India is home to the betel leaf which is known in Sanskrit as Nagavallari and Saptasira. Betel leaf is indispensible in all Indian ceremonies. It is medicinal; one just needs to keep arecanut and lime water and tobacco away from it.
The betel leaf contains Vitamin C, Thiamin, Niacin, Riboflavin and Carotene. Here are some medicinal values of the Calcium rich betel leaf.
The betel leaf is a good painkiller. You can apply betel leaf paste on the paining part to get relief. Chew the betel leaf and drink the juice to get relief from pain occurring inside the body. Placing the betel leaf on the wound before bandaging it will help heal the wound quicker.
Betel leaf contains antioxidants which destroys the free radicals in the body. This normalizes pH levels and solves stomach disorders. Drinking betel leaf juice daily on an empty stomach will keep constipation away.
Crush betel leaf by adding a little water. Keep this water overnight. Drink this on empty stomach the next morning. Dip the stem of betel leaf in castor oil and place in the anus as suppository to heal the problem of hard stool in children.
Betel leaf aids in digestion. Earlier it was common to chew a betel leaf after lunch. Add a betel leaf and a tinge of black pepper into a dish of boiling water to cure indigestion among children. Filter this water and give two teaspoons of it daily two times to children.
Betel leaf is also ideal for the body’s metabolism. It increases blood circulation and eases the flow of proteins and nutrients. Toxins are easily removed from the body. Regular use of betel leaf brings down stomach pain and acidity.
Betel leaf helps increase appetite. Betel leaf rejuvenates the hunger hormones and thereby increases appetite and restores health.
Betel leaf can be used as a breath freshener. It also fights the germs and bacteria in the mouth. Chewing betel leaf cleanses the mouth, prevents decay of teeth and strengthens the gums.
It is a good practice to take a mouthful of a cup of warm water added with a drop of betel leaf oil morning and evening. Water boiled with a little betel leaf can be used for this.
Betel leaf can solve respiratory issues as well. It removes cough and cold and gives relief from asthma. Paste mustard oil on betel leaf, heat it and place on the chest to remove nasal congestions. Also boil a mix of cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and betel in two cups of water to make it 1.5 cups. Filter this and take it three times a day to get relief.
Betel leaf will give relief from cough. Betel leaf has antibiotic effect. This reduces inflammation due to coughs. So betel leaf can be used as a cough syrup. Boil betel leaf in water. Add cardamom and cinnamon. Drink this three times a day. Cough will disappear if you use it for a few days. Betel leaf is again ideal cure for bronchitis.
Betel leaf is a good antiseptic. It contains poly phenols, especially chavicol. This defends against germs.
Betel leaf comes as a relief to those suffering from back pains. Betel leaf juice diluted in coconut oil when rubbed on the paining part will lend relief. Massaging with betel leaf oil is effective for muscle pain and swelling.
Some factors present in betel leaf reduce the sugar level in blood. Therefore betel leaf is also used in diabetes treatment. This is a good diuretic. Crush a betel leaf and extract its juice. Take it mixed with a little diluted milk. This helps to keep the body hydrated. This removes urinary blocks as well. Honey added to a teaspoon of betel leaf juice becomes a tonic which lends energy if taken twice daily. Betel leaf is a remedy for erectile dysfunctions. Rubbing betel leaf juice on the forehead will ward off headaches.
Betel leaf is good for skin diseases. Betel leaf’s antimicrobial properties will give relief from allergies, itches, wounds and body odor. Add turmeric to a little crushed betel leaf and apply on the area of pain or allergy. It is also good to wash face with water boiled by adding betel leaf.
Betel leaf also gives relief from ear pain. Applying two drops of betel juice added with coconut oil in the ear is said to give instant relief from earache. Betel leaf is a home remedy for vaginal itching and vaginal discharges. Washing with water boiled with betel leaf cleanses the body.
Add betel leaf juice or betel leaf oil to bathing water and stay fresh throughout the day.
Take care to use betel leaf that has not ripened too much. Also note that people with migraine, mental problems, TB, intestinal wounds and epilepsy should not use betel leaf.
Do not waste even a second in making this aromatic creeper plant adorn your garden, and also to reap the benefits from betel leaf!