Betel nut

Betel nut

(pinhui Essentials)

[synonyms] Ma Jinnan, Ma jinnang, zibinglang, shuibinglang, taijizi, qutouji.

[source] it is the seed of betel nut or betel nut.

[plant morphology] 1

Rattan shrubs, up to 3 meters high. The old branches are smooth, and the tips of young branches are densely covered with yellowish brown hairs. The leaves are oblong ovate or elliptic in shape, 8-20 cm in length, entire, dark green above and grayish green to yellowish brown below, glabrous on both sides, but the tender leaves are often densely covered with brown felt like hairs; the petioles are grooved, with 2 spiny stipules, hard and bent down. The flowers are yellow, terminal or axillary, and consist of many umbelliform or corymbose inflorescences. The total petiole is 1-4 cm long and the petiole is 1-2.5 cm long, densely covered with brown pubescence. The sepals are 4, 2-whorled, broadly obovate, 1-2 cm long, covered with brown pubescence on both sides. The petals are 4, long obovate, 1.3-1.7 cm long, covered with white pubescence. The stamens are numerous. The ovary is ovate, Ovary stipe 4 cm long, style inconspicuous. The fruit is spherical, about 4-8 cm in diameter, yellow red, with irregular longitudinal wrinkles on the surface. The seeds are yellow white or scarlet. The flowering period is April. The fruiting period is November.

It grows in a valley, in a dense forest or beside a mountain stream. Distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places.

② Betel nut

Climbing shrubs. The old branches are brown, and the young branches are densely covered with brown hairs. The leaves are elliptic, 7-12 cm long and 4-7 cm wide, apex obtuse, base broadly cuneate, entire, surface green and bright, back gray green, with fine hairs, veins pinnate, both sides protruding, leaves brown when dry; stipules sometimes become uncinate. Flowers white; calyx 4, arranged in two whorls; petals 4, imbricate; stamens numerous; ovary stalk thick, 3 cm long, woody. The fruit is ovoid or subglobose, 2 cm long. The exocarp is shrunken, with irregular edges and thick short spinous processes. Seeds dark brown or grayish brown. The flowering period is from March to June. The fruit period is from August to December.

He was born in the valley. It is distributed in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong and Guizhou.

[collection] harvest mature fruits in winter, break hard shell, take out seeds and dry them in the sun.

[medicinal materials] ① the dried seeds of Areca catechu are kidney shaped or round and flat, one end of which is usually beak shaped, with a diameter of 1-1.8 cm. The appearance is smooth or slightly rough, ranging from yellowish white, reddish brown or cyan gray. There is a half ring mark in the center of the seed, and one end meets the hilum. Hilum distinct, spine usually not distinct. The testa is crispy, about 1 mm thick. The inner surface of the testa is gray white to yellow white, with longitudinal texture and a thin film clinging to the testa. Embryo white to yellowish, some with purple halo. The cotyledons are curved and curly. It tastes bitter first and then sweet.

② The dried seeds of Areca catechu are similar to those of the previous species except that the appearance of the seeds is grayish brown or dark brown. All were fresh. Plump, yellow and white seeds are preferred.

It is mainly produced in Guangxi and Yunnan. It is also produced in Guangdong.

The seeds of the same genus, Viburnum thunbergii (distributed in Guangdong and Guangxi), are also used as betel nut in Guangdong.

Sweet and cold.

① "Pinhuijingyao": "bitter and sweet taste, cold nature, non-toxic. "

② "Gangmu": "solid: sweet, cold, non-toxic. Nucleolus: bitter, sweet, cold, nontoxic. "

Functions and indications: clearing away heat, generating fluid and relieving thirst. Treatment of typhoid fever, summer heat, thirst, measles, sore throat, food stagnation, swelling and poison.

① "The essence of pinhui" says: "the Lord gives birth to the baby. If it's difficult to give birth, the dead will chew it with benevolence, and the water will be sent down from the well. "For those who produce a lot, if they take it for a long time, the uterus will be cold, so it's natural. "

② "Compendium": "typhoid fever, eat a few, under cold water. He also treated malignant sores, swelling and poisons. He ate one inside and chewed it outside under cold water. "

③ "Guangxi Traditional Chinese medicine annals": "clearing lung, generating body fluid to quench thirst. For measles and sore throat. "

[usage and dosage] oral: Chew raw or decoct soup, 1-2 yuan. External use: tamping.

[prescription selection] 1. To treat food stagnation and fullness: take betel nut in water for one to three yuan, and fry it in water. (Guangxi Chinese herbal medicine)

② Treatment of laryngitis, hot thirst: water betel nut two to three chewed, containing pharyngeal liquid. (Guangxi Chinese herbal medicine)