Areca catechu (Binlang)

Distribution:
Originally it was from south and southeastern Asia, east Africa. It is now being culivated in Hainan, Yunnan, Fujian, Taiwan provinces of China,
 
 Properties (characteristics):
Bitter, acrid, warm.
 
Channels meridians entered:
Stomach, large intestine.
 
 Actions & Indications:
For worm parasites, stagnation of digestion; Stomachache, abdominal pain, bloating; diarrhea with sensation of needing to defecate more, beriberi, Edema, malaria
 
 Chemical ingredients:
arecaidin 
guvacoline 
guvacine 
isoguvacine  
arecolidine 
homoarecoline 
catechin 
epicatechin 
procyanidin A-1
arecatannin A、B, 2 types of compound 
lauric acid 
myristic acid 
palmitic acid 
stearic acid 
oleic acid 
tryptophane 
methionine
tyrosine 
arginine 
phenylalanine  
 
 Daly Dosage:
6-12 g; or 60-120 g when used alone for treating tape worms.
 
Samples of formulae:
For treatment of glaucoma: use betel nut pieces and made into 1:1 eye drops, 1 drop every 5 minutes, a total of six times; with the shield 30 minutes, 3 times; after 1 drop every 2 hours according to the disease. Control of intraocular pressure in the normal range, drops 2-3 times daily 1-2 drops each time, to prevent recurrence. Acute and chronic glaucoma miosis, lowering intraocular pressure. It is better than pilocarpine in control of intraocular pressure , and compared to using pilocarpine, the duration of the miotic effect is shorter. The irritation is slightly stronger than the pilocarpine and causes mild pain and conjunctival hyperemia, and the side effect completely disappear after a few minutes.
 
Cautions:
Not to take in cases of qi deficient..