Papaya, ‘giloy’ wonder plants for dengue patients

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 21

City-based ayurvedacharyas are recommending the intake of papaya andgiloy juice to check the dropping platelet countin patients sufferingfrom dengue.

Textual reference of both these have been found in old ayurvedic books.

Both giloy and papaya have preventive and curative properties so these can be taken as a preventive measure. Giloy is a tonic that has the abilityto cure fever, causeddue to any reason and protects liver.

“Giloy and papaya leaves are best cure for dengue patients for rising platelet count. Textual reference has also been found regarding both these plants,” said Dr Ravinder Vatsyayan, a city-based ayurvedacharya.

He said if giloy is not available, then one can boil 10 gm dry giloy, 4-5 leaves of tulsi (half crushed) and consume the mixture twice every day.

“When my son was diagnosed with dengue last month, neighbours advised me to give him papaya leaves to increase the platelet count. It was miraculous,” said Sheena Gupta, working at a private bank.

Papaya tree sale goes up

The leaves, which are said to increase dipping platelet counts, are a much sought after product these days in city’s nurseries. Shyam Sundar, a gardner at a local nursery said: “We sell a papaya seedling for Rs 20 and the plant for Rs 25 Several people are coming to buy the plant.”