Betel Nut Palm

Some 50-60 species of tall, evergreen palms belong to this genus, which occurs in India, Malaysia, Australia, and the Solomon Islands. The seeds of A. catechu (betel nut palm) have been chewed as a stimulant in India, Pakistan, and SE Asia since ancient times; trees are widely cultivated for the purpose in all these areas. The hard seed is sliced, mixed with a piece of lme and spices, wrapped in a leaf of betel pepper (Piper betle, see betel), and chewed. Elaborately decorated cutters and repositories are used to prepare and store the betel quids. Betel nuts contain tannins and alkaloids, which stimulate saliva flow, accelerate heart and perspiration rates, and suppress hunger, while offering positive protection against intestinal worms. They also possess a pigment that turns the saliva red and blackens the teeth. Chewing the seeds is now discouraged since it is thought to be a possible cause of oral cancer.

Purportedly chewed by over 200 million people worldwide - one tenth o the world's population - the areca nut (also known as the betel nut) is a mild stimulant used as a recreational drug to impart a feeling of exhiliration, strength, and well-being. The nut, which is a little smaller than a walnut, is sometimes wrapped in betel leaf, with mineral lime added as a catalyst. Then the whole package is placed between the cheek and the gum to let it "soak". Those who use areca nut find that it causes red stains not only to the mouth and lips, but also to the feces.

Slender palm tree with a gray-green trunk and pinnate leaves, to 2m (6ft) long. Pale yellow flowers are produced in panicles about 60cm (24in) long, on trees aged 6 years or more, followed by yellow to orange or scarlet, egg-shaped fruits, containing one acorn-sized seed.

Common Name:

Betel Nut Palm

Other Names:

Areca palm, pinang

Botanical Name:

Areca catechu

Genus:

Areca

Family:

Arecaceae

Cultivation:

Moist, well-drained soil in sun, with high humidity.

Propagation:

By seed sown in spring at 24-27°C (75-81°F)

Harvest:

Fruits are collected when ripe and dried for use in decoctions and liquid extracts, or as a powder.

Native Location:

SE Asia

Height:

20m (70ft)

Width:

4m (12ft)

Hardiness:

Min. 16°C (61°F)

Parts Used:

Fruit rind (da fu pi), seeds (bing lang)

Properties:

An astringent, stimulant herb that relieves hunger, abdominal discomfort, and weariness. Kills intestinal parasites and other pathogens and has diuretic and laxative effects.

Medicinal Uses:

Mainly in veterinary medicine to expel tapeworms. Internally, in traditional Chinese medicine, to destroy intestinal parasites, and for dysentery and malaria (seeds); as a laxative in constipation with flatulence and bloating, and as a diuretic in edema (rind). Excess causes profuse salivation, vomiting and stupor.
Areca nut is chewed for its intoxicating qualities but is also used to treat edema, diarrhea, digestive problems, schizophrenia, glaucoma, and chronic hepatitis.

Warning:

This herb is subject to legal restrictions in some countries.

Typical Dosage:

There is no typical dose of areca nut, although eleven nuts per day is common among frequent users.

Possible Side Effects:

Areca nut's side effects include tremors; slowed heart rate; staining of the mouth, lips, and feces; euphoria; and increased salivation. Long-term use can result in cancer of the oral cavity. Taking 8 to 10gm may be toxic to humans.

Drug Interactions:

Taking areca nut with these drugs may enhance the therapeutic and adverse effects of the drugs:
Acetylcholine, (Miochol-E)	Bethanechol, (Duvoid, Urecholine)	Carbachol, (Carbastat, Isopto Carbachol)	Cevimeline, (Evoxac)
Donepezil, (Aricept)	Edrophonium, (Enlon, Reversol)	Galantamine, (Razadyne)	Methacholine, (Provocholine)
Neostigmine, (Prostigmin)	Physostigmine, (Eserine)	Pilocarpine, (Isopto Carpine, Salagen)	Pyridostigmine, (Mestinon)
Rivastigmine, (Exelon)		Tacrine, (Cognex)

Taking areca nut with these drugs may interfere with the actions of the drug:
Atropine, (Isopto Atropine, Sal-Tropine)	Benztropine, (Apo-Benztropine, Cogentin)	Clidinium and Chlordiazepoxide, (Apo-Chlorax, Librax)	Cyclopentolate, (Cyclogyl, Cylate)
Dicyclomine, (Bentyl, Lomine)	Glycopyrrolate, (Robinul, Robinul Forte)	Homatropine, (Isopto Homatropine)	Hysoscyamine, (Hyosine, Levsin)
Hyoscyamine, Atropine, Scopolamine, and Phenobarbital, (Donnatal, Donnatal Extentabs)	Ipratropium, (Atrovent, Nu-Ipratropium)	Oxitropium, (Oxivent, Tersigat)	Prifinium, (Padrin, Riabel)
Procyclidine, (Kemadrin, Procyclid)	Propantheline, (Propanthel)	Scopolamine, (Scopace, Transderm Scop)	Tiotropium, (Spiriva)
Tolterodine, (Detrol, Detrol LA)	Trihexyphenidyl, (Artane)		Trimethobenzamide, (Tigan)

Lab Test Effects:

May interfere with fecal lab tests since chewing areca nuts stains the feces red.

Disease Interaction:

May worsen asthma.

Bibliography:

Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown. Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. pp 127-128
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD pp. 44-45