Vida (Betel leaves and betel nut) – a panacea for all diseases

The ‘vida’ is a precious gift from Bharatiya culture; hence let us discuss its properties from the Ayurvedic and material perspectives

1. Significance of betel leaves and betelnut in Bharatiya culture

‘Betel leaves and betelnut have extraordinary significance in all religious rituals, be it a wedding, thread or house-warming ceremony or any puja such as Satyanarayan puja. Betelnuts and betel leaves comprise an inseparable part of that rite. A meal also becomes complete only after chewing betel leaves and betelnut. Formerly guests were first offered water and jaggery and then tambul (a mixture of crushed betel leaves, betelnut, cardamom etc). Today this has been replaced by tea. Betel leaf chewing is never an addiction unlike drinking tea. However the platter contained slaked lime called chuna (prepared from burnt limestone), coloured catechu (kat), pieces of dry or wet betelnut, cloves, cardamoms, fennel seeds, coconut kernel or gulkand (rose petal jam). Ayurveda advices chewing of betel leaves 10 to 12 times a day – on waking up, after bath, after ritualistic worship and after a meal. Film songs singing the glory of betel leaves exist even today. There is an arti asking ‘Narayan’ to accept a vida.

2. The ideal way of eating vida as per Ayurveda

When eating betel leaf break the stalk and tip of the leaf and remove the veins behind the leaf. Then apply slaked lime of the size of a grain of gram lentil (chana dal) and then add catechu, betelnut, cardamom, fennel seeds etc. Finally fold the leaf in a particular manner and secure it with a clove. Do not swallow the saliva which appears after first chewing of the betel leaf as it is toxic. The saliva appearing after chewing the vida for the second time is heavy to digest (and induces frequency of urination). The saliva appearing after chewing for the third time or later, is equivalent nectar, hence swallow it. Chew the betel leaf for as long as possible and then swallow the quid.

3. Betel leaves – a panacea for different diseases

Ayurveda advises eating betel leaves both as treatment and for prevention of toothache, loose teeth, bleeding gums, recurrent ulcers in the mouth, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, soreness of voice, earache, ear discharge, recurrent colds, deviated nasal septum and visual errors.

4. Importance of swallowing saliva after eating vida

Never spit out the saliva which is secreted after chewing the vida for the third time. The saliva excreted by spitting once is about 5 ml. After chewing betel leaf thrice about 15 ml of saliva is secreted. So throughout the day if 10 betel leaves are eaten then about 150 ml saliva is secreted. Saliva is not only alkaline but also an excellent germicidal. As acidity decreases with saliva, swallowing it will decrease the problems of hyperacidity, indigestion, flatulence and related digestive problems.

5. Medicinal properties of different components of the vida

5 A. The green betel leaf destroys cholesterol, phlegm and intestinal helminths

The green betel leaf is an excellent medicine for heart disease. The term phlegm in the blood in Ayurveda is the blood cholesterol in modern medicine. The betel leaf decreases not only this but also the phlegm in the throat. Fibre required for digestion is present in this leaf. The pungent taste from the leaf destroys intestinal helminths.

5 B. Slaked Lime – a natural source of calcium and destroyer of helminths

Slaked lime applied to betel leaf is an excellent medicine. It prevents growth of helminths in the body, implying thus that it arrests multiplication of germs. It is because of this very virtue that chewing it prevents caries and helminths in the intestine. Helminths in the intestine are resistant to most medicines and slaked lime is the best medicine for them. Slaked lime being a natural source of calcium helps in increasing blood levels of calcium. It is also easily digested and if consumed in excess is excreted by the body, to prevent toxicity. The calcium tablets available in the market today being inorganic, can create stones in the kidney or gall baldder. Slaked lime is also cheap as compared to these tablets. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies advice against eating slaked lime and vida as it causes them both tremendous financial loss. Slaked lime is also an excellent alkali so it helps in decreasing bile. Such a substance with multiple good properties should certainly be available in every home. There is no medicine better than slaked lime for local application in treatment of a sprain or soft tissue injury. Besides edible slaked lime if applied locally does not cause any harm.

5 C. Catechu arrests bleeding

Catechu arrests bleeding from any site in the body. In fact for such a patient it is like nectar. It stops bleeding from the teeth, gums, throat or nose, instantly.

5 D. Betelnut is anti-cancerous and increases semen production in males

Betelnut increases production of semen. Neither does raw nor roasted betelnut cause cancer. Commerically available flavoured betelnut however can create problems because it contains saccharin which is carcinogenic in nature.

6. Eating vida is a healthy habit

If betel leaves have so many properties then no matter what others say eating vida is a healthy habit. It has only one side effect- it causes reddish discolouration of teeth, lips and the mouth. But is colouring the lips with betel leaves not better than colouring them with lipstick ? Finally the choice is yours.’

-Vaidya Suvinay Damle, Kudal, Sindhudurg