This section is from the book "Materia Medica And Therapeutics: An Introduction to the National Treatment of Disease", by John Mitchell Bruce. Also available from Amazon: The pharmacology and therapeutics of the materia medica.
Areca - Areca Nut. - The seed of Areca Catechu, the Betel Nut Tree. Imported from the East Indies.
Characters.-The nuts are about the size of a nutmeg, but less wrinkled and more globular, and not aromatic; reddish-brown externally, having a flattened base and somewhat conical apex. The interior is hard, dark brown, finely marbled with white. Inodorous, with astringent taste.
Composition.-Areca contains catechu, tannic and gallic acids, areca-red, gum, and oily matter. Dose.-1/2 to 3/4 oz.
Areca nut is astringent and anthelmintic, and has been used in diarrhoea and helminthiasis. It is rarely given.
 
Continue to: