Areca catachu - Puvak- පුවක්/ सुपारी / பாக்கு / Betel nut

Botanical name  - Areca catachu

Family                 - Palmae

English name      - Betel nut  

Sanskrit names   - Ghoranta, Pugi, Puga, Guvaka, Kramuka

Singhalese name- Puvak
English (betelnut palm,arecanut,betel palm,betel-nut,supari palm,pinang palm); Filipino (bunga); French (arec cachou,Arequier); German (Arecapalme,Betelnußpalme); Hindi (adike,poogiphalam,adakka,supari); Italian (Avellana d'India); Malay (adakka-maram,kavugu); Sinhala (puwak); Spanish (palma catechou); Tamil (kamugu); Thai (maak mia); Trade name (areca nut,betel nut); Vietnamese (cao)

Parts used   - Catachu, Roots & Flowers

Properties:       

Rasa          Kashaya, Madhura

Guna         Guru, Ruksha  

Veerya      Sheeta               

Vipaka      Katu  

Attributes / Karma:

Fruit – alleviates Kapha. (Moha Kara), promote appetite, removes bad taste of the mouth (Mukha Vairasya)

Tender fruits – Guru, Abhishyandi, removes the appetite.

Boiled fruits – Alleviates Tri- dosha.                                  

                                                                                                       

Medicinal uses

External

• Leucorrhoea – tampon dipped in its decoction is kept in vagina.

• Powder is sprinkled on wounds.

• Eye disorders – water boiled in flowers is used as eyewash.

• Black powder of nut is used in tooth powder.

Internal

• Round & flat worm infestation – 3g betel nut + 2g lemon juice or 250ml of milk is given after a fast of 12-14 hours, kills & expels the worms.