BETEL VINE (PAAN)

The Betel is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and kava. Betel leaf is mostly consumed in Asia and elsewhere in the world by some Asian emigrants, as betel quid or in paan, with Areca nut and/or tobacco. Sri Lanka and in many parts of India a sheaf of betel leaves is traditionally offered as a mark of respect and auspicious beginnings. The betel plant is an evergreen perennial, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkin. Betel leaves are beneficial to the throat and remove viscidity in human beings. Leaves help in digestion and tend to remove the bad smell of the mouth. The juice of betel leaves is used as an adjunct to pills administered in the Ayurvedic medicines. The fresh crushed leaves are used as antiseptic for cuts and wounds. It is also good for the respiratory system and is used in treatment of bronchitis, cough and cold.