The Many Health Benefits Of The Papaya Leaf‏

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 tree grows in tropical and subtropical regions all over the world. However, it is native only to Mexico, Central America and the very northern countries of South America. The fruit is versatile and you'll now even find it as a common ingredient in South East Asian cuisine.

The fruit is very healthy and is a rich source of Vitamin C and other nutrients. However, the leaves are nutritious too, with a high content of calcium and other minerals like phosphorus and iron, as well as Vitamins A and C. Some people boil and eat the leaves for this very reason.

The leaves contain enzymes that can increase the production of blood platelets and white blood cells. For this reason, in some places people boil the leaves in water to make a tea. They then use this tea for its anti-malarial properties. Scientific studies have shown that the tea can also be useful in the treatment of dengue fever and pharmaceutical companies are now also looking into the benefits of an extract of the tree's leaves in modern medicines.

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.

By encouraging the production of platelets and white blood cells, the enzymes are a great immune booster. This is very useful in treating cold and flu symptoms, especially since the leaves also contains a lot of Vitamin C. Intestinal parasites like worms and fungi can be fought off by the tannins present in these leaves as well.

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.

You don't have to have a tree growing in your garden to be able to make your own papaya leaf extract. If you do manage to get hold of fresh leaves, you can crush them and press out the juice. However, you can also get dried leaves from health shops or order them from online suppliers. Boil these leaves in water, simmer until the liquid is reduced and then strain it. It will keep for a few days as long as you store it in the fridge. Then drink it with other juices to make the bitter taste more palatable and let it work its wonders. Just remember that it can cause miscarriages so avoid it if you're expecting.