PAAN (BETEL)

Description

Evergreen, perennial, climber vine;stems 3mm in diameter, woody, dichotomous, articulate, swollen, rooted at nodes;4-2.5cm-long internodes;Leaves simple, spiral, and exstipulate;petiole 5mm long, channelled, and pubescent, blade 10cm x 6cm — 9.5cm x 5cm, ovate to ovate—oblong, and light green below;blade base cordate, apex acuminate;leaf secondary nerves in three pairs;inflorescence axillary spike 5.5cm long;fruits drupaceous, orange, and 3mm in diameter.
Propagation is by root division or cuttings, preferably taken in spring or summer

Chemical constituents:
It includes vitamins B, C, and A as well as calcium, phosphorus, iron, iodine, potassium, and vitamin D . Additionally, it contains a few stable oils and aromatic chemicals like phenol and terpene. Eugenol, chavibetol a-pinene, f pinene, 1, 8 cineole, and hydroxychavicol are also present.
Properties:
Guna (Quality) :Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshan
Rasa (Taste) :Tikta
Vipak (Metabolism) : Katu
Virya (Potency) : Ushan
Prabhav (Impact) : Hridya

Benefits:

1. Shleepad/Filaria: the paste of three paan leaves is taken with one gram rock salt with warm water, thrice daily.
2. Stomach disorder: the leaves juice is taken orally.
3. Throat irritation/swelling: The oral intake of leaves decreases cough and reduces swelling of throat.
4. Dry cough: paan leaf juice is taken with honey.
5. Impaired digestion, gas, bad breath: Chewing of Pan leaf is beneficial.
6. Wound healing: The leaves are applied externally to heal ulcers, boils, bruises, ulcerations of the nose.
7. Eye injury/infection, night blindness: the leaves juice along with honey is applied as Anjan or used as eye drop.
8. Headache: As the paan leaves are cooling and analgesic in action, therefore they are applied over the temporal regions for headaches.
9. Inflamed joints: The leaves are also applied in case of joint and arthritis swelling.
10. Respiratory ailments: In respiratory ailments, cold, cough, difficult breathing the leaves are soaked in mustard oil, warmed and applied to the chest.
11. Throat irritation, hoarseness of voice: Gargling with pan leaves juice added in
    .
    Is paan safe?
    Paan has a healing effect on the body and it is extensively used in traditional medicine for its potential wound healing properties. Due to its high antioxidant properties, paan leaves can naturally improve skin regeneration and help in healing wound and inflammation.

Contraindication:
It is contraindicated in a person suffering from eye diseases, hemorrhagic condition, phthisis, tuberculosis, poisonous condition, giddiness and dyspnea.