Wonderful benefits of Betel leaves

Piper Betel (commonly known as Betel leaf or Paan patra)

The heart shaped leaves not only look beautiful but are full of medicinal properties. 

Betel is called Tambula in Sanskrit (ताम्बूल)

It’s Ayurvedic properties are: 

Rasa (taste): katu (pungent), tikta (bitter)
Guna (qualities): laghu (light), ruksha (dry), tikshna (sharp)
Virya (potency): ushna (heating)
Vipaka (post-digestive effect): katu (pungent)

Ayurveda recommends chewing betel leaf in the Dinacharya (daily routine). The reference can be found in the classical textbook Astanga Hridaya 📚📚📚
According to Ayurveda Tambula sevana (chewing of betel leaf) has many benefits such as:

1. Cleanses the mouth and throat 
2. Prevents bad breath 
3. Increases salivation 
4. Deepen/ pachana - improves the digestive fire 
5. Beneficial in loss of taste (Aruchi)
6. Tooth decay 
7. Antibacterial 

Betel leaf has is also mentioned as a Hrdaya Dravya (beneficial for the heart health), it is also used to treat the common cold , hoarseness of voice and asthma. ♥️🫁

In respiratory conditions a betel leaf is covered with warm mustard oil, the leaf is then placed on the chest to help with congestion. 

We hope you enjoyed learning about the wonderful benefits of Piper Betel. This post was inspired by @dance_kishani performing kandyan dance (Bulath Padaya) while holding 10 betel leaves. Dancers hold a sheaf of betel leaves when paying homage to Buddha, Deities or a Guru. ✨🙏

With Love, Karin 

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