The Wonders Of The Papaya Leaf

By Mia Kent


Many plants have beneficial properties and some even have a wide variety of uses. Indigenous peoples all over the world have been using these plants for many centuries to ward off disease. One plant that is incredibly versatile is the papaya tree and more and more people are now discovering the wonders of the papaya leaf.

The papaya tree originally came from the area between southern Mexico and the northern part of South America. The delicious orange fruit soon caught on in the rest of the world and soon people far away in Asia started incorporating it in their national cuisine. Today the plant is grown all over the world in tropical or subtropical regions.

The sweet-tasting, orange fruit is not only delicious but also packed with vitamins and minerals. However, the leaves shouldn't be overlooked. They're rich in Vitamins C and A, iron, calcium and phosphorus. They can be boiled and eaten in a salad, like people in Indonesia do, or as a substitute for spinach, especially when they're still young and juicy.

Papaya leaves have traditionally been brewed into a tea and drunk as a way to prevent or treat malaria. Studies have now also shown that it can be effective in treating dengue fever. This is because the leaves contain chymopapain and papain, enzymes that can raise the levels of platelets in the blood. Some pharmaceutical companies have already started to use the leaves in preparing medicines to this end.

Another benefit of the enzymes is that they can help fight cancer. They regulate T-cells and help the body to fight off tumors in the lungs, the liver, the pancreas, the cervix and the breasts, for instance. Some doctors now prescribe and extract from the leaves to their patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The leaf enzymes help to strengthen immunity because they help raise the levels of blood platelets and white blood cells. Along with their Vitamin C content, the leaves are therefore great for colds and other viral infections. In addition, they contain tannins which fight off intestinal parasites such as worms.

If you want healthy, dandruff-free hair, use a shampoo or conditioner that contains the extract from papaya leaves. The extract is good for skin too. You can use it as an acne-preventing cleanser or for conditions like eczema. Many people even use it to treat wounds and warts.

To make your own papaya leaf juice, you'll obviously need some leaves. If you don't have access to a tree, you can buy these leaves in dried form online or from your local health shop. If the leaves are fresh, you can simply crush them and squeeze out the juice. Otherwise, slowly boil the dried leaves in water until the liquid has been reduced by half, then strain the liquid and keep it in the fridge. Once it turns cloudy, it's not good for use anymore. The bitter juice is best taken with other fruit juices but don't take it during pregnancy since it can cause miscarriage.




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