Hefeng Papaya

Hefeng Papaya

　　Papaya is the mature fruit of the deciduous shrub plants Chaenomeles speciosa or Carica papaya from the Rosaceae family. The former is commonly known as “wrinkled-skin papaya,” while the latter is called “smooth-skin papaya.” It is mainly produced in Anhui, Zhejiang, Hubei, Sichuan, and other regions. The papaya from Xuancheng, Anhui, is known as “Xuan Papaya” and is of higher quality. The fruits are harvested when they turn greenish-yellow during summer and autumn. Wrinkled-skin papaya is scalded in water until the outer skin turns grayish-white, then split vertically in half and dried in the sun; smooth-skin papaya is cut into two or four sections, blanched in boiling water, and then dried. It is sliced and used fresh.

The papaya commonly consumed as a fruit is actually the tropical papaya. It has a smooth and attractive peel, thick and delicate flesh, a rich aroma, abundant juice, and a sweet and delicious taste. It is highly nutritious and is honored with titles such as “fruit of a hundred benefits,” “king of fruits,” and “longevity melon.” It is one of the four famous fruits of Lingnan. Papaya is rich in over 17 types of amino acids as well as calcium, iron, and also contains papain and papaya alkaloids. Half of a medium-sized papaya can provide enough vitamin C for an adult’s daily needs. In China, papaya has long been known as the “longevity fruit,” which implies that eating more of it can contribute to a longer life.

Nutritional Analysis of Papaya:

1. Strengthening the spleen and aiding digestion: The papain in papaya can break down fats into fatty acids. Modern medicine has found that papaya contains an enzyme that helps digest proteins, facilitating the digestion and absorption of food, hence its benefit in strengthening the spleen and aiding digestion.

2. Resisting infection and killing parasites: Papaya alkaloids and papain have effects against tuberculosis bacilli and parasites such as tapeworms, roundworms, whipworms, and amoebas, making them useful for killing parasites and fighting tuberculosis.

3. Promoting lactation and fighting cancer: The chymopapain in papaya has lactation-promoting properties, and papaya alkaloids have anti-lymphocytic leukemia effects, thus it can be used to promote lactation and treat lymphocytic leukemia (blood cancer).

4. Supplementing nutrition and enhancing disease resistance: Papaya contains large amounts of water, carbohydrates, protein, fat, various vitamins, and many essential amino acids for the human body, effectively supplementing nutrients and boosting the body’s disease resistance.

5. Anti-spasmodic: The papaya alkaloids contained in the fruit’s flesh can relieve spasmodic pain and are particularly effective in treating calf muscle cramps.

Suitable People for Eating Papaya:

Generally suitable for all people

1. Suitable for patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, mothers with insufficient breast milk, those with rheumatic bone and joint pain, bruises and sprains, indigestion, and obesity;

2. Not suitable for pregnant women and individuals with allergic constitutions.

Therapeutic Effects of Papaya:

Papaya is warm in nature and sour in taste, entering the liver and spleen meridians;

It has the effects of aiding digestion, expelling parasites, clearing heat, and dispelling wind;

It is mainly used to treat stomachache, indigestion, dry cough due to lung heat, blocked lactation, eczema, parasitic diseases, and cramping pain in hands and feet.

Cooking Instructions for Papaya:

For medicinal purposes, Xuan Papaya (northern papaya) is usually used and is not suitable for raw consumption; the edible papaya is the tropical papaya from the south, which can be eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable with meat.

1. Relaxing tendons and activating collaterals. Used for limb cramps and pain caused by dampness bi syndrome. This product can dispel dampness, relieve cramps, and relax tendons and collaterals. Often used together with Achyranthes root and Clematis.

2. Harmonizing the stomach and resolving dampness. This product has a fragrant qi that can invigorate the spleen and stomach, and its sour taste can promote fluid production, activate circulation, and relax tendons. It is often used to treat vomiting, pain, and diarrhea caused by stomach disharmony and descent failure.