How to use betel leaves to help treat inflammation, disinfect, and bone pain

Betel leaves are a familiar medicinal herb to many people and are also a precious medicine, but not many people know how to use betel leaves to be good for health?

Betel leaves are known as a folk medicine in Traditional Medicine - Illustration photo

According to Dr. Vu Mai Hoa, Department of Traditional Medicine, Hospital 19-8, betel leaves are a familiar image in the cultural life of Vietnamese people.

However, in addition to its cultural significance, it is also a folk medicine highly valued by traditional medicine for its powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. With its low cost, ease of growing and availability, betel leaves have become a useful health care solution for many everyday health problems.

Effects of betel leaves

According to traditional medicine experts, betel leaves have a spicy taste, strong aroma and warm properties.

In terms of uses, betel leaves have the effect of eliminating wind, dispelling cold, reducing inflammation and especially having very strong antibacterial properties. Thanks to these properties, betel leaves are often used in the treatment of mild infections, skin diseases that cause itching, swelling and pain due to cold.

The value of betel leaves lies not only in folk experience, but also in modern science . Studies show that the essential oil in betel leaves contains active ingredients (such as Betel-phenol, Chavicol...) that have strong antibiotic activity, inhibiting many types of bacteria and fungi.

How to use betel leaves for good health

In clinical practice, traditional medicine doctors often instruct patients to use betel leaves at home for some simple cases, helping to support effective and safe treatment.

Antiseptic, reduces itching and dermatitis

When encountering skin problems such as atopic dermatitis, rashes, prickly heat or minor wounds, using betel leaf water to steam or wash directly on the affected skin area will help disinfect, clean the skin and significantly reduce itching. The warmth and anti-inflammatory ability of betel leaves help the skin to quickly shrink and recover.

Reduce pain caused by cold with betel leaves

For joint pain when the weather turns cold, or stomachache due to cold infection (cold stomach), folk experience using betel leaves is very effective.

Patients can crush a handful of betel leaves, warm them (can be roasted with a little salt or alcohol) and apply directly to the painful joint or abdomen. The warmth and essential oils will help to disperse the cold and relieve the pain.

Antibacterial and reduces bad breath

Thanks to its strong antiseptic properties, betel leaf water is a very good oral hygiene solution. Using betel leaf water (boiled and cooled) to rinse your mouth every day helps kill bacteria in the oral cavity, clean plaque and effectively reduce bad breath.

In general, betel leaves are a cheap, easy-to-find medicine with many practical applications. However, experts also note that the above methods are mainly applied to mild cases. If the inflammation is severe and the pain persists, the patient should go to a medical facility for examination and proper treatment.

Who should not drink betel leaf water?

Dr. Hoa recommends that betel leaf water also brings many health benefits such as supporting people with stomach and esophageal diseases. However, a doctor's prescription is needed because betel can irritate the stomach lining and some people may be allergic. Therefore, when you want to drink betel leaf water, you need a doctor's prescription.

LINH HAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cach-dung-la-trau-khong-ho-tro-tri-viem-khu-khuan-dau-nhuc-xuong-20251202155313656.htm