PAW-PAW USEFULNESS TO HEALTH

paw-paw has been scientifically proved as a cure for: Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Bladder problems, Dysentery, Jaundice, Constipation, Stomach problems, Pile, etc. scientist and traditional healers all over the world have agreed that paw-paw is known to be effective as a natural remedy for syphilis, Gonorrhoea, bladder problems, kidney problems, dysentery, jaundice, constipation etc. paw-paw also contains nutrients including vitamin A, B, C, protein, carbohydrates etc.

The juice from paw-paw is exported by some countries as preservatives for “chill-proofing”, beer and as a medicine in pharmacy. a raw material in leather and textile industries, it is also used in the manufacturing of chewing gum.

Paw-paw is a native of tropical America and was brought into Africa by the early slave masters. This plant has grown in the tropical region of Africa and its cultivation has conveniently been extended into the forest regions. Paw-paw plant belongs to the family of caricacea. No special skill is required in the cultivation of paw-paw which grows easily. Greater percentage of paw-paw grows without the help of man. Only in recent years has paw-paw farms been cultivated by man for commercial purposes. It has also been found in the export market.

This plant is of two types: the male and female. the male paw-paw is reserved by man for medicinal purposes only, while the female paw-paw produces fruits fo9r both food and medicine.

  Paw-paw contains lots of nutrients.  the leaves and roots of the young ones are capable e of causing abortions, the leaves of paw-paw are used for fever and as an anathematic, while some tribes regard the leaves as vegetables and give fruits to animals. The Igbos makes soup from unripe paw-paw with pumpkin leaves.

In Plateau state of Nigeria, infusion of the dried leaves is drunk for the cure of stomach problems, while the Hausas make infusion from the roots as natural remedy for pile. Dysentery is no longer a deadly disease among users of paw-paw. It can be cured with paw-paw.

The leaves of paw-paw are used to tenderise food and as soap to remove stains. Traditional healers make infusion from the roots and back as natural cure for gonorrhoea and syphilis. Infusion of young paw-paw fruits cure serious stomach ulcer in a few days. Parts of paw-paw plants are also used as remedy for skin diseases. Infusion made from young and unripe fruits is used as cure for jaundice while the roots are known as a natural remedy for kidney and bladder problems. The American Indians cure respiratory problems with sweetened concoction of the flowers from both male and female paw-paw plants.

The use of both female and male paw-paw roots as a contraceptive is practised in many homes. This is a natural method of family planning. American scientists have discovered that paw-paw could be used for

1. Chill- proofing beer
2. As a medicine
3. In pharmacy
4. To tenderise meat
5. In shrinking textile
6. In the leather industry
7. In manufacturing of chewing gum.

The scientists have also prescribed this to assist protein digestion in chronic dyspepsia, gastric fermentation and gastritis. It has also been used in the treatment of sloughing wounds, in the treatment of chronic otitismedia and for dissolving the diphtheritic membrane. Paw-paw is one of the few fruit crops that cannot tolerate chemical fertilizers. It grows well in good soil. You can freely eat this fruit without fear of the harmful effect of chemical fertilizers. No part of paw-paw is wasted, all are useful to man.