Papaya contains papain, a remarkable, protein-dissolving enzyme that eases many stomach ailments and is an exceptional aid to digestion. A rich source of minerals and vitamins A, C and E, papain also breaks down wheat gluten, which may be of great help those with Celiac disease.
Plant Description:
Papaya is an herbaceous tree with a stem of spongy, soft wood that is hollow in the center and bears melon-like fruit. It is an interesting tree, in that the male and female parts exist in different trees, and trees may grow to a height of twenty to thirty feet.
The Papaya Tree needs a tropical climate that is dry when cold and wet when warm; consequently, its greatest success appears in the equatorial zone with its warm wet season and cool dry season. It is extremely sensitive to frost, and water-logging will kill the taproot within forty-eight hours. The Papaya tree is especially susceptible to parasites, pests and diseases.
This fussy plant needs a lot of water but must have good drainage, and it bears most fruit in light, porous, slightly acidic soils that are rich in organic matter. Said to be a native of the Caribbean and Central America, the Papaya is the true papaw that now grows abundantly throughout tropical America. Hawaii and many other tropical climates throughout the world
Although grown to some extent in south Florida, the true papaw is not related to the North American papaw. The fruits, leaves and latex are all used medicinally. The fruit is usually pear-sized and has a central cavity filled with edible, pea-sized seeds.
Medical Uses:
Papaya Fruit is eaten as a melon, included in salads and when unripe, it is cooked as a vegetable. The seeds are said to have a similar flavor as capers. The green fruit stems and leaves are a rich source of gummy, milky, white latex that contains the powerful enzyme, papain (in latex and exudates).
This protein-dissolving substance has not only been widely used for stomach and digestive disorders, but it is also included in commercial preparations as a meat tenderizer, chewing gum and as a stabilizing agent that is used to clarify beer. Some of the constituents included in Papaya Fruit are the fermenting agent myrosin, another important enzyme (chymopapain), butanoic acid, methyl bulanoate, benzylglucosinolate, linalool, as- and trans-linalool oxide, alpha-linolenic acid, alpha-phellandrene, gamma-terpinene, 4-terpmeol, terpinolene, methyl-thiocyanate and benzyl-isothiocyanate, rutin, resin, lycopene, malic acid, methyl salicylate, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, beta-carotene, B-vitamins and vitamins A. C and E.
Papaya is an excellent treatment for digestive disorders and extremely useful for any disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract. Papain, the powerful enzyme In Papaya, helps to dissolve and digest protein, thus easing stomach ailments and indigestion. (Because papain breaks down tough meat fibers, it is often used in restaurants and is the major ingredient in commercial meat tenderizers!) Papaya has been effective in easing heartburn and is given to treat dyspepsia and gastric catarrah. Papaya also stimulates the appetite.