Betel nut (Areca catechu) is edible. But the nut and me doesn't go along well... it has a bitter taste, gives me a throbbing headache when eaten. Occasionally my mum take it as a chewing gum. She took it with lime which was wrapped in a sireh leave (Piper sp). To some people, eating the combination of betel nut, sireh and lime will cause them to develop a euphoric effect and increased flow of energy. In a larger doses it often result in sedation... It makes me wonder if it is a recreational drug?? Anyway in a long run, if consume on a regular basis it will cause mouth cancer... Well it is kind of like the smoking cig. It can cause lung cancer, despite the warning, people take it anyway..
