Areca Nut – 1 lb (454 g)

Areca Nut, known in Chinese as 槟榔 (Bīngláng) and scientifically as Semen Arecae, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Areca Nut carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Areca Nut helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Areca Nut provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Areca Nut has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Areca Nut, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Da Fu Binglang, Da Fu Zi, Binglangzi, and Ganlanzi. It is the mature seed of the palm family plant Areca catechu L. It is mainly produced in Hainan, Yunnan, Fujian, and Taiwan. The mature seeds are harvested from late spring to early autumn, boiled in water, sun-dried, the pericarp removed, the seeds taken out, and then sun-dried again.

[Properties] Bitter and pungent in taste, warm in nature. Enters the Stomach and Large Intestine meridians.

[Actions] Expels parasites, reduces food accumulation, descends qi, promotes urination, arrests malaria.

[Applications]
1. Used for intestinal parasitic diseases such as tapeworm, roundworm, fluke, and pinworm. Often combined with Crane’s Bill (Heshi), Chinaberry root (Kuliangen), etc., as in Huachong Wan (Deworming Pill). For patients with parasite accumulation and deficiency-cold of the viscera qi, often combined with Quisqualis (Shijunzi), Torreya seed (Feizi), Ginseng, Sichuan pepper (Huajiao), etc., as in Wenzang Wan (Warming the Viscera Pill). For pinworm disease, can be combined with pumpkin seed and pomegranate peel; for fluke infection, can be decocted with black plum and licorice or taken as powder with black plum.
2. Used for chest and abdominal distention caused by rebellious qi or food stagnation, and for lingering diarrhea. If emotional qi rebellion causes shortness of breath, chest fullness, and loss of appetite, often combined with Aquilaria (Chenxiang), Lindera (Wuyao), and Ginseng, as in Simo Tang (Four-Powder Decoction). For food accumulation with abdominal distention and pain, often combined with Hawthorn, Massa Fermentata (Shenqu), and Radish seed (Laifuzi). For unresolved stagnation with internal damp-heat, abdominal distention and pain, constipation, or urgent diarrhea with incomplete evacuation, often combined with Aucklandia (Muxiang), Coptis (Huanglian), and Rhubarb (Dahuang), as in Muxiang Binglang Wan (Aucklandia and Areca Pill).
3. Used for beriberi and edema. For damp beriberi with swelling and pain of feet and legs, even chest tightness and nausea, often combined with Papaya, Evodia rutaecarpa (Wuzhuyu), and Perilla leaf, as in Jiming San (Rooster Crow Powder). For excessive dampness causing labored breathing and difficulty urinating and defecating, often combined with Notopterygium (Qianghuo), Alisma (Zexie), and Phytolacca (Shanglu), as in Shuzhao Yinzi (Dampness-Draining Decoction).
4. Used for malaria, can be combined with Stephania (Changshan) and Amomum (Caoguo), as in Jieniao Qibao Yin (Malaria Arresting Seven-Treasure Drink). For chronic malaria with hypochondriac masses (malaria mother), often combined with Turtle shell (Biejia), Atractylodes (Baizhu), and Ligusticum (Chuanxiong), as in Biejia Yinzi (Turtle Shell Drink).

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 6–15 g; for single use as anthelmintic, 60–120 g; or incorporated into pills or powders.

[Cautions] Contraindicated in cases of qi deficiency with prolapse.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: Areca seed contains total alkaloids, mainly arecoline and small amounts of arecaidine, de-methylarecoline, de-methylarecaidine, iso-de-methylarecaidine, arecaidine N-oxide, and high arecoline. It also contains tannins, including dextrorotatory catechin, levorotatory epicatechin, original cyanidin A1, B1, and B2, and two series of compounds called Areca Tannin A and B. It also contains fatty acids.
2. Pharmacological effects: Areca seed has good anthelmintic effects; its decoction can cause tetanus and death of dog tapeworms within 40 minutes. Both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble fractions have significant killing effects on Echinococcus protoscoleces; the decoction has a paralyzing effect on mouse pinworms. Arecoline stimulates M-cholinergic receptors; chewing areca seed increases gastrointestinal smooth muscle tone, enhances intestinal peristalsis, promotes digestive juice secretion, and increases appetite. The aqueous extract inhibits skin fungi such as Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes to varying degrees and also has anti-influenza virus effects.
3. Clinical reports: 1) Trichuriasis: 50 g of crushed areca seed decocted twice to yield 300 ml of liquid, with 20 g sugar dissolved, taken in two doses before meals morning and evening; children’s dose reduced accordingly; 5 doses constitute one course, two courses may be given consecutively. Among 37 cases observed, 30 cured, 5 improved, 2 ineffective; total effective rate 94.6%. [Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 1987,(8):504] 2) Helicobacter pylori infection: 8 g fresh dried areca fruit soaked in 150 ml water for 1 hour, then simmered to 50–70 ml, taken once on an empty stomach in the morning for 2 weeks as one course. Among 32 cases observed, 8 with erosive gastritis all improved; 24 with duodenal bulb ulcers had a total effective rate of 95.8% (23/24). [Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1993, 34(10):605]

Appendix: Charred Areca Seed (Jiaobinglang) is the processed product of areca seed stir-fried until charred yellow. Its properties and actions are basically the same as areca seed, with a specialty in promoting digestion and removing food stagnation, mainly used for indigestion and lingering diarrhea. Internal use: decoction, 3–9 g.