BOTANICAL NAME:. Areca catechu Linn
FAMILY: Arecaceae
CLASSICAL CLASSIFICATION:
BHAVPRAKASH- Amradi Phala Varga
SANSKRIT NAME:
Kashyayaphalapushpak, DeerghPadap, Valkataru, ValkaChikkana, Ghontaphala, Kramuka
HINDI NAME: Puga, Supari.
ENGLISH NAME: Areca nut, Betel nut tree, Catechu Palm, Supari Palm.
COMMON NAME: Kramuka, Guvaka.
REFERENCE: BHAVAPRAKASH SAMHITA with link e Nighantu:
https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read
भावप्रकाश-पूर्वखण्ड-मिश्रप्रकरण – ७. आम्रादिफलवर्ग
पूग
पूगी पूगश्च घोरण्टः गुवाकः क्रमुकोऽस्य तु |
फलं पूगीफलं प्रोक्तमुद्वेगं च तदीरितम् ||४२||
पूगं गुरु हिमं रूक्षं कषायं कफपित्तजित् |
मोहनं दीपनं रुच्यमास्यवैरस्यनाशनम् ||४३||
आर्द्रं तद्गुर्वभिष्यन्दि वह्निदृष्टिहरं स्मृतम् |
स्विन्नं दोषत्रयच्छेदि दृढमध्यं तदुत्तमम् ||४४||
HABITAT:
It is a tree (30 m high) bearing the leaves at the top. of the main stem. It grows in the temperate and humid conditions.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
Areca catechu is a medium-sized palm tree, growing straight to 20 m (66 ft) tall, with a trunk 10–15 cm (4–6 in) in diameter. The leaves are 1.5–2 m (4.9–6.6 ft) long, pinnate, with numerous, crowded leaflets.
| RASA | GUNA | VIRYA | VIPAKA | PRABHAVA | DOSHGHNTA |
| Kasaya, Madhura | Guru, Ruksha, Vikasi | Sita | Katu | Mohkruta | Kapha-pitta hara; |
AYURVEDIC ENERGETICS:
| TASTE | PROPERTY | POTENCY | POST DIGESTIVE EFFECT | EFFECT ACTION | DOSHA ACTION |
| Astringent, Sweet | Heavy for digestion, Dry in nature
|
Cold | Undergoes Pungent taste after digestion | Sedative | Pacifies vitiated kapha and pitta dosha |
MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Arecoline, arecailine, guvacoline, guvacine, arecolidine, (+) catechin.
THERAPEUTIC USES:
- Upadamśa– Paste of Pūga is applied locally
- Raktapitta– Kramuka is mixed with Candana .
- Kşaudrameha– Khadira & Kramuka Kaşaya is advised
- Kawal Dharan with Puga decoction is helpful in stomatitis, Throat infection & Sheetad roga.
- Local Application of Puga processed Oil in Lumbago pain and Neuralgia.
Prescribed in Leucorrhea as Supari Paka with milk as anupana.
INDICATIONS:
Shweta pradar Leucorrhea, Pravähikā Dysentry, Atisāra, Diarrhea, Prameha Urinary Disorders, Krmi Helmenthiasis, RaktPitta Bleeding disorders, Katishoola Lumbago, Mukhpaka Stomatitis.
USEFUL PART: Fruit
DOSAGE: Powder 1-3 g.
AYURVEDIC FORMULATION:
1. Puga Khanda
2. Khadira Kramuka Kaşaya
3. Ghontaphaladi varti
4. Pippalyasava
5. Mritsanjivana Sura
6. Mahasugandhi Taila
7. Dashana Sanskara Churna