Medicinal Plants No 49

Areca catechu Linn. Arecaceae : (पूग-कुलम्) Eng : Arecanut tree, Betelnut tree Hin : Supari (9) Kan : Adike (eas) Mal : Kavunnų, Kamunnü, Kamukų, Ațaykkämaram (കവുങ്ങ്, കമുങ്ങ്, കമുക്, അടയ്ക്കാമരം) San : Pūgah (9) Tam : Pakkumaram (USGLDTI) Tel : Vakka, Põka (352-365) Distribution : Cultivated throughout India The plant : A tall slender unbranched palm with a crown of leaves, stem annulate; leaves pinnate with a conspicuous sheath; flowers in spadix, male many at the upper portion, female much larger and few at the base; fruits 3.8 - 5 cm long, smooth, orange or scarlet when ripe. Parts used: roots, leaves, fruits Properties and uses : A decoction of the root is a reputed cure for sore lips. The juice of tender leaves is mixed with oil and is used as an embrocation in cases of lumbago. The nuts are used either raw or cured. They are cooling, astringent, diuretic, digestive, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, ſervine tonic and emmenagogue. They are useful in urinary disorders, anore...