Areca
From Wikiwel
Other Names: Areca catechu, Areca Nut, Areca Palm, Arecanut Palm, Betel Nut, Betel Quid, Betelnut Palm, Bing Lang, Gubak, Nuez de Areca, Nuez de Betel, Pinag, Pinang Palm, Pinlag, Poogiphalam, Puga, Supari, Tantusara.
Areca is a plant. The nut is used to make medicine. Areca nut is chewed alone or in the form of quids, a mixture of tobacco, powdered or sliced areca nut, and slaked lime wrapped in the leaf of “betel” vine (Piper betel).
See also : Betel Leaf
Special Precautions of Areca
- Not enough is known about the safety of taking areca by mouth short-term. But areca is considered UNSAFE when taken by mouth long-term or in high doses. Some of the chemicals in areca have been associated with cancer. Other chemicals are poisonous. Eating 8-30 grams of areca nut can cause death.
- Chewing the areca nut can make your mouth, lips, and stool turn red. It can cause stimulant effects similar to caffeine and tobacco use. It can also cause more severe effects including vomiting, diarrhea, gum problems, increased saliva, coma, and death.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taking areca by mouth is UNSAFE for anyone, due to concerns about cancer and toxicity. But pregnant and breast-feeding women have additional risks. Areca can affect the central nervous system and this might endanger a pregnancy. Chemicals in areca might pass into breast milk and harm a nursing infant. Stay on the safe side and avoid using areca if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- Asthma: Areca might make asthma worse.
- Drying medications (Anticholinergic drugs) interacts with Areca
- Procyclidine interacts with Areca
- Various medications used for glaucoma, Alzheimer's disease, and other conditions (Cholinergic drugs) interacts with Areca
Benefits and uses of Areca are
Areca is used for treatment of a mental disorder called schizophrenia and an eye disorder called glaucoma; as a mild stimulant; and as a digestive aid. Some people use areca as a recreational drug because it speeds up the central nervous system (CNS).
- Schizophrenia. Developing evidence suggests that areca might be helpful for schizophrenia. Some patients with schizophrenia who chew areca nut seem to have less severe symptoms.
- Glaucoma.
- Aiding in digestion.
