Betel leaf is not a good antiseptic, but used in this way is easy to encounter unpredictable harm-Life Health

According to traditional medicine, betel leaves are not pungent, warm, have anti-leprosy, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial effects. However, if used improperly or too much, it can cause some unwanted side effects.

Recently, Cao Bang Provincial General Hospital said that this unit had received a 6-year-old patient who almost lost his eyesight due to using betel leaves to wash his eyes.

Accordingly, the patient was admitted to the hospital with pain, swelling, and tears in his left eye. The child’s family said that before, seeing that he had pain in his left eye, then accompanied by edema, the family used betel leaves to wash his eyes but it didn’t help, his eyes became more and more swollen and painful. Realizing the dangerous situation, the baby was taken to the hospital by family members.

Betel leaves do not have good antiseptic properties but should not be abused. Illustration

In fact, betel nut is grown in many parts of the country with the main purpose being to get betel leaves (betel leaves, lime, areca and bark). In addition, betel leaves are no longer used as medicine.

However, many people do not know how to use this medicinal herb or overuse it and experience unwanted side effects. In addition to the case of the above child, before that, many children were burned because their parents heated betel leaves and applied them to the abdomen to treat bloating.

Or at the Central Hospital of Dermatology, the doctors here have also received many patients who were admitted to the hospital because of severe skin damage or patchy skin with alternating black and white spots after a long time of applying betel leaf. does not cure melasma, freckles…

So, how to use betel leaves to cure diseases to promote the best effects and not harm health?

According to modern medicine, in 100g of betel leaf does not contain up to 2.4% essential oil. The main components of betel nut oil belong to many different chemical groups such as: Eugenol, chavicol, chavibetol, Estragol… have strong antibiotic activity, inhibit many bacterial strains such as: Staph, pneumococcal, streptococci cocci, coli bacilli, dysentery bacilli…

In addition, betel leaf extract has the ability to destroy tumors in animal experiments and has strong antifungal effects against many species of fungi.

According to traditional medicine, betel leaves have no pungent taste, pungent aroma, warm properties, have anti-leprosy, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial effects.

Some folk remedies from betel leaves:

Wound disinfection: When injured, squeeze the juice of betel nut to wash the wound, then cover it with clean betel leaf, cover it with a bandage.

Treatment of sore throat: When you have a sore throat, take 5 betel leaves, wash them, crush them, extract the water, add honey and then suck it up, you can swallow it slowly, very effectively.

Milk ducts: After giving birth to lactation, lactation can be used to heat betel leaves under the udder to help milk down quickly, thereby reducing pain.

Treatment of pain and flu: Take about 5 betel leaves and dip them in alcohol to beat the cold to have the effect of reducing joint painlight head, reduce flu symptoms.

Treat foot water: Take 8g betel leaf, 50g finely chopped betel leaf, fill it with water, boil it to cool and then soak your feet. Or take a handful of betel leaves and boil them to cool and then soak your feet.

Cure itching, vaginal infections: Take fresh betel leaves, crush them, add a little salt, boil with water and then steam the private area. Betel leaf juice is not allowed to cool, used to wash outside, anti-inflammatory, anti-itch very effectively.

Note when using betel leaves

To use betel leaf safely and effectively, experts recommend, it is best not to use it arbitrarily or abuse it too much in sensitive areas such as eyes, “private areas”. Before using, you should consult a doctor, a reputable oriental medicine doctor.

During use, if you see any unusual symptoms, you should go to a medical facility for timely examination.

In particular, do not use betel leaves for pregnant women. Other special subjects such as infants, young children, the elderly, people with hypersensitivity, or allergies should consult experts to avoid bad side effects. may happen.