Betel nut (scientific name: Areca catechu L.) palm family betel nut genus of evergreen trees, stems erect, tree-like, more than 10 meters high, up to 30 meters, with obvious ring leaf scars, monoecious, inflorescences are multi-branched, the ovary is oblong, the fruit is oblong or ovoid, the seeds are ovoid, flowering and fruiting period of March-April.

Betel nut is native to Malaysia, China is mainly distributed in Yunnan, Hainan and Taiwan and other tropical areas. Widely cultivated in tropical Asia.

Discovered betel nut at the beginning, not chewing but medicinal, expectorant cough, food and wine, broad chest to stop vomiting, insect repellent and other effects. After chewing betel nut, people often feel mentally excited, cheeks flushed, the body slightly sweating, as if they had been drinking alcohol in general. In the past, people living in high mountainous areas often ate betel nut to protect themselves from the cold, and to eliminate fatigue after intense labor.

Bad:

1. The juice of betel nut is purplish-red in color, and chewing betel nut for a long time will make one's teeth black. After chewing betel nut, spit the residue on the ground, red stains, like blood stains, affecting public **** hygiene.

2. Contains carcinogenic alkaloids. Taipei City Department of Health, the first section chief Qiu Zhanxian said, Taipei has 80% 8 to 90% 2 of oral cancer patients, are caused by chewing betel nut.

3. Excessive chewing of betel nut by pregnant women may cause miscarriage.