Know the herbs
Scientific name
Piper betleFamily
PiperaceaeLocal name
Sirih, sireh, betelvineDescription
Piper betle is a perennial dioecious, aromatic creeper with roots at the nodes. The branches of the plant are swollen at the nodes. The plant has alternate, heart-shaped, smooth, shining and long-stalked leaves, with pointed apex. The stem has a conspicuous stout node with strictly one simple leaf on each node (Medicinal Herbs & Plants Database 2010–2015).Usage
The leaves are known for their wound-healing property (Rahman 2009). In Indian traditional system of medicine, the leaves are identified with digestive and pancreatic lipase stimulant activities. Chewing of the sirih made into a betel-liquid is used for ‘pirai’ (i.e. gouty arthritis) disease. The decoction is applied as lotion to the women after childbirth (Burkill 1935).Malaysia Herbal Monograph (source: Globinmed)