Papaya Fruit

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Botanical: Carica papaya

Family: Caricaceae (papaya)

Other common names: Papaw, Mamao, Tree Melon, Paw-Paw, Gandul, Fan Kua

Papaya Fruit has been used as digestive aid, as it contains papain, an enzyme that aids in the digestion of proteins.  Papaya Fruit is also high in potassium and vitamins A, C and E.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Viable Herbal Solutions is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

History and Uses:
Papaya Fruit grows on what is usually referred to as a tree.  But the Papaya plant is actually a large herb growing to heights of up to thirty feet with a hollow green stem becoming up to a foot and a half thick at the base.  The leaves emerge directly from the upper part of the stem in a spiral, and both the stem and leaves contain copious amounts of white milky latex.  Generally, the fruit is melon-like, oval to nearly round.  The skin is waxy and thin but fairly tough.  When the fruit is green and hard, it is rich in white latex, and as it ripens, it becomes yellow externally, and the thick wall of flesh becomes aromatic, yellow, orange or various shades of red.  It is then juicy, sweet and somewhat like cantaloupe in flavor.  Papaya is believed to be a native of tropical America.  Seeds were taken to Panama and Hispaniola before 1525, and cultivation spread to warm elevations throughout South America, Central America and the Caribbean.  Papaya is now familiar in nearly all of the tropical regions of the world.  Successful commercial production today is primarily located in Hawaii, Africa, the Philippines and India.  Papaya Fruit is high in vitamins A, C, E and potassium.  Papaya Fruit also contains smaller amounts of calcium, iron, niacin, riboflavin and thiamine.  The most interesting constituent of Papaya Fruit, however, is papain.  Papain is an enzyme that aids in the digestion of protein.  Papain is often used as a meat tenderizer, as well as an aid to digestion.  Recently, studies have shown that Papaya Fruit has antibacterial and antifungal properties and is used in some cultures as a vermifuge.

Ingredients: 100% Papaya Fruit Botanical Powder - Our products contain 100% pure plant-based/natural materials using no fillers, grains, yeast, sugars, binders, excipients, starches, or synthetic materials.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, one (1) to two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
People who take blood medication (Sulfinpyrazone) or blood thinning medication (Coumadin, aspirin, etc.) should consult with their physicians before taking this herb, as it may have anticoagulant properties. Pregnant women should avoid Papaya, as it can be a uterine stimulant (papain apparently dissolves a protein(s) responsible for adhering the newly fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus).  Papaya in all its forms should never be taken by people with a latex allergy (causing anaphylactic shock).  Inhaling Papaya powder (high in the enzymes, papain and chymopapain, can induce allergies.  Although papain digests carbohydrates, potato protein may cause papain to not work as well.

Capsule Information:
Our Papaya Fruit supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs.