Video: ‘Wonders of Papaya Leaves’
Please note that due to the medicinal properties of this herbal tea, the taste is bitter when taken without sweeteners / honey.
To get the full benefits, it is recommended that the tea be taken without any sweetener.
Papaya leaf (also known as pawpaw and melon tree) has been used in medicinal applications for centuries as it provides almost miraculous results.* Native to many tropical regions, the papaya plant (Carica papaya) also has industrial, culinary, and cosmetic uses. The presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, and saponins in papaya leaf lend to its therapeutic action.*
Some benefits of papaya leaf tea include:*
- Anti-malarial. This tea can help prevent malaria via the action of certain compounds found in papaya against mosquito larvae. These compounds can also be effective against dengue fever.
- Ulcers. Papaya leaf tea may be a potential treatment for gastric ulcer and oxidative stress.
- Digestive aid. The enzyme papain assists with protein & carbohydrate digestion and is useful for treating gastrointestinal disorders such as constipation and bowel disorders. Papaya leaf tea may also help digest gluten, a wheat protein, which is difficult for some people to digest and triggers an autoimmune condition (celiac disease).
- Dewormer/parasite remover. Certain properties found in papaya leaf aid in the elimination of intestinal parasites when taken regularly in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Immune system boost. Enhances the production of Th1-type cytokines, small proteins that have a role in regulating the body’s immune system.
- Healthy skin. Can serve as an acne, zit, and eczema treatment due to its antioxidant properties.
- Appetite enhancer. Calms and soothes the stomach, plus increases metabolism.
- Boosts platelet count. Can help manage thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) induced by dengue fever, a bone marrow disorder, or other factors. Some of the proposed mechanisms of action behind papaya leaves increasing platelet count include stabilization of platelet membranes, reduction of platelet destruction, and increased expression of a gene that elevates platelet production (ALOX 12).
- Antioxidant properties. Papaya leaf is rich in several compounds with antioxidant properties (kaempferol, caffeic acid, papain, etc). It also has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that are useful in treating several ailments, such as skin aging, and chronic disease.
