Papain: Nature's Own Digestive Aid

[Guest guest]

Su Jok Therapy <sujoktherapy wrote: Papain: Nature's Own

Digestive Aid by Elizabeth A. Peterson, MFA

 

The papaya (also called papaw, pawpaw, mamao, or tree melon) is believed to

have originated in southern Mexico, Central America, or the West Indies, but is

now grown in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. It is a

pear-shaped fruit with skin that turns from green to a bright orange-yellow as

it ripens. It is also the source of one of nature's own digestive aids: papain.

What is Papain? Papain is a milky latex that is collected by making

incisions in unripe papayas. It is one of a group of proteolytic enzymes found

in papayas, pineapples, and certain other plants. Proteolytic enzymes help you

digest the proteins in food. Papaya and pineapple are two of the richest plant

sources of proteolytic enzymes.

 

Where Does Papain Come From? Papain comes from the papaya, a tropical fruit

that is about 6 inches long and can range from 1-20 pounds in weight, depending

on the variety. Inside, the papaya has silky smooth, orange-yellow flesh and a

large center cavity full of shiny grayish-black seeds. The flesh is juicy and

has a subtle, sweet-tart or musky taste, somewhat like a cantaloupe.

Papaya is now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries. There

are about 45 species of papaya. The most common variety in the United States is

the Solo papaya, which is grown in Hawaii and Florida. Mexican papayas are much

larger than the Hawaiian types and may be more than 15 inches long.

To extract papain latex from a papaya, the skin of an unripe papaya is cut.

After the latex is collected, it is dried either by the sun or in ovens and sold

in powdered form.

 

What is Papain Used For? The primary use of papain is as a meat tenderizer.

It is also used as a digestive aid for people who have trouble digesting

proteins.

Evidence suggests that papain may also help reduce inflammation and pain. For

example, several studies suggest that papain and other proteolytic enzymes may

improve the rate of recovery from various types of injuries, and reduce the

chronic pain and discomfort of conditions such as neck pain, back pain, shoulder

pain, and osteoarthritis. Proteolytic enzymes have also been evaluated as an aid

to recovery from surgery, with mixed results.

Two other studies suggest that proteolytic enzymes might be helpful for the

treatment of the painful condition known as shingles (herpes zoster).

Many practitioners of alternative medicine believe that papain may be helpful

for food allergies and autoimmune diseases. However, there is little to no

scientific evidence as yet supporting that papain actually works for these

conditions.

 

Some Precautions to Consider Although in clinical studies, papain and other

proteolytic enzymes are believed to be quite safe, they may occasionally cause

digestive upset and allergic reactions.

If you are taking warfarin, aspirin, or other drugs that thin the blood, you

should not take proteolytic enzymes without first discussing it with your

doctor.

 

 

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care

provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a

substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the

advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting

any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical

condition.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/12/2006 10:14:31 AM Eastern Standard Time, paksujok writes:

Many practitioners of alternative medicine believe that papain may be helpful for food allergies and autoimmune diseases. However, there is little to no scientific evidence as yet supporting that papain actually works for these conditions.

 

I've also heard that it *might* raise a person' blood pressure. I don't know if it's true but I have heard about it from a few people/places. Might be worth researching if someone is interested (just to be sure).

 

Dawn