Papaya for Fibromyalgia + Recipe

Fibromyalgia can make everyday life just plain miserable. The severe pain, body aches, and sleeplessness can be enough to drive you insane. What’s worse is the way some allopathic physicians treat patients with the condition. It’s not easy to not be taken seriously when you’re already in severe pain.

Fibromyalgia or any type of autoimmune disorder usually goes hand in hand with digestive trouble. For that, there’s papaya. This nutritious fruit not only tastes good, it contains high doses of natural digestive enzymes in addition to vitamins C and E. A cup of papaya seed tea taken six or seven times daily for two or three weeks gives relief in the joint pains. In addition, the antioxidant nutrients found in papaya, including vitamin C and beta-carotene,are also very good at reducing inflammation. This may explain why people with diseases that are worsened by inflammation, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, find that the severity of their condition is reduced when they get more of these nutrients.

As we are all very aware, there is no known cure for fibromyalgia and papaya is not going to be your miracle cure. However, if your symptoms include inflammation and/or digestive trouble it might be a great idea to include Payapa with your other treatments.

What is Papaya?

Papaya is a plant. The leaves are used to make medicine. Papaya is used for preventing and treating gastrointestinal tract disorders, intestinal parasite infections, and as a sedative and diuretic. It is also used for nerve pains (neuralgia) and elephantoid growths. Elephantoid growths are large swollen areas of the body that are symptoms of a rare disorder of the lymphatic system caused by parasitic worms.

How does it work?

Papaya contains a chemical called papain. Papain breaks down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Papain is a protease enzyme from the Papaya fruit, known to reduce pain and inflammation. Many hospitals use papain to break down fibrin build up in wounds. Papain also helps to speed up the healing process, to treat ulcers, and reduce swelling. You can get papain through eating fresh papaya or in supplement form.

What fibro sufferers are saying?

“Lots of people with fibromyalgia also suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I was advised by my G.P. in South Africa to eat pawpaw (papaya/papino)every day. Pawpaw contains enzymes which help the digestive tract, and I certainly have found that it works. For a really “start the day the best you can in a crap situation” breakfast: oatmeal, yoghourt and pawpaw (about a cupful)- low g.i., good bacteria and digestive enzymes – I have even learned to love it! It works for me – worth a try! Good luck and hugs to all ” – Judy

Gluten-Free Thai Chicken Salad With Papaya recipe

adapted from: http://www.jocooks.com
serves 4

For the salad
2 to 3 cups of shredded cabbage and carrot (coleslaw blend)
1 cup sliced papaya
1 cup sliced cucumber
2 cups baby boy choy, chopped in small pieces
1 red chili pepper, diced
4 cooked chicken breasts, shredded or cut in small pieces
1/4 cup chopped mint
1/2 cup slivered almonds

For the dressing
juice from 2 limes
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp braggs amino acids -or- gluten-free soy sauce
2 tbsp agave nectar
2 tbsp peanut butter -or- almond butter
1 tsp fish sauce
a pinch of red pepper flakes

PAPAYA Side Effects & Safety

Papaya seems safe for most people when taken in small amounts. Don’t take papaya by mouth in large amounts. It could damage the esophagus, the food tube in the throat.

Applying papaya to the skin can cause severe irritation and allergic reactions in some people.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Don’t take papaya by mouth in medicinal amounts if you are pregnant. There is some evidence that unprocessed papain, one of the chemicals found in papaya, might poison the fetus or cause birth defects. Not enough is known about the safety of papaya during breast-feeding. It’s best to avoid taking it in amounts higher than normal food amounts.

Papain allergy: Papaya contains papain. If you are allergic to papain, avoid eating papaya or taking products that contain papaya.

Latex allergy: If you are allergic to latex, there is a good chance you are also be allergic to papaya. If you have a latex allergy, avoid eating papaya or taking products that contain papaya.

Sources: askdrmaxwell.com/2012/10/how-to-treat-fibromyalgia-naturally, unp.me/f150/home-remedies-for-fibromyalgia-170902/#ixzz2wuJjVzXW, desidieter.com/home-remedies/aches-and-pains/fibromyalgia.html, fibromyalgiaenzymetherapy.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/6-natural-pain-remedies/#more-221, webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-488-PAPAYA.aspx?activeIngredientId=488&activeIngredientName=PAPAYA, forums.prohealth.com/forums/index.php?threads/i-b-s-anyone-this-may-help.133653/, feastie.com/recipe/mom-whats-dinner/thai-chicken-salad