Although the papaya is more famous for its delicious and refreshing fruit, one should not ignore its leaves.
Repeated tests in India have proven the benefits of papaya leaf juice in boosting platelet count, indicating its potential as a treatment for certain blood conditions.
In 2009, the Asian Institute of Science and Technology declared the papaya as an effective treatment for dengue fever because of its platelet-boosting benefits.
Researchers tested the papaya leaf suspension on mice and found that it caused a significant increase in the animals’ platelet count.
Platelets are special blood cells responsible for the formation of blood clots. Because of this, they play a very important role in closing wounds and initiating recovery from injuries.
Normally, a microliter (one-millionth of a liter) of blood can have 150,000 to 400,000 platelets – the number varies between adult males and females.
Having too little is called thrombocytopenia and can lead to hemorrhage while having too many is called thrombocytosis and can result in the random formation of blood clots.
Thrombocytopenia can occur due to several factors; it could be that the bone marrow is not producing enough platelets, or it could be caused by anemia, among other things.
Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It starts out as intermittent fevers that graduate to thrombocytosis when untreated, sometimes leading to death.
It affects millions of children and adults worldwide. The World Health Organization reports that even today, there is no definitive medical cure for the disease, but early detection is key to effective treatment.
