Is Kattha Good for Health? Benefits, Side Effects, and Precautions

Catechu is extracted from the wood of the Khair tree. Khair tree is called Katechu or Katch tree in English. It is a medium deciduous tree widely grown in the forests of Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Nepal. Various varieties of this tree are found. Acacia is also a tree of this family.

The twigs, bark and wood of the Khair tree are also used for medicinal purposes. There are two types of catechu - red catechu and white catechu. Red catechu is used in paan while white catechu is used as a medicine. Catechu is used in Ayurvedic medicines like Khadirarishta.

The strong wood inside the stem of Khair is cut and processed to produce catechu which is used in paan.

Catechu making is an important forest-based manufacturing industry. The residual product left during the process of making catechu, called cutch, is used as an additive and preservative in the tanning industry and many industries.

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How is Katha made? This question must have come to your mind many times when you have stood at a paan shop and seen the paan seller preparing paan. Let us tell you what is the method of making Katha. First of all, the trunk of a large Khair tree is cut and the strong wood inside it is cut into chips.

To boil the chopped wood, about 8-9 kg of wood is placed in a wire cage and put in water so that it can be protected from direct contact with the hot surface of the extractor. Wooden cages with about 25-27 liters of water are placed in these extractors. Extraction is done by boiling chips with water for about three hours.

The product from each extractor is filtered with the help of a muslin cloth and then mixed together and poured into an open pan over fire. It is then kept in the shade for about two days for crystallization of catechu.

After complete crystallization the curd-like substance is passed through a frame and plate type of filter and then washed with cold water to improve the quality of this catechu. It is then placed on different wooden frames with canvas cloth to remove the residue of khadir (katcha).

Finally the catechu is cut into uniform pieces with the help of wire cutters or knives and dried in shade. The residue after removing the catechu is again put in an open pan on fire and kept till it becomes sticky. Then it is placed in wooden frames for drying. This dried material is called kachcha.

About 100 kg of chips cut from the wood of Khair tree yields 5 kg of catechu and 14 kg of kachcha, however, this yield depends on the quality of the chips.

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Kattha is an important product used to apply on the betel leaf while making paan, it gives a red color when chewed. With the advent of ready-made paan (i.e., products like pan-masala) and gutkha (pan-masala with tobacco) and its increasing popularity among the people, the use of kattha has increased manifold.

Kattha is used as an astringent and cooling and also for digestion. In Ayurvedic and Unani (ancient) systems of medicines, kattha is used. Kattha provides relief in throat, mouth and gum problems and is also useful in cough and diarrhea.

It is applied on the skin to treat skin ulcers, boils and pimples. Catechu is not only used as a remedy for body pain but is also used in medicines made for other diseases.

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It is believed that the catechu tree contains chemicals that can reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. Although there is no authentic modern research available on this, it has been used as a medicine in Ayurveda. Following are some of the medicinal benefits of catechu -

• It has antifungal properties that prevent fungal infections.
• It is also known to treat various skin disorders such as infections, allergies and pigmentation.
• It can also act as a natural birth control agent.
• It is also effective in treating dental problems. It is used as an ingredient in mouthwash.
• Diarrhea can be treated by mixing it with honey. It keeps the digestive system cool. 
• It also works to purify the blood.

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There is no information available on any harmful effects of using kattha in general due to lack of scientific research. Therefore, it should be used in a limited quantity. Excessive amounts of kattha can cause stones. Red kattha is commonly used in paan, it is not used as a medicine. Use only white kattha as a medicine. Consult an Ayurvedic doctor before using any medicine.

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Kattha is mainly made from the wood of the Khair (Acacia catechu) tree. It is boiled, filtered and then prepared in solid form. Kattha is mainly used to add flavor and color to paan, but it is also important in Ayurveda. Its health benefits include prevention of oral diseases, improving digestion, aiding in wound healing and antibacterial properties. However, consuming it in excess can lead to tooth stains, acidity and in some cases, negative health effects. Hence, it should be used in balanced quantities only.