Is It Safe To Heat Betel Leaves For Babies?

Overview

Betel leaves possess the following properties: 

• Antimicrobial
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Antifungal
• Antiulcergeni
• Antiplatelet
• Antidiabetic
• Immunomodulatory
• Antileshmanial
• Antiamoebic
• Anti Filarial

Impact of Heating Betel leaves

Eliminates Bacteria

Several scientific investigations have been done, and the findings highlight that approximately 100g of betel leaf contains up to 2.4% essential oil. The essential oil derived from betel leaves contains a remarkably potent antibiotic effect, capable of eliminating bacteria like Staphylococci, streptococcus, coli bacilli, and dysentery bacteria.

Address Various Health Issues

Applying heat to betel leaves has proven beneficial in addressing various health issues like pain relief, constipation, indigestion, teeth protection, colic caused by flatulence, cough treatment, disinfection, bronchitis treatment, and fungal treatment. 

Postpartum mothers can also use betel leaves to prevent skin pigmentation and effectively maintain their health and beauty because of 61% carbohydrates, 2.3% mineral salts, and 2.3% fibre in the leaves.

Heating betel leaves for babies 

Traditional Remedy vs. Doctor’s Advice

Many mothers, particularly in rural areas, have used betel leaves to warm up their babies’ stomachs when they are fussy or bloated. Some children have shown signs of calming down and playing well after using warmed betel leaves. 

But, there are also cases where children remain fussy, and parents must seek medical advice to determine the cause. Irrespective of the claims of the benefits of steaming betel leaves for babies, many mothers still question whether it is safe to use this method. 

Specialist doctors say that betel leaf steaming for babies is a traditional remedy that has yet to be scientifically tested. Therefore, parents should carefully consider before attempting it with their babies.

May Harm the Baby’s Skin

Heating betel leaves and applying them to a baby’s skin can be unsafe, especially for babies with immature skin or those born prematurely and weak, because there is no scientific evidence to uphold the effectiveness of betel leaf for babies. 

Nevertheless, parents need to be aware that this method can potentially cause redness on the child’s skin due to the camphor and menthol in the leaves forming water vapour that can percolate through the baby’s skin. This can be extremely dangerous as it may lead to pneumonia in children. 

Incorrect application of betel leaf can also result in infection or risk the child’s life.

Other Negative Effects

Betel leaves on charcoal or enclosed spaces can pose health risks for the mother and the newborn. Hence, it is essential to refrain from heating betel leaves on charcoal or enclosed space.

Also, it is essential to note that giving betel leaf juice to babies is inappropriate and may have severe implications for their well-being.

Conclusion

It has been a long-standing tradition to use steamed betel leaves to remedy various illnesses in babies. While it is acceptable to rely on traditional practices, it is crucial to exercise caution and carefully evaluate any method before applying it to your child. 

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