2. Health benefits of Areca nut & Tambula (Betel quid) as per ancient Indian treatises

 

Numerous references to areca nut, betel leaf and Tambula (aka, Betel quid) are found in several ancient Sanskrit texts such as Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Astanga Hridayam, Bhavaprakasa, Harivamsa, Varahapurana, Panchatantra and Jataka tales. Several terms including puga, pugi, ghonta, guvaka, kramuka, sramsi, cikkana, khapura are used to denote areca nut in those treatises. These classical texts consider areca nut as astringent and slightly sweet (kasaya), cold in potency (hima), helps taste (rucya), Removes moisture and dirt of the mouth (asyakleda malapaha) and bad taste (vaktravairsaya), creates dryness (ruksa), heavy for digestion (guru), stimulates digestion (dipana), it is purgative (bhedi) and intoxicant (mohana). Choorna of areca nut has been prescribed with several other medicinal ingredients for treating liver ailments as per Charakasamhita, which was believed to be written during 100 BCE to 200 CE. Mātrāśitīya (the recommended daily regimens for well-being and hygiene), part of Charakasamhita recommends the following,

“One desiring clarity, taste and good smell should keep in his mouth the fruit of nutmeg, musk seed, areca nut, tiled pepper, cardamom and clove, fresh betel leaf and exudate of camphor”.

Several beneficial attributes of betel leaf have been described in Susrutasamhita. Vagbhata’s Astangasangraha describes the preparation of five drug groups and preparations (Aragvadhadi gana, Syamadi gana, Virecana gana, Lodhrasava and Bijakasara arista) for treating various ailments including leprosy, vomiting, skin diseases, itching, diabetes, Dysuria, poisoning, Anorexia, abdominal tumours, obesity, anaemia, worms, Dropsy, Haemorrhoids, Jaundice, heart disease, Gout etc. These clearly demonstrates that areca nut and betel leaf were the most important ingredients for making various formulations for treating numerous ailments and diseases in Ancient India.

Its mention in Vatsayana’s Kamasutra and Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsha itself reflects the antiquity and popularity of the practice of chewing Tambula. As per Vatsayana’s Kamasutra, a civilized man (nāgaraka) cleans his teeth and perfumes himself in the morning, uses mouthwash, and chew some Tambula to make himself presentable. The Tambula chewing is considered as an integral part of an elaborate sexual act as per the Kamasutra. In the Kāmasūtra, it is suggested that a lover should use Tambula both as a precursor to sexual relations, at various points during the sexual act, and as a post-coital activity marking a ritualistic finish and freshening of the breath.

 

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1. Antiquity of Areca nut / Tambula consumption in India

 

Wide spread use of Tambula (Popularly known as “pan”) in Indian culture was best described by Shree M. Gowda, the Deputy Superintendent, Government Gardens, Lal Bagh, Bangalore, in his monograph on “The story of pan chewing in India” which got published in BOTANICAL MUSEUM LEAFLETS, Harvard university in 1951. He writes, “there is no ceremony, there is no occasion, there is not a day in an Indian's life where the pan does not play its part. The happiest part of honeymoons, the happiest part of married life is spent over pan. The young couples, on the day's work well done, retreating to their seclusion after meals, talk out their hearts and pour out their affection while the bashful young wife prepares pan quid with selected leaves. The parents, in Indian families, plan out and discuss the day's outcome of work, the family affairs, children, their education, over pan; while children cluster about grandmother to hear fairy stories at leisure over her pan.” In the concluding remarks he writes, “pan is chiefly used for chewing or for social purposes, rather than as a narcotic or a drug”.

There was a widespread belief that Tambula confer numerous health benefits. Perhaps this belief has emerged from various ancient texts. An ancient medical compendium “Yogaratnakara” lists thirteen benefits of consumption of Tambula; it removes bad odor in the mouth: it expels phlegm; it expels flatulence; it expels worms; it beautifies the mouth; it helps digestion; it is sour; it is bitter; it is heating; it is sweet; it is salt; it is astringent; and it excites desire.

Thirteen attributes of Tambula described in “Yogaratnakara”

The same has been quoted in Prastāvaratnakara composed by Haridasa, Rājanighaņtu written by Narahari, Jyotirnibandha by Sivadāsa, and the Suktimuktavali by Jalhaņa composed in 1257 CE (common era). However, one of the earliest literatures describing the good qualities of Tambula is found in charter 77 of the Brhatsamhita of Varāhamihira believed to be written in 500 CE in Sanskrit. It says, “Tambula stimulates love, sets off the physical charm, creates popularity, gives good smell to the mouth, strengthens the body and dispels diseases arising from the phlegm”. 

Charter 77 of the Brhatsamhita of Varāhamihira (CE 500)

Genesis of this Blog

A religious ritual, a grand feast or a social gathering would never be complete without generous offering of areca nut, betel leaf and slaked lime (for making Tambula) in ancient India. Areca nut used to be one of the most important ingredients for every Ayurveda practitioner. There was a widespread consumption of Tambula (also called Betel quid, Paan) by commoners and noble men, due to which there was a huge demand for areca nut and betel leaf in ancient India. With the introduction of Tobacco to the Indian subcontinent in the 17th Century by Portuguese and subsequent change in the consumption pattern of Tambula, there was a further boost in the areca nut consumption in India. Currently areca nut offers lively hood to the numerous areca farmers, traders, Pan masala manufacturers and retailers of areca products. Areca nut has become a lifeline and the backbone of economy in areca growing regions of Karnataka, Kerala and Meghalaya in India.

Of late, areca nut is declared as a potential carcinogen by several research papers, non-governmental organizations and certain international organizations dealing with cancer. Due to the sustained media campaign, Governmental policies, chewing areca nut is considered as a taboo among the educated youths. Many countries in southeast Asia have formulated policies to discourage the consumption of areca nut and its products. Couple of countries have succeeded in curbing the areca nut / Tambula consumption drastically by implementing certain policy initiatives. How this paradigm shifts in the status of areca nut from a most auspicious and revered item to the one blamed for cancer, is worth exploring.

Areca nut is cultivated and consumed not only in India but also in several south-east Asian countries and Pacific Island nations. There is a great diversity in the processing methods, consumption patterns and the perceived medicinal values of areca nut in China, India and South-east Asian countries. Numerous research groups are working on chemical composition of areca nut / Tambula, their ill effects on lab animals & cell lines, cellular metabolism of active principles of areca nuts/ Tambula, beneficial effects of several components, therapeutic values of areca nut etc. Numerous scientific papers are being published by these research groups in reputed international journals. Most of the general public and people associated with the areca nut farming, processing and trade are unaware of these scientific developments.

This Blog has been created with a sole purpose of providing authentic facts, information and data on all the aspects of areca nut with academic objectivity. My subsequent posts will cover the following broad topics,

1.      Historical account of areca nut/Tambula consumption in India.

2.      Historical account of areca nut/Tambula consumption in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand etc.

3.      Diversity in Tambula consumption pattern in various South-east Asian countries.

4.      Historical perspective of Tobacco in Indian subcontinent

5.      Country-wise Areca nut production status

6.      Areca nut production status in India

7.      Prevailing practices of areca nut processing and consumption

8.      Chemical composition of Areca nut

9.      Excerpts of the monograph on Areca nut, published by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

10.   Legitimate questions on IARC-2004 (Vol 85) monograph on areca nut.

11.   Some notable reports on the beneficial /therapeutic values of areca nut and its components.

12.   Important policies initiated by governments concerned to areca nut & its products.

In the later part of my Blog, I am going to provide commentary on the scientific reports published in reputed international journals, monographs and books. Emphasis will be on keeping the posts simple, easy to understand without diluting the scientific content. I sincerely hope, this Blog is informative and meets your expectations. Looking forward for your feedback and support.

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