The lime is a chemical activator: it changes the pH environment in the mouth, altering the chemistry of arecoline extraction and intensifying both the effect and the production of the characteristic bright red saliva that stains the teeth and gums of regular betel quid users.

The effects of the betel quid: a stimulant high, comparable by many accounts to a strong cup of coffee but with specific physiological signatures.

Increased heart rate.

A feeling of warmth and alertness.

Mild euphoria.

The effect begins within minutes and lasts roughly an hour.

Regular users report that it suppresses hunger and fatigue — properties that make it particularly attractive in contexts of physical labor and food scarcity.

The health consequences of regular betel quid use are severe.