People have been using plants as medicine since the dawn of time. Everything from the bark to the roots and fruits have been turned into a way to cure ailments from a simple toothache to serious illnesses. In tropical climates, for instance, people have been using papaya leaf for many different things and their folk knowledge is now hitting the mainstream too.
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.
Malaria is a problem in most tropical regions but people here have long ago realized that if they brewed a tea from the leaves, they could use it as a treatment for the disease. Some even use it to treat dengue fever because there are enzymes that encourage the production of platelets in a person's blood. These days there are pharmaceutical companies that extract these enzymes and use them in medicines for the prevention and treatment of malaria and dengue fever.
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.
Since the enzymes in the leaves boost platelet and white blood cell levels, they help strengthen the immune system. Along with vitamins like Vitamin C, they can then help fight of viral infections like colds and flu. Tannins are also present and are effective in getting rid of intestinal parasites.
The leaf juices are not only good for the body's insides but for its outside too. Some shampoos and hair conditioners contain the extract for its dandruff-fighting characteristics. Used for cleansing the skin, these juices also help to fight acne. They can be applied directly to the skin to treat warts, eczema and sores or cuts too.
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.
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.
Malaria is a problem in most tropical regions but people here have long ago realized that if they brewed a tea from the leaves, they could use it as a treatment for the disease. Some even use it to treat dengue fever because there are enzymes that encourage the production of platelets in a person's blood. These days there are pharmaceutical companies that extract these enzymes and use them in medicines for the prevention and treatment of malaria and dengue fever.
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.
Since the enzymes in the leaves boost platelet and white blood cell levels, they help strengthen the immune system. Along with vitamins like Vitamin C, they can then help fight of viral infections like colds and flu. Tannins are also present and are effective in getting rid of intestinal parasites.
The leaf juices are not only good for the body's insides but for its outside too. Some shampoos and hair conditioners contain the extract for its dandruff-fighting characteristics. Used for cleansing the skin, these juices also help to fight acne. They can be applied directly to the skin to treat warts, eczema and sores or cuts too.
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.
About the Author:
Papaya leaf is now available on the World Wide Web at www.iowaselectherbs.com. You can get full details and information about the benefits of using this product at http://www.iowaselectherbs.com.
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