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Areca Nut (Binglang)

Pungent, warm, non-toxic. Primarily functions to digest food, expel water retention, eliminate phlegm accumulation (masses formed by stagnation of phlegm-fluids), kill three types of parasites (general term for intestinal parasites), Fu Shi (stubborn pathogens or parasites lurking in the body), and treat Taenia saginata (tapeworm). Grows in the Nanhai region.

Tao Hongjing stated: There are three or four varieties. Those from Jiaozhou are small in shape and sweet in taste. Those south of Guangzhou are large in shape and astringent in taste. The nuts also include larger ones named Zhu Binglang (Pig Areca Nut). All these varieties are used as medicinal materials. There is also a smaller variety; people in the south call it "Zi", while commoners refer to it as "Binglang Sun" (Areca Grandson), which is also edible. The annotation in *Bencao Tiejing* notes: Fresh areca nuts are very large but rot within a few days. Those now transported from the north are first boiled in alkaline ash water, then smoked over fire until dry, allowing for long-term storage. The kernel primarily treats abdominal distension; when raw and ground into powder and taken orally, it promotes the passage of urine and feces. Applied externally to sores, it promotes tissue regeneration and relieves pain. Burned to ash, it treats oral leukoplakia (white patches on the lips/mouth). It grows in Jiaozhou, Aizhou, and Kunlun. Chen Yuxi and others verified that *Yaoxing Lun* states: White Areca Nut acts as the sovereign herb, sweet in taste, cold in nature. It can unblock and promote the flow of stagnant Qi in the five Zang and six Fu organs, break up firm and full Qi, reduce edema, treat heart pain, and dissipate wind-blood accumulations. *Guangzhi* records: The fruit-bearing tree of white areca nut has no branches, resembling a pillar, with fruits and flowers emerging at the apex, surrounded by thorn-like spines overlapping below. Locals treasure it as a snack. Chen Cangqi said: "Zi" is small areca nut. If dried after harvesting and lacking kernels inside, its efficacy is inferior to standard areca nut. Gu Zheng's *Guangzhou Ji* states: Mountain areca nut is small in shape with fine texture. "Zi" is called Binglang Sun by locals. Ri Hua Zi said: Areca nut is astringent. It dispels all types of wind, descends all types of Qi, unblocks joints, benefits the nine orifices, tonifies the five labors and seven injuries, strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the middle jiao, eliminates vexation, and breaks down masses (*Zheng*).

*Tujing* states: Areca nut grows in Nanhai. Currently, it is produced in all prefectures outside the Lingnan region. The trunk is as thick as *Shuanglang* (Betel Palm), reaching five to seven zhang in height, straight without branches, bark similar to green paulownia, nodes like cinnamon bamboo. Leaves grow at the top of the tree, large as a dou (measure), resembling banana leaves. The fruit forms in clusters emerging from among the leaves, accompanied by thorn-like spines overlapping below. One cluster contains hundreds of fruits, egg-shaped, each with a shell. The flesh fills the shell, appearing pure white. The taste is bitter and astringent; when chewed together with *Fuliu Teng* (Piper Kadsura Vine) and ash from roof tiles, it becomes soft, smooth, and delicious. People in Lingnan consume it as fruit. Their custom says: The southern climate is warm; without consuming this, one cannot dispel miasma and pestilence. The fruit grows in spring and ripens in summer. However, the flesh rots easily. To preserve it, it must be boiled in ash water first, then baked and smoked until dry, ensuring long-term storage. There are three or four varieties: small and sweet ones are named Shan Binglang (Mountain Areca); large, astringent ones with large nuts are named Zhu Binglang (Pig Areca); the smallest is named "Zi". Their functions are not distinct. It is further stated: Long and pointed ones with purple veins are called "Bing"; round and short ones are called "Lang". "Bing" has weaker efficacy, while "Lang" has stronger efficacy. Modern physicians no longer distinguish them strictly, preferring those shaped like a chicken heart, stable when placed, hollow-free in the center, and showing brocade-like patterns when broken open. The produce from Dafu resembles areca nut but differs slightly in stem, leaves, roots, and trunk; harvested together, it is called "Dafu Binglang" (Large Abdomen Areca). Some say: Genuine areca nut is hard to obtain; what merchants sell today is mostly Dafu areca nut.

Maritime Medicinals: According to *Guangzhi*, it grows in various countries of the East Sea. The tree, stem, leaves, roots, and trunk differ slightly from Dafu areca nut. It is also described as resembling a palm tree, with leaf sheaths similar to banana plants. Tao Hongjing said: Growing towards the sun is called Binglang; growing towards shade is called Dafu. Taste is astringent, nature is warm, non-toxic. It primarily treats Ben Tun Qi (rushing gas sensation) and other Qi rebellions, Wu Ge Qi (five diaphragmatic Qi stagnations), wind-cold Qi, and indigestion of retained food. *Xiangjiao Jie Lun* states: Grind one nut in one cup of sand bull urine, take warm on an empty stomach to treat Xiangjiao Jie (foot qi disease) with toxic congestion, edema, and floating Qi. Physician Qin stated: Use two areca nuts, one raw and one cooked, grind into powder. Decoct in wine and take; it effectively treats various Qi disorders of the bladder. Dietary Therapy: Excessive consumption causes heat; southerners eat it raw. In Minzhong, it is called Ganlan Zi. Those from the north are boiled, smoked dry, and brought over. Lei Gong said: When processing, select those that sit stably, have firm centers, and textures resembling flowing water; those breaking open to reveal brocade-like internal patterns are excellent. Half-white half-black ones with hollow centers are not used medicinally. One must distinguish between Bing and Lang: round-headed and short-bodied is Lang; pointed-bodied with coarse purple veins is Bing. Bing has weak efficacy, Lang has strong efficacy. To use, scrape off the bottom with a knife, slice thinly. Do not cook with fire, lest it lose efficacy. If used cooked, it is better not to use it. *Shenghui Fang*: Treats white patches on the mouth/lips. Burn two nuts to ash, grind finely, and apply externally for excellent results. Another prescription: Treats fetal movement causing lower back pain radiating to the heart, or vaginal bleeding. Take one liang, grind into powder. At any time, decoct thick juice from scallion whites in water, mix with one qian bi of powder and ingest. *Waitai Miyao*: For Xiangjiao Jie that is neither cold nor hot, causing bloating in the elderly or weak. Grind areca kernel into powder. Mix with areca husk juice, tea infusion, or fermented soybean juice, take one fang cun bi, highly effective. Empirical Prescription for treating metal wounds (lacerations): Mix small amounts of white areca nut and Coptis chinensis (Huanglian) into powder, apply externally for quick healing. Mei Shi Fang: Treats acid reflux (vinegar heart). Areca nut four liang, Tangerine peel two liang, finely grind into powder. Take one fang cun bi with honey water on an empty stomach. Sun Simiao's *Food Taboos*: Treats vomiting. Roast one white areca nut, roast one part tangerine peel, grind into powder. Decoct one cup of water to half a cup, take orally. *Doumen Fang* for heavy and painful waist: Grind areca nut into powder, take with wine, one qian. Another prescription: Treats organ-specific Qi disorders. Grind half a chicken-heart shaped areca nut in concentrated urine, take orally. Or mix one qian bi with hot wine, effective. *Jianyao Jizhong* for worms lingering in Zang-Fu organs unhealed for a long time: Pao (process) half a liang of areca nut, grind into powder. Take one to two qian per dose, mixed with decoction of scallions and honey, take on an empty stomach. Another prescription: Treats Xiangjiao Jie rushing to the heart. Take one white areca nut (chicken-heart size), grind into powder. Mix with child's urine, ginger juice, and warm wine totaling half a cup, take as a single dose at any time. *Guangli Fang* for Xiangjiao Jie rushing to the heart causing confusion and unconsciousness: Twelve fen of white areca nut, grind into powder. Divide into three doses. Take on an empty stomach mixed with five he of warm child's urine, twice daily. Imperial Pharmacy prescription for phlegm-saliva: Grind areca nut into powder, take one qian with plain boiling water. *Qimin Yaoshu* records that areca nut descends Qi, resolves retained food, kills white worms, aids digestion, and transforms phlegm-fluids.

*Yanyi* states: The previous two books describe areca nut in great detail. Nowadays, people also use long, pointed varieties in prescriptions, claiming they act sharply and quickly. Repeated trials confirm this assertion.