Friday, February 21, 2014

Papaya Tree Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 142 -365

Papaya is an amazingly delicious fruit referred to as ‘fruits of angels’.




Papaya, Paw Paw, Papaw, Tree Melon (botanical name Carica papaya), it has oblong shape, normally greenish yellow, yellow or orange color. It is a large tree plant fruit usually reaching 2.5kg. It has bitter sweet taste and comes from tropical places with higher humidity, native to Mexico, countries of Central America, Thailand, Africa and Asia and growing well in Australia.

Health Benefits
 
  • Papaya fruit is and excellent source of dietary fiber, folate, vitamin A, C and E. It also contains small amount of calcium, iron, riboflavin, thiamine and niacine. It is also very rich in antioxidant nutrients flavonoids and carotenes, very high in vitamin C plus A, and low in calories and sodium.
  • Eating paw paw after a meal makes for better digestion, prevents bloating and chronic indigestion. 
  • It can also lower the inflammation in the body, 
  • alleviates the pain and edema caused by sport injuries. 
  • Because of its anti-inflammatory properties papaya can relieve the severity of Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. 
  • Because of its high antioxidant content, papaya can prevent cholesterol oxidation and can be use in a preventative treatments against atherosclerosis, 
  • strokes, 
  •  heart attacks and 
  • diabetic heart disease.
  • strengthening the immune system 
  • preventing the recurrent colds and flu.
  • eating paw paw or drinking its juice replenishes the good intestinal bacteria, which was destroyed by the antibiotic treatment.
  • Papain is proteolitic enzyme, which means that it digests inert (non-living) proteins. Intestinal parasites are largely protein, the papain attacks it and causes parasite to die.  
  • home applications of leaf and bark papaya extract is used to deal with mouth gums and toothaches which is being effectively practised in many cultures around the world
  • Papain is also being studied for relief of cancer therapy side effects, especially relieving side effects such as difficulty swallowing and mouth sores after radiation and chemotherapy
  • Increases quality of proteins in whole organism.
  • Revitalize the human body and maintain energy and vitality.
  • Encourages the renewal of muscle tissue.
  • Supports cardiovascular system.
  • Boosts up the immune system.
  • Helps with the digestive system, by breaking down the proteins and supporting production of digestive enzymes.
  • Papaya can be use also externally as a treatment for skin wounds that don’t heal quickly, for this you can use papaya peel or ointments made out of papaya.
  • Prevents the cataract formation.
  • Due to high vitamin A, it lowers the risk of emphysema in smokers and passive smokers.
  • Alleviates inflammation.
  • Helps with the nausea and constipation.
  • Can benefit people suffering colon cancer and other forms of cancers and aliments of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems.
  • Papaya is frequently used as a hair conditioner, but should be used in small amounts.
  • Laboratory studies have also shown that papaya seeds have contraceptive effects in adult male langur monkeys, and possibly in adult male humans.
  • Papaya juice has an in vitro antiproliferative effect on liver cancer cells
  • In some parts of the world, papaya leaves are made into tea as a treatment for malaria.
  • papaya may be used as a medicine for dengue fever
  •  Papain is also applied topically for the treatment of cuts, rashes, stings and burns.Papain ointment is commonly made from fermented papaya flesh, and is applied as a gel-like paste
  • Women in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and other countries have long used green papaya as an herbal medicine for contraception and abortion. Enslaved women in the West Indies were noted for consuming papaya to prevent pregnancies and thus preventing their children from being born into slavery.
  • Juice from papaya roots is used in some countries of Asia to ease urianry troubles. 
  • Papaya leaf when dried and cured like a cigar, is smoked by asthmatic persons.
  • The dried seeds when pounded and mixed with vinegar can be used as a skin irritant to lower fever.
  • A decoction formed by boiling the outer part of the roots of the papaya tree in the cure of dyspepsia.
  • Ripe papaya fruit is laxative. If you take papaya fruit regularly in your diet , you assured of regular bowel movement which is good essential to daily disposition.
  • An infusion of fresh papaya leaves is used by person to expel or destroy intestinal worms.
  • papaya leaves also works as a cure for menstrual pain. You can take papaya leaf, tamarind and salt along with water that is helpful in frequent pain in women menstruation cycle.
  • prevents blood clots


      Papaia Flower

Culinary  Practices

  • The black seeds of the papaya are edible and have a sharp, spicy taste. They are sometimes ground and used as a substitute for black pepper.
Papaia Flower
  • In some parts of Asia, the young leaves of the papaya are steamed and eaten like spinach.
  • In Thai cuisine, papaya is used to make Thai salads such as som tam and Thai curries such as kaeng som when still not fully ripe. In Indonesian cuisine, the unripe green fruits and young leaves are boiled for use as part of lalab salad, while the flower buds are sautéed and stir-fried with chillies and green tomatoes as Minahasan papaya flower vegetable dish. 

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