Top 3 Benefits of Betel leaves
1. Cure common cold & cough
Betel leaves are commonly used to cure colds & coughs in Ayurveda and Sidha medicines. Histamine is an inflammatory agent that plays a major role in causing cold, cough & asthma. Inflammatory in the lungs is caused by Histamine will tighten smooth muscles. Research has found that the anti-histaminic activity of betel leaf may be a causative agent in lowering bronchial asthma cases. consuming 2-3 leaves helps cure a cold, cough & asthma.
2. Improves Digestion
In Indian culture, After every big meal, we have a habit of consuming betel leaves along with some nut or sometimes we chew the leaves normally. It protects the inner layer of the gut against toxins and other irritants and thus reduces the overall damage and also It inhibits the formation of gastric lesions, increases the production of gastric mucus (an important factor that protects against ulcer-causing agents), and reduces the volume of gastric acid secretion.
3. Reduce cholesterol & risk of heart disease
Betel leaves help to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. Studies show that regular intake of betel levels lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The person with diabetes exhibits high levels of oxidative stress due to continuous high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). Such high levels of blood glucose deplete the antioxidant defense system and further inactivate antioxidant enzymes. Betel leaf is a great source of antioxidant that fights oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals. These properties help further to reduce the risk of heart diseases.
10 steps to propagate betel plant.
- Take 4-6 inches of cuttings from a healthy plant. use sanitized knives or scissors to cut.
- Take a small-sized container or pot, fill it with potting soil, and moisten the soil.
- Plant the cuttings in moist soil.
- Water it gently.
- Make sure your pot/container has holes for excess drainage.
- In 5-7 days roots will start developing.
- Keep it in a semi-shade area. Avoid direct sunlight.
- Water it regularly but make sure water is not stagnated in the pot. If water stagnated, it may lead to root decay.
- In 25 days you may see new growth of leaves in the plant.
- in 45-50 days of planting, you can start harvesting from the plant.
Pro Tips:
- Harvest more to get more fresh leaves. Harvesting induces plants to produce more fresh leaves and also it helps to keep the plant healthy.
- Don’t over water or underwater. make sure the soil is moist that’s what the plant needs.
- Betel leaves don’t like direct sunlight. keep it in filtered or partial sunlight for better growth.
- Betel plants grow well in slightly acidic soil.
- Feed your plants every couple of months using organic compost or cow dung manures.
- For fresh green leaves, you can also spray some liquid fertilizers like panchagavya, Seaweed liquid.