Areca Nut Betel Nut
The scientific name for the tree is areca catechu and resembles a thin coconut palm tree.
Areca nut betel nut. The areca nut aer k e or e r i k e is the fruit of the areca palm areca catechu which grows in much of the tropical pacific melanesia and micronesia southeast and south asia and parts of east africa. Snippet areca nut is the fourth most commonly used psychoactive substance in the world chewed regularly by at least 10 of the population with high prevalences in south and southeast asia. The best known member of the genus is a. Catechu the areca nut palm.
Several species of areca nuts known for their bitter and tangy taste raw or dried are routinely used for chewing especially in combination with the leaves of betel and dried leaves of tobacco. Limited clinical applications exist and long term adverse reactions to betel quid chewing are well documented. A decrease in positive symptoms among men with schizophrenia was attributed to betel nut consumption. What is betel nut.
Betel nut is the seed of the fruit of the areca palm. It is also known as areca nut. The common names preparations and specific ingredients vary by cultural group and individuals who use it. Betel nut has a long history in south and southeast asia and the pacific basin.
In guam and other pacific islands its use can be traced back as far as 2000 years. The betelnut also called pugua or mamaon by guamanians are palm nuts from the areca tree.