There is hardly any fruit that can match curative qualities of papaya which has vitamins A B, C, is tonic, stomachic stimulant, rejuvenative, digestive, laxative, is equally of benefit in ripe or unripe forms; can be used in fruit and (cooked) vegetable forms. Its rind is thick but not hard, has fleshy pulp and small black seeds inside. Its juice consists of papain—a protein which splits enzyme for use as a meat tenderizing agent. In order to tenderize meat, its juice of ripe fruit, or slices of unripe fruit were rubbed over meat for tenderising purpose.
Even its green leaves served the identical purpose when meat was wrapped with them and kept overnight, before being cooked. When ripe, it is sweet in taste, is abundant in water content, is tasty also. Its unripe form is stewed or baked. It has strong and powerful enzyme, known as pepsin which is a potent protein digesting enzyme. It was called ‘Tree of life’, A valuable article of diet’, commercial use of papain, extracted and derived from slashing of green fruits it utilised for preparing tables for aiding in digestion of protein.
As old age advances or also due to faulty digestion, there is enormous depletion of secretion of natural enzymes, resulting in retardation of digestive process. Slowed down digestion further causes gas formation, bloating in abdomen, heart-burn and stomach pain. Children or young persons may also have the said symptoms if their digestion is also adversely affected like that of the aged persons. Tablets of papaya enzyme help in digestive process, rendered inactive by aforesaid causes or also due to hurry, worry, scurry, cares and worries of so called modern life. Protein enriched beans, milk and its products, eggs, beans and other foods, of this sort are also digested by use of such enzyme tablets.
CHEMICAL BREAK-UP OF PROPERTIES OF PAPAYA
It has 86.69% water, carbohydrates 9.5%, protein 0.5%, mineral salts-0.4%, ether extract 0.1%, Iron 0.4%, calcium 0.01%, phosphorus 0.3%, in addition to having properties of garlic, citric and tartaric acids, lOOgms of papaya gives 56 calories, and vitamin ‘C 130 per mgm, vitamin ‘A’ 3000 units. Winter-ripe papayas have more vitamin ‘C content. Dr. J.H. Belogg called papaya a ‘bottle full of sun-light” due to its having in it, vitamin D’.
Papaya keeps the arteries supply, soft and flexible, thus not allowing formation of cholesterol in the blood. It is especially useful for T.B. patients, as it is the pepsin, obtained from papaya, that breaks open the outer layer, covering certain germs (as also of T.B). Hence regular, but moderate, use of papaya will reduce chances of heart attack, normalise blood pressure due to tension, depression, anxiety and increase in cholesterol level; thus affecting smooth circulation of blood.
Since arteriosclerosis (thickening of arteries) is a symptom of senile age, old persons should use papaya regularly, but care should be taken that its constant use does not cause loose motions. Non-vegetarians must use papaya, as it has the pepsin ingredient which can melt and digest even hard pieces of meat. It also expels worms and mucus from intestines, thus curing even inveterate cases of dysentery. Its element of pepsin also ensures not only toning up of liver functions, but also curing jaundice and torpidity of the liver.
Regular use of papaya, mixed with 5 ml of honey and a cup of milk will keep the ‘youthful fervour of the body, improve digestion, rectify liver functioning and also restore peristaltic action of intestines. As is well known vitamin ‘C builds up general resistance of body, besides curing deformities of bones, keeping alive glow and softness of skin. Use of papaya in various face/skin creams or its application is an ample testimony to its multifarious utility. Its vitamin ‘A’ content ensures improved and better eye-sight and flexibility of limbs. To enhance its salutary effects, papaya should be taken with lemon juice and rock-salt. Its pulp provides energy to the body.
Milk, oozing out from the papaya, is sticky, adhesive and curative which serves an ideal skin-lotion, for local application thereon. It is useful in disorders like eczema, leucoderma, blemishes on face or black spots on any part of body. Please note that, except where otherwise specifically mentioned, ‘papaya’ should always be taken for a ripe papaya fruit only.
Dr. M. Keigg speaks high of papaya and its uses as the ripe fruit is stomachic, appetiser, and digestive; it is given in piles and enlarged liver, the ripe fruit is eaten regularly for habitual constipation and chronic diarrhoea. The juice being an irritant is applied to swelling, to prevent suppuration and to corns, warts, pimples, horny excretions of the skin and other skin diseases; the juice used as a cosmetic removes freckles and makes the skin smooth and delicate. A paste of the seeds is applied to skin diseases like ringworm (quoted from author’s ‘Green medicines’)
In his book, ‘Practical Naturopathy’ Dr. S.J. Singh describes papaya fruit as ‘very useful in chronic diarrhoea; it is made into a curry and eaten by women to stimulate secretion of milk after child-birth. Slices of unripe fruit, rubbed on the ringworm once daily, is believed to cure it. The ripe fruit eaten regularly corrects habitual constipation, bleeding piles and dyspepsia, The leaves dipped in hot water or warmed over fire are applied to painful parts for relief from nervous pains. Bruised leaves, applied as poultice, are said to reduce elephantoid growths.’
Spleen, stomach, liver tumours : Splenitis is caused by kalazar, malarial fever, disturbed menstrual periods, sudden stoppage of blood from piles. Enlargement of liver results from irregular, alcoholic, spicy, fat-enriched diet; tobacco smoking/eating, chronic dysentery. The patient feels that his right side, under ribs, is painful, swelled and enlarged and his appetite diminishes, mouth tastes bitter, even slight food intake is not digested properly and, as a result thereof, there is indigestion and flatulence, weak intestines etc. When there is sudden stoppage of menses (excepting due to pregnancy), caused by extra indulgence, highly seasoned food, sedentary habits, repeated abortions, leucorrhoea, tumour may also surface in abdominal region of ladies.
Vigorously shake or whisk juice (20 ml) of raw papaya, adding some pure honey and 20 ml of hot water. It should be taken, as a very first thing in the morning for 7-10 days. Some sugar candy may also be added to the said mixture, if the patient has bilious temperament. In the following 7-10 days, dose should be contained for another 7-10 days. Eating raw papaya will also cure the aforesaid troubles. Add 5 gms of sugar to 5 ml of raw papaya juice, extracted from raw and fresh papaya only, as an alternative curative. Further, milk obtained from fresh papaya fruit, is also equally beneficial in all the said complaints.
For external use, grate raw papaya fruit and roast it in pure buttermilk (ghee), and apply this as poultice, when reduced to lukewarm condition, over stomach so that liver and spleen problems are cured.
Diphtheria: A mucous membrane forms and covers root of the palate and, if unchecked or untreated, it engulfs the entire throat, causing respiration problems. Stoppage of respiratory process may even cause instant death. Hence, at the very initial stages, it must be-arrested forthwith. Take juice of fresh raw papaya and mix it with ripe juice of pineapple. It pineapple juice is not tolerated by the patient then water diluted milk of papaya may be applied around and in throat. Better seek advice and guidance of an expert.
Tonsillitis: Inflammation of tonsils is a common complacent amongst children, young and growing persons. It is caused by infections caused by eating contaminated, stale, infectious and spicy eatables. Best method is to gargle with water mixed papaya milk. Gargling may be done as frequently as situation demands.
Gum-Boils: Apply milk of papaya over gums to gain quick relief from pain, swelling, bleeding of gums. After application, let the saliva flow out of the mouth so that the chief cause of disturbance is oozed out. Generally a single application would suffice but it may be repeated, if relief is not felt.
Skin Diseases, including Impure Blood, Eczema: Take ripe papaya, some dry raisins (big ones), figs and Gorakhmundi and boil the lot until reduced to l/4th of its quantity. Now strain the boiled medicament and add some sugar-candy to it. It will be now converted into a syrup, for being bottled. Usual dose is 5-10 ml thrice daily— after a gap of 8-12 hour. For maintaining healthy skin, in addition to syrup, take also some lemon juice in a glassful of water, early in the morning. Effort should also be made to remove constipation which can be removed by taking lime juice in water. Decoction of neem leaves or juice of fresh neem (margosa tree) leaves and local application of pulp of neem will provide relief in ezematous erruptions.
Facial Pimples and Freckles: Rub papaya pulp over face and allow it to remain thereon for 15-20 minutes, after that wash it off. Avoid taking fat-enriched diet. Free the bowels from constipation, take plenty of green and leafy vegetable. Take syrup, as mentioned earlier. Orally also take papaya fruit to purge out toxins and faecal matter from intestines. It will also relieve constipation, in addition to purifying impure blood.
Menstrual Disorders: Painful, delayed, scanty or profuse bleeding, pain during menstrual period, particularly in the back, lower abdomen, fatigued body, disinclination to work, anaemia, sedentary habits, habitual abortions, free and frequent indulgence in sexual acts, or even nymphomania, are some of causatives and symptoms of general disorders of menstruation.
To get relief, ladies, having all, any or some of the above mentioned symptoms, should take raw papaya in salads or cooked vegetables or take ripe papaya fruit as an essential part of food. Dip in water papaya leaves and let them remain in water overnight. After 12-15 hours, mash or grind the leaves in water itself and then strain the pulp. Strain and sieve the contents and use it as a vaginal douche. At the first inception of forementioned complaints, the suffering-ladies must resort to washing of private parts and also take orally the said prescription.
Agalactia: The term applies to absence of milk from mother’s breast. Lack of nourishing food, tension and lack of physical movements, anaemia are said to cause this disorder. It is said that due to mother’s immense love and affection for her off spring, enables a natural flow of milk from breasts of a mother, of course if not coupled with said probable causes. Such ladies should take fresh and ripe papaya fruit in the breakfast, in sufficiently large quantity, but in reasonable and moderate quantity only.
Diabetes: It is a disease caused by insufficiency of pancreatic juice called ‘Insulin’ which controls sugar metabolism in the blood stream and urine. Papaya, used in any form, is useful for treating (not curing) diabetes. In the morning, take ripe papaya fruit in the breakfast and lunch and in the evening. Soak papaya leaves in water, and take this water. Juice of papaya or fruit should, if possible, be followed by juice of bitter gourd (karela) to have rather quicker benefit.
Hypertension: It is a state of high blood pressure which is caused by arterio ‘sclerosis’, cholesterol, tension, worries and cares of modern life-style. Blood pressure is only a symptoms and not a disease. Hence when contributory symptoms have been treated, high blood pressure will take care of itself. As already mentioned, papaya removes constipation and keeps cholesterol within nonnal range; hence it should be taken in ripe form in the morning, on empty stomach, to be followed by bland luke-warm milk to hasten expulsion of faecal, toxic and other foreign harmful substances.