Papaya enzymes come from the milky latex of unripe papayas. Known as papain, the enzymes are most commonly used as a natural digestive aid. Papain may also provide certain other health benefits, such as easing pain and treating shingles. Although papain poses no serious dangers for most healthy people, the substance could cause certain adverse effects and interfere negatively with some medications.
Identification
Papaya enzymes or papain are made from the latex in unripe papaya skins, which is dried and sold in the form of a powder. Papain is a type of proteolytic enzyme, which are natural meat tenderizers and help to breakdown or digest proteins in foods. Other types of proteolytic enzymes include pancreatic enzymes, pancreatin, bromelain from pineapples, lipases, trypsin and chymotrypsin.
Uses
Papaya enzymes are most often used as digestive aids, but they may offer other benefits. Papain could potentially help in treating low back pain, sprains and strains, as well as celiac disease, acne rosacea, gastroesophageal reflux disease or "GERD," food allergies, chronic candidiasis and Crohn's disease. Papain and other types of proteolytic enzymes might also help in treating pain conditions like osteoarthritis and shingles, support surgery, and treat pancreatic insufficiency. Additionally, papain is combined with urea to make a topical medication used for breaking down dead skin tissues or "debriding," which may help in treating bed sores, skin wounds, cysts, carbuncles, burns and skin ulcers.
Dangers
Because papain is derived from the natural source of papaya fruits, few health dangers are associated with the substance. But there are risks for allergic reactions and stomach upset from taking papaya enzymes. Papaya enzymes could also interact negatively with certain medications, particularly blood-thinners like aspirin, Coumadin and Plavix. Papain-urea topical could interfere with other topical products and medications as well.
Considerations
The scientific evidence supporting the medicinal use of papaya enzymes or papain to treat indigestion, food allergies, pain and other health issues is weak at best. Because little medical research has proven the possible beneficial effects of papain, you should discuss taking papaya enzymes with your doctor. Also, no comprehensive safety studies have been performed on papain or papaya enzymes, as well as other types of proteolytic enzymes. Therefore, papain could pose health risks, side effects and drug interactions that are not yet known.
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