PAPAYA LEAF JUICE FOR DENGUE

Papaya leaf extract – wonder drug for dengue patients?

By C.I. Munasinghe
While the dreaded disease, dengue has reached epidemic proportions with a countless number of patients infected by it islandwide and the death toll mounting unabated, creating a national crisis - a cure for this dreaded disease however is still in wanting.
Dr. Sanath Hettige, an MBBS doctor - a consultant family physician-has affirmed that papaya leaf extract has definite beneficial effects on dengue patients. It prevents dengue patients from going in to dengue haemorrhagic state, he says.
The first ever scientific bio-medical study conducted to discover the salutary effects of Carcia papaya leaf extracts in patients suffering from dengue fever by Dr. Hettige was reported in the Sri Lanka Family Physician magazine in his article on the said subject in 2008.
The report further states, “The pilot study has shown the effects of papaya leaf juice in dengue patients of elevating the total white cell counts, platelet counts and recovery without hospital admission.”
This was followed up in the IMPA newsletter of June 2009 volume 14, issue 6, in which he has written on his preliminary observations of his study to his colleagues for their consideration with the view to establishing a scientifically sound study. In the same article he has also said that “a delay in formal research and publication may result in many deaths if we were to wait for results of a study without making information available to patients during the present epidemic.”
Dr. Hettige’s latest research on randomised controlled clinical trial that is on going with more than 70 dengue patients including children has found that all patients who consumed papaya leaf extracts recovered fully with no hospital admission. The results had been highly significant when compared to the control group who did not consume papaya leaf extract. Meanwhile Dr. Hettige has submitted an application for patent rights for its use and has received a patent number, but is awaiting approval.
The Sunday Observer met Dr. Hettige to find out more details of his decision to reveal his findings related to this wonder juice to the public, the details on how he initially started his research and how this papaya leaf extract could be administered to a patient.
“I have found this method of treatment for dengue patients to be very effective. Although the study is not fully completed, I decided to release this information at a time dengue has reached a national crisis situation and the public would benefit from this information”.
Q: What prompted you to initially do research on this disease?
A; It was in fact my wife, a Senior Medical Officer at the Intensive Care Unit, Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, who would see the helpless dengue patients among many others, coming in to her unit and she would call me to inform of their suffering, and how most often than not the patients succumbed to this infection. She would constantly ask if there is nothing we could do. This prompted me to do something about it.
Q: How did you first start off your research?
A: Initially, I had a number of patients - relatives of those who work for me, friends and relatives infected by dengue who gave their consent to carry out the research on them. The pilot study consisted of 24 patients in total. Twelve who were given the juice and 12 as controls (who were not given the juice). We found that the 12 who consumed the papaya extract had good results. It was significant to observe that the platelet count increased in all 12 patients with two doses of papaya leaf juice and they all recovered with no hospital admissions, as per the details given in the pilot study that was published.

Preparation

Q; How is the papaya fruit leaf juice prepared for consumption for the purpose of treatment of dengue?
A: Leaves from a fruit-bearing tree can be taken (the Red Lady Papaya variety which is more effective), it has to be washed with clean water and then crushed in a wooden pestle without water or salt. The crushed leaves are then to be squeezed by hand to extract the juice which can be consumed fresh once again, without water, salt or sugar.
Q; What is the quantity of the leaf extract that has to be taken for an adult and child respectively?
A: A quantity of 10 ml is prescribed for adults twice a day and 5ml twice a day for children aged between five and 12 years.
Q: Could you give the scientific explanation as to how papaya leaf extract is effective in curing dengue?
A: It does three main services - the leaf extract increases the white blood cells and blood platelets and normalises the clotting profile which are the main aspects affected when infected with dengue. The most important factor is that it improves liver function too. The juice helps repair the damage caused to liver cells by dengue fever.
Q: At what stage should a patient consume papaya leaf extract?
A: It is best to consume it in the early stages of dengue haemorrhagic fever when the platelet count (PLT) drops below 150000 cu mm or when the packed cell volume is increased by 10 percent even though the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria to diagnose DHF is PLT of 100000 cu mm or Packed cell volume increase by 20 percent.
Papaya leaf juice has definite beneficial effects even when given to patients with very low platelet counts, altered clotting profiles and bleeding tendencies. But in the final stages of dengue, where multi-organ failure has set in, the beneficial effects are minimal. This is why the patients are advised to take papaya leaf juice early. When it is given early to patients, they recover fast, thus preventing the need for hospital admission. Most importantly, patients who have been identified as dengue-infected should first seek medical attention and take the juice along with the prescribed medication.

Papaya Leaf Juice Used for Dengue

by Sanjeev, Ashok Somani, Janaka, and Tiom
From Tricia of Natural Health Strategies.com:

Several readers have written in to tell us and our other readers that papaya leaf juice is often given to dengue sufferers in their countries. We want to thank each of you for taking your time to share that with us. We’re compiling those comments here.

Sanjeev from Rampur U.P, India, was one of the first readers to suggest papaya leaf juice for dengue. “The tested medicine for dengue is papaya leaf juice, 2 teaspoons twice a day, with gloyey (ayurvedic medicine.)"

Ashok Somani from Bagalkot Karnatak, India, also suggests using papaya leaf to help dengue sufferers, and explains how to make it. Ashok writes: “When the dengue is serious and the blood platelet count is decreasing, take a leaf of a papaya tree and grind with water. Take this juice on an empty stomach.”

It’s interesting to note that papaya leaf juice seems to be a common natural help for dengue patients in at least several Eastern countries. Janaka from Sri Lanka also wrote mentioning papaya leaf juice for dengue. Here’s Janaka’s comment:

“Apart from many natural herbs which will increase one’s immunity, the juice of papaya leaves significantly increases the platelet levels, even with a few teaspoons. In my country it is standard medical practice even in hospitals, since they claim they have no treatment for this disease!”

And Tiom tells us a bit about how to prepare the juice:

"Take leaves of a papaya tree. Wash properly, grind, and squeeze the juice into a bowl or a glass. Drink a glass or two every day for at least 4 days (minimum) apart from other fruit juices. Remember, it’s not the fruit, but the leaves of papaya. (FYI it tastes terrible!)"

Doc: Papaya leaves can cure dengue

KUALA LUMPUR: Papaya leaves and pegaga (centella asiatica) juice are a possible cure for dengue fever, a recent study revealed.
It has been reported that many people consume papaya leaves or pegaga juice to increase their platelet count after they contract dengue fever.
A recent study, conducted by a group of researchers from local and foreign universities, indicated that the powder from papaya leaves has substances responsible for the release and/or production of thrombocytes (platelets).
The study was initiated and led by Dr S. Kathiresan of AIMST University.

 Green remedy: Researchers find the powder from papaya leaves contains substances that promote the production of platelets.

Dr Kathiresan said the leaves of papaya fruit were high in complex vitamins that might help bone marrow to rapidly increase blood platelet production.
“Dengue fever continues to be a major health threat to Malaysia after its first reported outbreak in 1902.
“The dengue virus’ main effect is on platelet production. Nor­mally, a platelet in our body lasts for about five to 10 days and the body replenishes them when required,” he told Bernama.
“This virus destroys the body’s capacity to produce new platelets (during the period the virus is effective). The platelet count for a normal person varies from 150,000 to 250,000 per micro litre of blood. On becoming infected, a patient’s platelet count starts falling.
“A platelet count below 100,000 per microlitre is alarming – immediate medical attention is required. A platelet count below 50,000 can be fatal,” he added.
A fall in the platelet count prevents formation of clots and this leads to haemorrhaging, which results in both internal and external bleeding.
Once such bleeding starts, the situation is almost irreversible, he said.
Dr Kathiresan noted that interest in the papaya began with a simple experiment with papaya leaves which were ground and administered to mice.
The platelet counts before, and 72 hours after dosing, revealed they were significantly higher.
The six-month study, titled Thrombocyte counts in mice after the administration of papaya leaf suspension, published in October 2009, was funded by AIMST University and Universiti Sains Malaysia.

DENGUE FEVER REMEDY
Pawpaw (Papaya) Leaf Juice Is A Natural Cure For Dengue Fever
Remedy:
Two (2) pieces of raw Pawpaw (Papaya) leaves. Clean the leaves and pound and squeeze with a filter cloth. You will only get one tablespoon of juice per leaf. So, take two (2) tablespoons of Pawpaw (Papaya) leaf juice once a day. Do not boil, or cook, or rinse the leaves with hot water, as it will lose its strength. Use only the leafy part of the Pawpaw (Papaya) plant, and not the stem or sap. The juice is very bitter, and you have to swallow it. But it works.
Simple and Effective – blend the leaves, squeeze the juice, drink immediately.
Case Studies:
1. Male student was in a critical condition in the intensive care unit, when his blood platelet count dropped to 15, after a blood transfusion of 15-litres. The boy’s father was so worried that he sought a friend’s recommendation, and his son was saved. He gave his son the raw juice of the Pawpaw (Papaya) leaves. From a platelet count of 45 (after a blood transfusion of 20-litres), and after drinking the raw Pawpaw (Papaya) leaf juice, his platelet count jumped instantly to 135. Even the doctors and nurses were surprised. After two days in hospital, the boy was discharged.
2. Adult female had a very serious case of Dengue Fever, her platelet count had dropped to 28,000 after 3 days in hospital, and water had started to fill up her lungs, causing difficulty with breathing. She was only 32 years old. Her doctor said there was no cure for Dengue Fever, and she’d just have to wait for her body’s immune system to build up resistance against the Dengue Fever, and fight its own battle. She’d already had two blood transfusions, and her platelet count continued to drop since the first day she was admitted to hospital. Fortunately, her mother-in-law heard that Pawpaw (Papaya) Juice would help to reduce the fever. She got some leaves, pounded them, and squeezed the juice out for her. The next day, her platelet count started to increase, and her fever subsided. The Pawpaw (Papaya) Juice was fed to her, and she recovered after three days. Amazing, but true.
3. It’s believed that the body is overheated when suffering from Dengue Fever, and that Pawpaw (Papaya) Juice has a cooling effect. Thus, it helps to reduce the level of heat in the patient’s body, and the fever then goes away.
4. Pawpaw (Papaya) Juice has also been proven to have beneficial effects on sore throats, or when suffering from heat exhaustion (or overheating).

http://in.news.yahoo.com/video/papaya-leaf-miracle-dengue-guard-112000572.html