Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
According to the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India the provided texts contain monographs for the fruit and root of Erandakarkati or Carica papaya but do not list specific therapeutic properties for the leaf. The fruit pericarp is described as possessing Bitter and Sweet tastes with Light qualities and Hot potency. It acts as a digestive stimulant and heart tonic reducing Kapha and Pitta doshas. The root is noted for its Pungent taste and specific efficacy as a diuretic or Mutrala and stone breaker removing urinary calculus. Both the fruit and root are indicated for worm infestations skin diseases and respiratory conditions like cough and asthma.
Papaya, known in Ayurveda as Eraṇḍakarkaṭī or Madhukarkati, is a small, fast-growing tree cultivated throughout India. While it is globally famous for its edible fruit and the enzyme papain, Ayurveda recognizes specific therapeutic values in its dried pericarp (fruit peel/flesh) and its roots. It is used to treat urinary disorders, digestive ailments, and skin conditions.
The Papaya is a small tree with a straight stem and a crown of large leaves, cultivated for its fruits and latex. In Ayurveda, the medicinal drug consists of the dried pericarp of mature and unripe fruits, or the dried roots. The fruit pieces are leathery with a bitter and mucilaginous taste, while the roots are fibrous, tough, and woody.
The properties vary slightly between the fruit and the root:
For the Fruit (Pericarp):
For the Root:
Papaya plant parts are indicated for the following conditions:
The recommended dosage for the dried powder (Churna):
WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/42052
WHO Global Report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241515436
FAO – Carica papaya (Crop & Nutritional Data)
https://www.fao.org
Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) – Standards for Papaya Products
https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius
PubMed – Carica papaya Leaf Research Articles
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Carica+papaya+leaf
NCBI Taxonomy Database – Carica papaya
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
ScienceDirect – Papaya Leaf Phytochemistry & Pharmacology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/carica-papaya
SpringerLink – Clinical Studies on Papaya Leaf Extract
https://link.springer.com
Wiley Online Library – Papaya Leaf Research
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Kew Science – Plants of the World Online (Carica papaya)
https://powo.science.kew.org
World Flora Online – Carica papaya
https://www.worldfloraonline.org
** **Q. Can it be taken daily?
The fruit (pericarp) powder is prescribed in doses of 10-20g for specific conditions like cough or gout. Long-term use should be monitored by a physician due to its Vata-increasing property.
Q. When should it be taken?
It is typically taken as a powder (Churna), likely with water, to treat urinary or digestive issues.
Q. Can it be taken with milk/water?
While the text does not specify a vehicle (Anupana) for the single drug, powders in Ayurveda are commonly taken with warm water to facilitate digestion.
Written By
Sathyaprek
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
Read Our Editorial Policy
Want to know more?
Have issue with the content?
Report Problem
Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
According to the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India the provided texts contain monographs for the fruit and root of Erandakarkati or Carica papaya but do not list specific therapeutic properties for the leaf. The fruit pericarp is described as possessing Bitter and Sweet tastes with Light qualities and Hot potency. It acts as a digestive stimulant and heart tonic reducing Kapha and Pitta doshas. The root is noted for its Pungent taste and specific efficacy as a diuretic or Mutrala and stone breaker removing urinary calculus. Both the fruit and root are indicated for worm infestations skin diseases and respiratory conditions like cough and asthma.
Papaya, known in Ayurveda as Eraṇḍakarkaṭī or Madhukarkati, is a small, fast-growing tree cultivated throughout India. While it is globally famous for its edible fruit and the enzyme papain, Ayurveda recognizes specific therapeutic values in its dried pericarp (fruit peel/flesh) and its roots. It is used to treat urinary disorders, digestive ailments, and skin conditions.
The Papaya is a small tree with a straight stem and a crown of large leaves, cultivated for its fruits and latex. In Ayurveda, the medicinal drug consists of the dried pericarp of mature and unripe fruits, or the dried roots. The fruit pieces are leathery with a bitter and mucilaginous taste, while the roots are fibrous, tough, and woody.
The properties vary slightly between the fruit and the root:
For the Fruit (Pericarp):
For the Root:
Papaya plant parts are indicated for the following conditions:
The recommended dosage for the dried powder (Churna):
WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/42052
WHO Global Report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241515436
FAO – Carica papaya (Crop & Nutritional Data)
https://www.fao.org
Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) – Standards for Papaya Products
https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius
PubMed – Carica papaya Leaf Research Articles
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Carica+papaya+leaf
NCBI Taxonomy Database – Carica papaya
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
ScienceDirect – Papaya Leaf Phytochemistry & Pharmacology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/carica-papaya
SpringerLink – Clinical Studies on Papaya Leaf Extract
https://link.springer.com
Wiley Online Library – Papaya Leaf Research
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Kew Science – Plants of the World Online (Carica papaya)
https://powo.science.kew.org
World Flora Online – Carica papaya
https://www.worldfloraonline.org
** **Q. Can it be taken daily?
The fruit (pericarp) powder is prescribed in doses of 10-20g for specific conditions like cough or gout. Long-term use should be monitored by a physician due to its Vata-increasing property.
Q. When should it be taken?
It is typically taken as a powder (Churna), likely with water, to treat urinary or digestive issues.
Q. Can it be taken with milk/water?
While the text does not specify a vehicle (Anupana) for the single drug, powders in Ayurveda are commonly taken with warm water to facilitate digestion.
Written By
Sathyaprek
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
Read Our Editorial Policy
Want to know more?
Have issue with the content?
Report Problem