Carica, Papaya

Pawpaw; Papita, Erand-Karkati (Ayurveda); Pipita (Unani); Pappai (Siddha)

Herbarium Amboinense, Rumpf, 1755

Illustrations Of Indian Botany, Vol. II, Wight, 1850

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Botanical name:
Carica papaya

Parts used:
Unripe and Ripe Fruit; Seed

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, moist. Unripe fruit is Cool, dry. Sweet, Sour

Uses:
1. Moistens the Intestines, Promotes Bowel Movements:
-chronic constipation (ripe fruit)
-Bleeding Piles; Diarrhea

2. Promotes Digestion:
-indigestion (ripe fruit)

3. Resists Poison:
-toxic effects of Cholera, Vomiting and Diarrhea
-plant and mineral poisons

4. Promotes Milk:
-unripe fruit is cooked and eaten to promote Milk in India

5. Moves the Blood:
-Promotes menstruation in amenorrhea (seed, milky juice; flower infusion)
-has also been used to promote abortion (seed)

6. Kills Worms:
-Round Worms (unripe fruit juice; seed)

7. Externally:
-juice is applied to remove Freckles, skin spots, Corns, Warts, Pimples
-unripe juice is applied to Ringworm
-seeds boiled in oil is applied to skin diseases and paralysis

CORRECTIVES:
Chicory

SUBSTITUTE:
Coconut (Unani)

DOSE:
Seed Powder: 500mg–2 grams; Milky Juice: 3–6 grams

Main Combinations:
1. Worms, the unripe fruit juice with Honey, followed by Castor oil

Cautions:
1. Green fruit and seed are not used during pregnancy

Main Preparations used:
Extracted Papain is used as a proteolytic enzyme