01/11/2012
Papaya leaf juice helps fight dengue fever -
With the rising number of people catching dengue fever, the demand for papaya leaf juice has soared. The extract of raw papaya leaf helps boost platelets, also known as thrombocytes.
Dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes and can be fatal. Common symptoms include fever with headache, severe muscle pain, joint pain and rashes on the body. There is no effective medicine for dengue.
Traditionally, the juice of papaya leaf has been found to be useful in the treatment of dengue fever. Few recent studies have shown the effect of papaya leaf juice in curing dengue fever. A recent study done on five dengue patients by Indian Institute of Forest Management has shown some interesting observations.
Among five patients, papaya leaf juice was found to be effective in curing dengue.
The number of platelets increased in all five patients within 24 hours of drinking the juice, with all patients reporting significant improvement in their health. It seems that this bitter green juice is promising without posing any serious ill-effects. As a result, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies are already formulating papaya leaf extract preparations.
Interestingly, papaya leaf has also been found to possess powerful anti-malarial and anti-cancer properties. Papaya leaf extract has been used in some parts of the world as a prophylactic to prevent malaria in endemic regions. According to research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology published in 2010, doctors and researchers from US and Japan have discovered that enzymes found in papaya leaf have cancer fighting properties and are known to work against cervix, breast, liver, lung and pancreatic cancers. According to the study, papaya leaves are not known to have toxic effects and their consumption does not have side effects. Some doctors are beginning to recommend papaya leaf tea as part of chemotherapy.
These benefits may not be surprising as a study by Purdue University in United States showed that papaya leaf consists of over 50 active ingredients found to kill fungi, worms, parasites, bacteria and many forms of cancer cells. Papaya leaves contain important nutrients that support the immune system, including vitamins A, C, and E.
For dengue fever it is suggested that the juice is extracted by crushing fresh leaves of papaya. One leaf of papaya gives about one tablespoon of juice. Two tablespoons of papaya leaf juice are given to dengue patient three times a day — once every six hours.
Remember, this is not a substitute for medical advice.
