Physicians
of nineteenth century America used papaya leaf to treat "fermentative
indigestion," a condition of bloating, nausea, and flatulence frequently
following excessive consumption of fermented foods. KingÍs Dispensatory
noted that teas (decoctions) of papaya leaf helped reduce the oxalic acid
content of the urine, presumably reducing the formation of oxalic acid
kidney stones.
The primary use of papaya leaf in herbal medicine today is as a vermifuge,
that is, to remove intestinal worms. Papaya leaf has less of the
protein-dissolving papain than the fruit, so it is less likely to "dissolve"
the worms, but it contains tannins that the fruit does not. These tannins
protect the intestine from reinfection by "tanning" proteins in the lining
of the intestinal wall so that worms cannot attach themselves. |
