Short Title 1

In Cambodia, as in most countries of South and South-East Asia, there is the custom of chewing betel. In the encyclopedic dictionary is defined as a traditional Betel chewing peoples of Southeast Asia, Malaya, Indonesia and Africa, consisting of leaves of plants and Bethel lime possessing stimulant and narcotic effect. However, with this chewing gum is not so simple. First in each country it has its own name - in Cambodia called the "weak". Secondly, it consists of several herbal ingredients whose composition can vary not only depending on geography, but also on the specific objectives of consumption. In the third of its narcotic effect somewhat exaggerated, and the strength is comparable with the effect of tobacco, although unlike the latter has more exciting than a calming influence. Fourth betel possesses curative and preventive action, especially in the gastro-intestinal, including infectious, diseases and helminthiasis, as well as stimulate appetite. These properties are in the living conditions in the tropics are particularly important.

Classic betel consists of three herbal components and quicklime. Main, are not the betel leaves and areca palm fruit (Areca catechu). It is habitat of this plant is determined by geography tradition of chewing betel. It is this component of gum defines its basic properties. Arekovaya palm is grown mainly in sub-equatorial and equatorial zones of the western hemisphere and in the wild is unknown. Its fruits are edible, in principle, though there is, unusual for Europeans, strongly astringent taste. The fruits contain alkaloids - arecoline, arekaidin, guvatsin and kuvakolin. A mixture of alkaloids determines psychotropic properties of gum, in addition arecoline is a potent natural antigilmintikom (used both in traditional and the modern official medicine).Areca fruits also contain tannin and dyes. In addition to the component of betel, areca fruit used in traditional medicine and veterinary medicine as an effective remedy for skin diseases of fungal and protozoal origin, as an astringent and for dyeing fabrics in red black color. When chewing betel, areca fruits have a slight anesthetic effect on mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx, causing increased salivation, and the saliva is stained in blood-red color. Prolonged use of chewing gums, lips, permanently stained red and teeth are in black or brown, which are often seen in old Khmer, especially in rural areas.