All Indian functions and celebrations are incomplete without a thambulam and thambulam is incomplete without betel or paan leaves.
If you have the chance to visit Hanuman (or Anjaneyar) temple, you will see the paan ka garland or garland made of folded betel leaves.
Have you tasted a betel (paan) leaf? Slightly acidic and spicy in taste, a betel leaf helps in reducing digestion problems, cold, and body pains.
Botanical name is Piper betle. It is called as Vettila in Malayalam, Vettrilai in Tamil, Tamalapaku in Telugu, Veelaya in Kannada.
Easy to grow, betel plant is a quick growing light-green climber with heart-shaped leaves.
Betel leaves can be washed and eaten directly. They are rich in Calcium, Potassium, Iodine, and Fibre. They also contain Thiamine, Niacin, Riboflavin, Carotene, Vitamins A and C.
The following links contain more information about the benefits of using Betel:
Drink to reduce throat infections
Boil 3-4 betel leaves (chopped) with 5-6 pepper seeds, and 2 clove (krambhu)
Pour 2 cups of water.
Let the liquid boil until it becomes 1/4th the original volume.
(Optional) Add a spoon of honey to the liquid and serve.
Folded Paan to improve digestion
Take one huge betel leaf or 2 small leaves.
Add 5-6 pepper seeds.
Fold the betel leaf and lock it with 1 or 2 cloves.
Steamed Paan to reduce digestive disorders in kids
Spread 3-4 drops of castor oil on one betel leaf.
Heat the leaf directly on a candle flame so that the castor oil side faces the flame.
Allow the leaf to cool.
Place the leaf on the kid’s stomach. Remove it after 5-10 minutes.
Massaging balm
Heat coconut oil and add 3-4 betel leaves (chopped).
Stop after the liquid comes to a boil.
Gently apply the balm on affected areas to reduce pain.
ITry eating a paan leaf (just one leaf) a day. This is an easy way to avoid digestive problems and improve your health.Betel leaf is such a part of our life that it is their in every important occasions. We use it in our prayers, in home remedies, for welcoming our guests and in all our ceremonies. Betel leaf is called vetrilai in Tamil, paan ka patta in Hindi and it's botanical name is Piper Betle. If you happen to visit any rural village in Tamil Nadu, chances are you will definitely find at least one person with small betel leaf pieces stuck to both sides of their temples. This remedy has been long used for treating sinus headaches by us and is quite effective. Chewing betel leaf also is a tradition that has been followed for thousands of years and many associate betel leaf for only making paan. According to my humble opinion most of us are ignorant of the wonderful benefits of this amazing plant and should try to make use of it's wonderful benefits. There are many varieties of betel leaf and you can use any variety that you get. According to me every home should have betel leaf in their garden. Since betel leaf is a creeper you can easily grow it as an ornamental plant like money plant. Betel leaf treats ear infections, headaches, stomach pain and even insect bites. Betel leaf compress can be used to treat stomach pain in young babies. Red betel leaf is said to control blood sugar levels in diabetic patients and betel leaf chewing is said to increase the metabolism and aid weight loss though no studies have been done to prove it. When I was younger, I used to love sitting near my great grandmother and watch her expertly make paan in the afternoons. We kids were strictly not allowed paan (homemade paan made without tobacco is actually very good and aids in digestion) but my great grandma used to take tender betel leaves, remove only the end part and give it to us to chew. Though it is common in our place for pregnant women to chew on betel leaves, I would suggest to stay away from it as the paan is usually made with betel nut and slaked lime which might not agree with everyone. Nowadays paan is sold in every nook and corner, I would suggest making the paan yourself at home if you feel like having one. If you are buying it ready made from the shops make sure it does not have any form of tobacco in it. Betel leaf can be stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator wrapped in a thin cheese cloth.
1. Betel Leaf For Indigestion:
My co sister uses this remedy regularly and she was the one who taught me this remedy. You will be amazed at how effective this remedy is for gastric problems. We use betel leaf, omam (carom seeds) along with a pinch of salt for this remedy. When we are bloated which is usually the case after large greasy meals or eating out a lot, we burp a lot, experience uneasiness, sluggishness, lack of hunger and bloating. This remedy with betel leaf will work well for all these symptoms. Both carom seeds and betel leaf by themselves are very good for treating indigestion but when combined together it makes a very effective home remedy. Making this remedy couldn't be any simpler. Just take a fresh betel leaf, add carom seeds and a pinch of salt. Roll it up, chew and swallow it with a glass of water. But try to use fresh, tender betel leaf for the remedy and this remedy can be used for children too. This remedy gives instant relief, why take antacids, when you have such easy and effective home remedies?
2. Betel Leaf for Cold:
Betel leaf is very good for treating cold and the best way to use betel leaf for treating cold is by making a kashayam with it. Any herbal extract that is used for treating illness is called kashayam and it can be very elaborate or very simple like this betel leaf kashayam. Usually kashayam is made by boiling the herbs with the water but for this remedy we need fresh extract. It does not matter whether it is a simple recipe made with just 1 or 2 ingredients or with many ingredients, they always work their magic. Betel leaf kashayam is simple to make and gives very good relief from chest congestion. To make the kashayam, take a single betel leaf and grind it along with boiled water in a mixer and extract the juice. To this juice add a pinch of pepper powder and a pinch of dry ginger powder. Your kashayam is ready, for children above 3 years 1 tsp of this kashayam will give good relief from chest congestion, for adults 2 teaspoons will work well. But please remember that betel leaf juice by itself is very spicy so add just a very small pinch of pepper and dry ginger powder. Betel juice can be used for external application for treating chest congestion due to cold in babies. For that take 1 tsp coconut oil | mustard oil in pan and add a small piece of camphor to it and let it dissolve. Once dissolved, add 2 teaspoons of freshly extracted betel juice and mix well. Rub this mixture on the chest, this will greatly help in chest congestion.
3. Betel Leaf for Headache:
Like I mentioned before using betel leaf for treating headache has been done for many years. A lady worker from the neighboring farm will always have betel leaves stuck to her temples in the mornings during cold winter season. One day, when I asked her about it she replied that it prevents headaches since she has to get up early everyday even during winter season to milk the cows. This is the main reason I love home remedies, you can use it for months together without any side effects or any allergies! For headaches, you can either apply small pieces of fresh betel leaf on either side of the temples or the fresh extract which is more potent. To make the extract, grinding the betel leaf along with very little boiled water and extract the juice. Now add few drops of camphor essential oil to the extracted juice. Apply this mixture on temples to get good relief from headache. We can also boil the leaves in water and inhale the steam.
4. Betel leaf : Antidote For Poison
Betel leaf and peppercorns are a magic combination and can be used for variety of reasons. This combination of betel leaf and peppercorns are so famous that you will find it mentioned in many books. When we are out in the garden or out trekking especially if you are a forest lover most of the time we don't even realize what bit us. We only realize it few hours later when the itching or swelling starts. If it is very mild, it usually goes away within a few hours but if it is very severe, things could get very serious especially if there is no medical help near by. These are the times herbs come in very handy and sometimes can be life savers too. Betel leaf if had along with peppercorns acts as a natural antidote for minor insect poisons and can be really useful. Take a single betel leaf and and place 4 to 5 peppercorns in the middle, fold to make a parcel, chew and swallow. This remedy can be given to young children too. You can also boil the two ingredients along with a cup of water till it is reduced to half, strain and use it as a home remedy for treating indigestion.
5. Betel leaf for External Application: For Pimples, Skin
Since betel leaf is an antiseptic, it makes very good external poultice and can be used for treating pimples on the face, minor wounds and as a poultice for treating stomach pain in babies. For treating pimples, make a smooth, thick paste of tender betel leaves along with little boiled water and apply on the spots. As a preventive measure, we can also make a face wash liquid with betel leaves by boiling the betel leaves in water and using that water to wash the face. This same liquid can be used for gargling for treating sore throat. Betel leaf juice (it should be thick) can be applied externally on the skin to treat skin diseases like psoriasis and eczema. Betel leaf can be used for babies to treat stomach pain due to heat. We always massage the lower abdomen with pure castor oil for it, we can also smear castor oil on a betel leaf and warm the leaf over a lamp and apply the warmed leaf over their abdomen. This compress is very comforting to the babies, but please be very very careful about the heat, check every single time on yourself before applying the leaf on the babies as it is easy to overheat the leaves.
- Sri Eswaran
