Know Sciences (Native) — betel leaf

No one else is responsible for the betel nut box turned as pill box, only us.

Need to know how?

By not knowing the real science and relying on false propaganda’s, we have abandoned the practice of our ancestors. Betel leaf does not fit in cooking, it is not a good habit, and it causes cancer, if kids eat betel leaf than they will not study properly etc. In fact, betel leaves do not have this impact, the additives and tobacco to the betel leaf causes of some diseases but not just with betel leaves.

Betel leaf is widely believed to have originated in Malaysia and later came to India. But if you look back at our epics, literature, inscriptions, we can understand that this was in use 2500 years ago.

Betel leaf has many names like Tambulam, Pakhilai, Nagavalli, Mellirai, Mellilai, Vellilai, Vethalai, Thiryal, Vendan,etc.

- Remember that in the Mahabharata, Daruman asked Bhishma for whom the first tambulam to be given. Our ancient literature mentions tambulam as a “love enhancer”.

- Around 600 BC in Kasi, an Ayurvedic text written on Sushruta contains references to betel leaves.

- The importance of Tambulam is mentioned in Jain literature in the 4th century BC.

- It has been said in the books like Etuttya, Kalitya, Patuppattu, Silapathikaram, Manimegalai which appeared from 300 BC to 200 AD. Betel leaves are also mentioned in books like Devaram, Divyaprabandham, Kamparamayanam, Periyapuranam, Sivakacintamani etc.

In the 15th & 16th centuries a tax was levied on the cultivation and sale of betel leaves & nuts.

India is one of the largest countries across world that still practices in chewing betel leaves. A thousand years ago, India played a leading role in introducing the practice of planting betel leaves to Western countries like China, Burma, and Vietnam.

Betel leaves production is high along in the Cauvery banks.

“Wheat commodity of Ganga River Let’s switch to Cauvery betel leaf” — Mahakavi Bharati song lyrics talks about cultivation of Cauvery bank betel leaf.

Betel leaves hold a special place in our culture, it is highly valued in Indian culture and pre-dominantly used in temple pujas, religious events, weddings, and feasts. Many of us may not know that such betel leaves also have medicinal properties, and it is a type of herb, evolved from the betel pepper leaf.

Let’s find out here.

Betel leaves are divided into male and female based on the arrangement of the veins on the back of the betel leaf.

There are three types of betel leaves:

There are 3 types of betel leaves, plain betel, kammaru betel and camphor betel. Camphor betel leaves are camphor-scented and slightly spicy. Kammaru betel leaves are dark and have a nice spicy taste.

To list few of the medicinal properties:

- Bad breath: Chewing a betel leaf every day will cure bad breath.

- Constipation: 30 ml. of betel juice can be taken on an empty stomach Crushed betel leaves and soaked in water overnight and consumed on an empty stomach in the morning will relieve constipation. or Grind 2–3 betel leaves along with 4–5 peppercorns and mix with water to get rid of constipation in children.

- Stomach colic and constipation: For children above 6 years of age, to get rid of colic and colic problems, betel leaf soaked in lamp oil can be placed in the lower mouth.

- Cough, shortness of breath, difficult breathing: Betel leaves soaked in coconut oil, boiled in a lamp and placed on the chest can cure cough, shortness of breath and difficult breathing in children (only above 6 years old).

- For women who have given birth: For women who have given birth, betel leaves can be boiled in water and tied on the breast to release milk and dissolve breast swelling caused by breast lump.

- It will not only add beauty to the body but also to the skin (prevents hair loss, acne, body odor).

- Its leaves increase salivation; It is appetizing; to secrete milk; stimulates the veins. It is a miracle of nature.

- If betel juice is mixed with water and milk in required quantity, urinary disorder will be relieved.

- Betel leaves mixed with mustard oil and heated in a cloth and tied on the chest will control shortness of breath and cough. If you add musk or calculus bovis to its leaf juice and mix it with honey, colds and coughs in children will be cured.

- If castor oil is applied to the leaves and applied to the lumps, the lumps will break, and the pus will come out. Better to tie this at night.

- Applying the juice of betel in the eye relieves eye pain and ear pain if applied to the ear.

- Adding betel leaves or pepper to taste will make you feel better. Invigorates the mind.

- Chewing betel leaves with pepper and drinking hot water will relieve gas.

- Heat betel leaves, squeeze the juice and apply it on the head to get rid of headache.

- Add fat betel leaf (one) and five pepper and put it in the mouth and chew it. If you eat this every morning on an empty stomach for 8 weeks, you will get relief from gastrointestinal pain, acidity, indigestion, constipation, increase metabolism, get rid of toxins from the body and make your body clean. We used this to prevent colds during Corona.

- You can get good health if you drink betel leaves juice mixed with honey.

- Betel leaf contains many medicinal properties.

- Detoxifying betel leaves.

Betel leaves that repel all diseases; Apply daily. It has an important place in Indian culture and is considered auspicious in religious ceremonies, marriages and poojas. This heart-shaped leaf is loaded with good health.

Sources:

1. Betel leaf in history — M.Chandramurthy

2.http://kungumam.co.in/DocArticalinnerdetail.aspx?id=1584&id1=112&issue=20170101