1. Vallathilae Pathipakku ennotethakkum
Once an iyer was taking aracanuts for sale at Alleppy from his nearby farm through country boat. Iyer looked at the huge mount of aracanut which could give large amount of money.
The boat was taking some passengers also. In the next stop, a few got in, a few got down. The same in the next also. Among them there was an iyer with a CHELLAM. (A box keeping pan items)
Now Alleppy had reached and iyer was making arrangements to unload his aracanuts. Suddenly the passenger iyer with chellam came before him and told- Vallathile pathi pakku ennotethakkum ( Half aracanut is mine ). Erakka mutiyathu
Our iyer got angry . How it can? He has only brought the aracanuts. How he can share with another? Chellam iyer had not brought any aracanut or coconut.
Again the chellam iyer repeated - pathi pakku ennotethakkum ( Half aracanut is mine ) with out permitting our iyer to unload.
Our iyer stood perplexed ( Sthambichhu ninnu). Chellam iyer searched among the bunches and took HALF OF AN ARACANUT which had slipped from him while cutting with aracanut cutter an aracanut from his chellam. With a pleasing smile chellam iyer said- ippo neenga pakkae erakkikkalam ( Now you can unload aracanut)
Our iyer thought Pathipakku means half of the aracanut. Chellam iyer meant half aracanut slipped and fell into the aracanut bunches while cutting.
2. Pakkuvettil
We would have studied about uttholakams (Levers) in 8th standard or so. Nut cracker (Pakkuvetti ) comes in the 2nd type lever, Fulcrum at one end, effort at one end and load in middle.
There is a saying "Pakkuvettiyil petta polae"- like the nut in the nut cracker-. The nut has no other way other than got cut. The saying is used to mean no escape from the issue.
3. Why aracanut is called betel nut?
The areca nut is the seed of the areca palm (Areca catechu), which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. It is commonly referred to as betel nut, as it is often chewed wrapped in betel leaves.
5. Description-Arecanut
The areca nut is not a true nut, but rather a drupe. It is commercially available in dried, cured and fresh forms. While fresh, the husk is green and the nut inside is soft enough to be cut with a typical knife.
In the ripe fruit, the husk becomes yellow or orange and, as it dries, the fruit inside hardens to a wood-like consistency. At that stage, the areca nut can only be sliced using a special scissors-like cutter (Pakkuvetti- nut cracker)
Usually for chewing, a few slices of the nut are wrapped in a betel leaf along with lime(Chunnambu) (not to be confused with the citrus fruit named lime) and may include clove, cardamom, catechu (kattha) and/or other spices for extra flavouring.
Betel leaf has a fresh, peppery taste, but it can also be bitter to varying degrees depending on the variety. The combination of areca nut with betel leaf is called tambulam in Sanskrit. Thamboolam is offered with respect.
We have PHALADANA THAMBOOLAM during auspicious functions
Areca nuts are chewed with betel leaf for their effects as a mild stimulant, causing a warming sensation in the body and slightly heightened alertness, although the effects vary from person to person.
The effect of chewing betel leaf and areca nut together is relatively mild, and could be compared to drinking a cup of coffee.
MY NOTE- Only married men and women are permitted to chew pan among brahmins. If the pan given by husband to wife/the reverse, the redness of the tongue on chewing shows the affection. More the redness, more the affection. A belief and nothing more.
I have seen in Kerala widow women of other communities use pan. Not Brahmin widows.
The areca nut contains the tannins arecatannin and gallic acid; a fixed oil gum; a little terpineol; lignin; various saline substances; and three main alkaloids — arecoline, arecaidine and guvacine — which all have vasoconstricting properties.
The betel leaf chewed along with the nut contains eugenol, another vasoconstrictor.
6. Ayurvedic uses
In almost all parts of India, Sri Lanka and southern China, areca nuts are not only chewed along with betel leaf, but are also used in the preparation of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines.
Powdered areca nut is used as a constituent in some dentifrices.
Other medicinal uses include the removal of tapeworms and other intestinal parasites by swallowing a few teaspoons of powdered areca nut, drunk as a decoction, or by taking tablets containing the extracted alkaloids.
According to traditional Ayurvedic medicine, chewing areca nut and betel leaf is a good remedy against bad breath.
Recently it has been reported that areca nut powder extract is capable of reducing silver ions to silver nanoparticleswhich may be useful as antimicrobial agents.
7. Tradition
Chewing the mixture of areca nut and betel leaf is a tradition, custom or ritual which dates back thousands of years in much of the geographical areas from South Asia eastward to the Pacific. It constitutes an important and popular cultural activity in many Asian and Oceanic countries, including Pakistan, the Maldives, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Palau, Yap, Guam, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It is not known how or when the areca nut and the betel leaf were first combined into one psychoactive drug.
Archaeological evidence from Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines suggests they have been used in tandem for at least 4000 years.
In the Indian subcontinent, the chewing of betel and areca nut dates back to the pre-Vedic period Harappan empire.
Formerly, in both India and Sri Lanka, it was a custom of the royalty to chew areca nut with betel leaf. Kings had special attendants whose duty it was to carry a box with all the necessary ingredients for a good chewing session.
There was also a custom for lovers to chew areca nut and betel leaf together, because of its breath-freshening and relaxant properties.
A sexual symbolism thus became attached to the chewing of the nut and the leaf. The areca nut represented the male principle, and the betel leaf the female principle.
Considered an auspicious ingredient in Hinduism and some schools of Buddhism, the areca nut is still used along with betel leaf in religious ceremonies, and also while honoring individuals in much of southern Asia.
8. Effects on health
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) regards the chewing of betel and areca nut to be a known human carcinogen. The media has reported that REGULAR CHEWERS of betel leaf and areca nut have a higher risk of damaging their gums and acquiring cancer of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach.
Studies have been conducted on the use of a "pure" paan preparation: areca nut, betel leaf, and lime only. One animal study done in 1989 found that unprocessed areca nuts, even at high doses, displayed only a very weak carcinogenicity in mice, whereas use of processed areca nuts, as commonly used in paan preparations, caused cancer
Since 1971, many studies have showed areca nut extracts to cause cancer in rodents.
In 2003 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reached the conclusion that there is sufficient evidence that the habit of chewing betel quid, with or without tobacco, is carcinogenic to humans.
In October, 2009, 30 scientists from 10 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a World Health Organization sponsored group, to reassess the carcinogenicity of various agents including areca nut, and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. They concluded there is sufficient evidence that areca nut, with or without tobacco, can cause cancer.
9 Pan shops
In India (the largest consumer of areca nut) and Pakistan, the preparation of nut with or without betel leaf is commonly referred to as paan. It is available practically everywhere and is sold in ready-to-chew pouches called pan masala or supari, as a mixture of many flavours whose primary base is areca nut crushed into small pieces.
The Shimoga District in Karnataka is presently the largest producer of betelnut in India
Areca nuts as sold in Hainan, ChinaIn the United States, areca nut is not a controlled or specially taxed substance and may be found in some Asian grocery stores. However, importation of areca nut in a form other than whole or carved kernels of nuts can be stopped at the discretion of US Customs officers on the grounds of food, agricultural, or medicinal drug violations.
In the United Kingdom, areca nut is readily available in Asian grocery stores and even in shredded forms from the World Food aisles of larger Tesco supermarkets.
Once a while- say once in a fortnight or so, chewing pan may not bring detrimental effects. Habitual use is a health hazard EITHER WITH TOBACO OR WITH OUT TOBACO.
POSSESSION OF BETEL NUT OR LEAF IS BANNED IN THE UAE AND IS A PUNISHABLE OFFENSE.
Once an iyer was taking aracanuts for sale at Alleppy from his nearby farm through country boat. Iyer looked at the huge mount of aracanut which could give large amount of money.
The boat was taking some passengers also. In the next stop, a few got in, a few got down. The same in the next also. Among them there was an iyer with a CHELLAM. (A box keeping pan items)
Now Alleppy had reached and iyer was making arrangements to unload his aracanuts. Suddenly the passenger iyer with chellam came before him and told- Vallathile pathi pakku ennotethakkum ( Half aracanut is mine ). Erakka mutiyathu
Our iyer got angry . How it can? He has only brought the aracanuts. How he can share with another? Chellam iyer had not brought any aracanut or coconut.
Again the chellam iyer repeated - pathi pakku ennotethakkum ( Half aracanut is mine ) with out permitting our iyer to unload.
Our iyer stood perplexed ( Sthambichhu ninnu). Chellam iyer searched among the bunches and took HALF OF AN ARACANUT which had slipped from him while cutting with aracanut cutter an aracanut from his chellam. With a pleasing smile chellam iyer said- ippo neenga pakkae erakkikkalam ( Now you can unload aracanut)
Our iyer thought Pathipakku means half of the aracanut. Chellam iyer meant half aracanut slipped and fell into the aracanut bunches while cutting.
2. Pakkuvettil
We would have studied about uttholakams (Levers) in 8th standard or so. Nut cracker (Pakkuvetti ) comes in the 2nd type lever, Fulcrum at one end, effort at one end and load in middle.
There is a saying "Pakkuvettiyil petta polae"- like the nut in the nut cracker-. The nut has no other way other than got cut. The saying is used to mean no escape from the issue.
3. Why aracanut is called betel nut?
The areca nut is the seed of the areca palm (Areca catechu), which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. It is commonly referred to as betel nut, as it is often chewed wrapped in betel leaves.
5. Description-Arecanut
The areca nut is not a true nut, but rather a drupe. It is commercially available in dried, cured and fresh forms. While fresh, the husk is green and the nut inside is soft enough to be cut with a typical knife.
In the ripe fruit, the husk becomes yellow or orange and, as it dries, the fruit inside hardens to a wood-like consistency. At that stage, the areca nut can only be sliced using a special scissors-like cutter (Pakkuvetti- nut cracker)
Usually for chewing, a few slices of the nut are wrapped in a betel leaf along with lime(Chunnambu) (not to be confused with the citrus fruit named lime) and may include clove, cardamom, catechu (kattha) and/or other spices for extra flavouring.
Betel leaf has a fresh, peppery taste, but it can also be bitter to varying degrees depending on the variety. The combination of areca nut with betel leaf is called tambulam in Sanskrit. Thamboolam is offered with respect.
We have PHALADANA THAMBOOLAM during auspicious functions
Areca nuts are chewed with betel leaf for their effects as a mild stimulant, causing a warming sensation in the body and slightly heightened alertness, although the effects vary from person to person.
The effect of chewing betel leaf and areca nut together is relatively mild, and could be compared to drinking a cup of coffee.
MY NOTE- Only married men and women are permitted to chew pan among brahmins. If the pan given by husband to wife/the reverse, the redness of the tongue on chewing shows the affection. More the redness, more the affection. A belief and nothing more.
I have seen in Kerala widow women of other communities use pan. Not Brahmin widows.
The areca nut contains the tannins arecatannin and gallic acid; a fixed oil gum; a little terpineol; lignin; various saline substances; and three main alkaloids — arecoline, arecaidine and guvacine — which all have vasoconstricting properties.
The betel leaf chewed along with the nut contains eugenol, another vasoconstrictor.
6. Ayurvedic uses
In almost all parts of India, Sri Lanka and southern China, areca nuts are not only chewed along with betel leaf, but are also used in the preparation of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines.
Powdered areca nut is used as a constituent in some dentifrices.
Other medicinal uses include the removal of tapeworms and other intestinal parasites by swallowing a few teaspoons of powdered areca nut, drunk as a decoction, or by taking tablets containing the extracted alkaloids.
According to traditional Ayurvedic medicine, chewing areca nut and betel leaf is a good remedy against bad breath.
Recently it has been reported that areca nut powder extract is capable of reducing silver ions to silver nanoparticleswhich may be useful as antimicrobial agents.
7. Tradition
Chewing the mixture of areca nut and betel leaf is a tradition, custom or ritual which dates back thousands of years in much of the geographical areas from South Asia eastward to the Pacific. It constitutes an important and popular cultural activity in many Asian and Oceanic countries, including Pakistan, the Maldives, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Palau, Yap, Guam, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It is not known how or when the areca nut and the betel leaf were first combined into one psychoactive drug.
Archaeological evidence from Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines suggests they have been used in tandem for at least 4000 years.
In the Indian subcontinent, the chewing of betel and areca nut dates back to the pre-Vedic period Harappan empire.
Formerly, in both India and Sri Lanka, it was a custom of the royalty to chew areca nut with betel leaf. Kings had special attendants whose duty it was to carry a box with all the necessary ingredients for a good chewing session.
There was also a custom for lovers to chew areca nut and betel leaf together, because of its breath-freshening and relaxant properties.
A sexual symbolism thus became attached to the chewing of the nut and the leaf. The areca nut represented the male principle, and the betel leaf the female principle.
Considered an auspicious ingredient in Hinduism and some schools of Buddhism, the areca nut is still used along with betel leaf in religious ceremonies, and also while honoring individuals in much of southern Asia.
8. Effects on health
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) regards the chewing of betel and areca nut to be a known human carcinogen. The media has reported that REGULAR CHEWERS of betel leaf and areca nut have a higher risk of damaging their gums and acquiring cancer of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach.
Studies have been conducted on the use of a "pure" paan preparation: areca nut, betel leaf, and lime only. One animal study done in 1989 found that unprocessed areca nuts, even at high doses, displayed only a very weak carcinogenicity in mice, whereas use of processed areca nuts, as commonly used in paan preparations, caused cancer
Since 1971, many studies have showed areca nut extracts to cause cancer in rodents.
In 2003 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reached the conclusion that there is sufficient evidence that the habit of chewing betel quid, with or without tobacco, is carcinogenic to humans.
In October, 2009, 30 scientists from 10 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a World Health Organization sponsored group, to reassess the carcinogenicity of various agents including areca nut, and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. They concluded there is sufficient evidence that areca nut, with or without tobacco, can cause cancer.
9 Pan shops
In India (the largest consumer of areca nut) and Pakistan, the preparation of nut with or without betel leaf is commonly referred to as paan. It is available practically everywhere and is sold in ready-to-chew pouches called pan masala or supari, as a mixture of many flavours whose primary base is areca nut crushed into small pieces.
The Shimoga District in Karnataka is presently the largest producer of betelnut in India
Areca nuts as sold in Hainan, ChinaIn the United States, areca nut is not a controlled or specially taxed substance and may be found in some Asian grocery stores. However, importation of areca nut in a form other than whole or carved kernels of nuts can be stopped at the discretion of US Customs officers on the grounds of food, agricultural, or medicinal drug violations.
In the United Kingdom, areca nut is readily available in Asian grocery stores and even in shredded forms from the World Food aisles of larger Tesco supermarkets.
Once a while- say once in a fortnight or so, chewing pan may not bring detrimental effects. Habitual use is a health hazard EITHER WITH TOBACO OR WITH OUT TOBACO.
POSSESSION OF BETEL NUT OR LEAF IS BANNED IN THE UAE AND IS A PUNISHABLE OFFENSE.
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