Botanical Overview
Piper betle belongs to the family Piperaceae and is commonly known as Betel leaf or Paan. The plant is native to and widely used in South and Southeast Asia. The primary part used medicinally is the leaf.
Energetics
Piper betle has a warming and drying energetic profile with tastes described as peppery, pungent, bitter, and acrid. Its directionality is ascending and outward, and it is considered tonifying with emphasis on supporting qi.
Primary Actions
- Carminative
- Antimicrobial
- Anti-inflammatory
- Astringent
Indications
Western
- Bad breath
- Indigestion
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Mouth ulcers
Syndromes
- Digestive disturbances
- Respiratory infections
TCM
- Cold phlegm accumulation
- Poor digestion
- Damp stagnation
Syndromes
- Spleen Qi deficiency
- Damp-Phlegm stagnation
Ayurveda
- Poor digestion
- Excess kapha
- Cough
- Vata imbalance
Syndromes
- Kapha-pitta disorders
- Ama (toxicity)
Unani
- Digestive weakness
- Excess phlegm
- Cold conditions
Syndromes
- Soda-e-Ma’dni (phlegmatic dyscrasia)
- Su-e-Mizaj (dystemperament)
Constituents & Mechanisms
Piper betle contains key phytochemicals such as eugenol, allylpyrocatechol, chavibetol, caryophyllene, flavonoids, and alkaloids contributing to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Dosage & Preparations
- Fresh leaf chewed 1-2 leaves daily
- Infusion 2-3 g dried leaf 1-2 times daily
- Decoction 2-5 g leaf 1-2 times daily
- Topical paste applied as needed
Safety & Contraindications
Use cautiously during pregnancy due to potential uterine stimulatory effects. Avoid in cases of gastric ulcers or bleeding disorders. Habitual use of betel quid containing areca nut and tobacco is carcinogenic, though betel leaf alone poses lower risk. Potential additive effects with anticoagulants warrant monitoring.
Astrological Correspondences
No reliably sourced planetary or elemental rulers identified.
Selected References
- Pharmacological Review on Piper betle Linn.: A Medicinal Plant (S. Kumar et al., 2017)
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA), 2000
- World Health Organization Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, 1999
- Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties of Piper betle Linn. (R. Sharma, 2015)