Always consult your healthcare provider prior to adding any herbal supplements to your health and wellness routine. Here are 7 emerging benefits and uses of papaya leaf. Yet, no human studies have confirmed these results. Papayas are a rich source of nutrients that can contribute to the appearance and health of your skin and hair. Papaya leaf is used in traditional medicine practices to treat diabetes and high blood sugar levels. Papaya is also known as pawpaw and melon tree. C. papaya has a wide range of purported medicinal properties for treatment of diabetes, as birth control, as an antiseptic, antimicrobial, or diuretic, to control parasites, reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol. It is native to the tropics of the Americas but now is widely cultivated in other tropical regions of the world for its edible melon-like fruit, which is available throughout the year. Papaya leaf contains fiber — a nutrient that supports healthy digestive function — and a unique compound called papain (7). Nutritional and herbal supplements are not closely regulated in some countries, including the United States. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 2 Nov 2020), Cerner Multum™ (updated 2 Nov 2020), ASHP (updated 23 Oct 2020) and others. Here's what you need to know. The time to find out if Medicare covers ambulance service is before you need one. Carica papaya, commonly called papaya, is a small, frost-tender, succulent, broadleaf evergreen tree that bears papaya fruits throughout the year. While there are only limited data to support most of these uses, there is some evidence for healing bed sores and other wounds and in treating intestinal worms in humans. Test-tube studies have found that papaya leaf extract inhibits the growth of cancer cells, but human studies are lacking. Last medically reviewed on April 15, 2020. A 2014 animal study found that papaya leaf had no toxic effects even at very large doses, and human studies have reported very few negative side effects (20). One study used a 4 g dose of air-dried papaya seeds in 20 mL of honey to treat helminthiasis. Three human studies that included several hundred people with dengue found that papaya leaf extract significantly increased blood platelet levels (2, 3, 4). What’s more, the papaya leaf therapy had very few associated side effects and was found to be much more cost effective than conventional treatments. Certain types of dandruff are caused by an overgrowth of a fungus called Malassezia, which can impede hair growth (13). Proponents of using papaya leaf to improve hair growth often cite its rich supply of antioxidants. This is a review of papaya and its health benefits. Papain is most commonly used commercially in meat tenderizers and chewing gums. Nearly 80% of American beer is treated with papain, which allows the beer to remain clear upon cooling. Select one or more newsletters to continue. However, taking three doses of up to 1 ounce (30 mL) of papaya leaf extract per day is considered safe and effective for the treatment of dengue fever (21). Most of the evidence favoring its use for this purpose is limited to anecdotal reports, and there’s no guarantee it’ll improve your digestive function in any way. Carica papaya — also simply known as papaya or pawpaw — is a type of tropical, fruit-bearing tree native to Mexico and northern regions of South America. Today, papaya is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world. Although human research is lacking, many papaya leaf preparations, such as teas, extracts, tablets, and juices, are often used to treat illnesses and promote health in numerous ways. Papaya leaf teas and extracts are often used as an alternative therapy to alleviate uncomfortable digestive symptoms, such as gas, bloating, and heartburn. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Papaya has been used widely in folk medicine for many ailments: the juice for warts, corns, cancers, tumors, and thickened skin; the roots or their extracts for cancers of the uterus, syphilis, the tropical infection, hemorrhoids, and to remove mineral concretions in the urine; the unripe fruit as a mild laxative or diuretic, and to stimulate lactation, labor, or abortion; the ripe fruit for rheumatism and alkalinizing the urine; the seeds for intestinal worms or to stimulate menstruation or abortion; the leaves as a poultice for nervous pains and elephantoid growths, or smoked for asthma relief; and the latex for psoriasis, ringworm, indigestion, or applied externally as an antiseptic or to heal burns or scalds, or applied to the cervix to contract the uterus. While there’s currently no cure for dengue, several treatments are available for managing its symptoms — one of which is papaya leaf. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. We explain the rules for ambulance service and Medicare. Incorporate these foods into your diet…, Without sufficient digestive enzymes, your body is unable to break down food properly, potentially leading to digestive disorders and unpleasant…. Moreover, papaya leaf enzymes have been used to promote wound healing, and one study found they minimized the appearance of scar tissue in rabbits (15, 16). All rights reserved. Papaya is a small, bushy tree with a hollow trunk, large palmate leaves, and oblong smooth-skinned fruits (melons). Papaya or Carica papaya is commonly found in tropical regions. Indran M, Mahmood AA, Kuppusamy UR. Papaya leaf has demonstrated antifungal properties in test-tube studies, so it’s often thought to support hair and scalp health by inhibiting the growth of dandruff-causing fungus (14). Severe cases can also result in reduced platelet levels in the blood. Though its origin is rather obscure, the papaya may represent the fusion of two or more species of Carica native to Mexico and Central America. Eating antioxidant-rich foods may help alleviate oxidative stress and subsequently improve hair growth (12). … 07:40 Widely grown in tropical countries for its fruit, the papaya makes an unusual ornamental foliage plant. Papaya leaf is safe for most people to consume, but if you’re not growing it yourself, it’s important to choose the highest quality supplements that have been third-party tested. Its fruit, seeds, and leaves are frequently utilized in a variety of culinary and folk medicine practices. Some research suggests that high levels of oxidative stress in the body may contribute to hair loss. However, papaya leaf has not been specifically tested against Malassezia, so there’s no guarantee it’ll have beneficial effects. However, you can incorporate its leaves into your diet as well to treat various illnesses. There is very little data available to make specific recommendations regarding systemic doses of papaya. Papaya leaf is the leaf of the papaya tree, scientifically known as Carica papaya, which can be found in tropical regions of the Americas. Studies in mice with diabetes have found papaya leaf extract to have potent antioxidant and blood-sugar-lowering effects.