1. Aliases
Betel nut, big belly, Binmen, olive, Qingzi, Ximiao Dan, big belly betel nut, betel nut jade.
2. Plant morphology
Evergreen trees. The stem is upright, not branching, and the leaves are clustered at the top of the stem; Feather like compound leaves, leaf axis tri rhombic, with long leaf sheaths. The flowers are monoecious, with fleshy inflorescences growing under the sheath bundle of the lowest leaves. They are multi branched, conical in shape, with large bracts resembling Buddha flame bracts. The male flowers are small and numerous, sessile, and grow in the upper part of the branches. The sepals are 3, extremely small, and the petals are 3; 6 stamens and 3 degenerated stamens; Female flowers are larger and fewer, sessile, growing at the lower part of branches, with 3 sepals and 3 petals each. There are 6 degenerate stamens, and the ovary is superior, with 1 chamber. nut.
3. Origin distribution
Betel nuts are all cultivated. Distributed in Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangxi and other places.
4. Harvesting and processing
Harvest the fruits in winter and spring when they are ripe, peel off the skin, and take out the seeds to dry in the sun.
5. Characteristics of medicinal herbs
Flat spherical or conical shape. The surface is light yellow brown or light reddish brown, with slightly concave network grooves. At the bottom, there is a circular concave micropyle in the center, and there is a clear scar like hilum next to it. The texture is hard, and the cross-section shows a marble pattern with brown seed coat and white endosperm alternating. Mild qi, astringent taste, and slightly bitter.
6. Nature, taste, and meridian tropism
Bitter and spicy in taste, warm in nature. Return to the stomach and large intestine meridians.
7. Effect and function
Insect repellent, dispelling accumulation, lowering qi, and promoting water circulation. Belonging to insecticides.
8. Clinical applications
Betel nut dosage is 3-9 grams, decoct and take. Used to treat tapeworm, roundworm, and ginger leaf worm diseases; Bug accumulation, abdominal pain, stagnant diarrhea, urgency, edema, athlete's foot, malaria. Drive tapeworms and ginger worms: 30-60 grams.
9. Pharmacological research
Betel nut has the effects and effects of deworming, stimulating choline receptors, resisting pathogenic microorganisms, hypertension, and cancer.
10. Chemical composition
Betel nut seeds contain a total alkaloid content of 0.3% to 0.6%, mainly arecoline, as well as small amounts of arecoline, demethylarecoline, demethylarecoline, isodemethylarecoline, arecoline, high arecoline, stearic acid, myristic acid, L-epicatechin, tannins, and protocatechin A-1, most of which exist in combination with tannic acid. It also contains about 15% tannins, including D-catechin, L-epicatechin, protocyanidins A-1, B-1, and B-2, as well as two series of compounds called betel nut tannins A and B, both of which are dimers, trimers, tetramers, and pentamers of protocyanidins.
11. Taboos for use
Those with qi deficiency and depression are prohibited from taking medication.
12. Compatibility prescription
1. For those who have been treating various insects in the dirt for a long time and have not been cured, 15 grams of betel nut (cannon) is the end. Take 6 grams per serving, and mix 3 grams with scallions and honey decoction. (Shenghui Fang)
2. Treatment of roundworm pain: 60g of betel nut. Two cups of wine, fry one cup, mix well and take twice. (Food Materia Medica)
3. Treatment for food accumulation, stuffiness, phlegm, saliva, and vomiting: 6 grams each of betel nut, Pinellia ternata, sand kernel, radish seeds, malt, dried ginger, and Atractylodes macrocephala. Boiled in water. (Fang Mai Zheng Zong)
4. Treatment of Heart and Spleen Pain: Divide high ginger and betel nut into portions (stir fried separately). The upper part is fine powder, and the rice drink is adjusted downwards. (Bai Yi Xuan Fang)
5. Treatment for ear pus: Grind betel nut and blow it at the end. (Bao's Prescription for Children)
The content of the article is for clinical reference only. Non professionals in traditional Chinese medicine are not allowed to try medication.