. Betel nut with Melia azedarach Ku Lian Pi (TCM)
iv. Tapeworm, Betel nut (Bing Lang) with Pumpkin seed and Costus (TCM)
v. Tapeworm, 60 grams is ground into powder and taken with decoction of Pumpkin seed.
vi. Roundworm and Pinworm, Betel nut with Omphalia Lei Wan and Melia cortex (Ku Lian Pi)
vii. Pinworm, Betel nut with Stemona Bai Bu as a wash
viii. Hookworm, Betel nut with Torreya Fei Zi, Sargentodoxa Hong Teng, Cyrtomium Guan Zhong
ix. Abdominal pain and constipation from worms, Betel nut with Pharbitis Qian Niu Zi (TCM)
x. Abdominal pain from Roundworm, Betel nut with Prunus mume Wu Mei (TCM)
7. Liver Fluke, Betel nut, Neem
8. Malarial disorders:
i. Betel nut with Bupleurum Chai Hu, Chinese Pulsatilla Bai Tou Weng, Scutellaria Huang Qin
ii. Chronic Malaria, Betel nut with Dichroa Chang Shan, Amomum Cao Guo, Magnolia Hou Po
9. Scrofula, Betel nut with Clam shell (Ge Ke), Kelp (Kun Bu), Sargassum Hai Zao, Fritillaria Bei Mu, Platycodon Jie Geng, Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao), Citrus Chen Pi, Betel nut (Bing Lang) (as in Xiao Ying Wan)
10. Gall Stones, Betel nut, Artemisia Yin Chen Hao, Costus (Mu Xiang), Rhubarb (Da Huang)
11. Scabies, Tinea, Betel nut, Sulphur, Galls (Wu Bei Zi) as a powder applied topically.
BETEL HUSK:
1. Stagnant Qi with Damp obstructing the abdomen, Betel husk with Magnolia bark Hou Po, Citrus Chen Pi
2. Abdominal distention, fatugue, fullness from Spleen deficieny with Damp obstruction:
i. Betel husk, Ginseng
ii. Betel Husk with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Citrus Chen Pi
3. Edema:
i. from Damp and Fluid obstruction, Betel Husk, Poria Fu Ling, fresh Ginger peel
ii. from Cold and Damp, Betel Husk, Poria Fu Ling, Cinnamon
Major Formulas:
Bin Lang Si Xiao Wan
Fei Er Wan
Hua Chong Wan
Jie Nue Qi Bao Yin
Lian Mei An Hui Tang
Mu Xiang Bing Lang Wan
Mu Xiang Liu Qi Yin
Mu Xiang Shun Qi Wan
Qu Tiao Tang
Shao Yao Tang
Shi Pi Yin
Si Mo Tang
Tian Tai Wu Yao San
Tong Yao Tang
Zhou Che Wan
Betel Nut 7 (Go yu 7) (Tibetan)
Betel Nut 9 (Go yu dgu pa) (Tibetan)
Betel Nut 28 (Go yu nyer brgyad)
Betel Immense Pleasure Giver (Tibetan)
Mental Happiness (Sems kyi bde skyid) (Tibetan)
Cautions:
1. Avoid overdose.
2. Not used in Qi deficiency (fatigue with loose stool)
3. Should be avoided in Pregnancy.
Toxicity:
1. Acute toxic symptoms include acute and transient psychosis, auditory hallucination, mania, delirium, paranoia. Overdose causes bradycardia, tremor, reflex excitability, spasms and eventual paralysis
2. Toxic dose is 8–10 grams (in substance)
3. Betel use has been associated with metabolic syndrome and increased risk of Kidney disease, Kidney stones and Oral cancer.
4. No side effects were noted at 166mg/kg per day in rats.
5. A review of the systemic adverse effects of areca nut or betel nut
Main Preparations used:
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Extra Info
- Research