Papaya leaf dengue treatment

PETALING JAYA: The Institute for Medical Research (IMR) will soon release pamphlets on the correct use of papaya leaf extract in the treatment of dengue, as clinical studies have shown it to increase blood platelet count and assist in the recovery of those with less severe complications.
In a letter dated Sept 23 to all state health directors and the Ministry of Health, IMR said that the clinical study conducted on papaya leaf juice had proven that it can treat dengue in terms of increasing blood platelet.
The letter said that with the high number of dengue cases, and in line with the Health Ministry's endorsement on the use of papaya leaf juice, IMR will share its findings and give details as to the correct way of preparing the treatment.
It had also furnished the pamphlets to the state health directors and the ministry.
In April last year, the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alter­native Medicine Volume 2013, Article ID 61673, published findings showing that the consumption of Carica papaya leaf juice induced rapid increase in platelet count in patients with grade one and two dengue fever and the fatal dengue haemorrhagic fever.
IMR and the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang carried out a random controlled trial on 228 patients in the hospital.
Half were administered with 50gm of fresh Carica papaya juice for three consecutive days and the other half received standard management.
There was a significant increase in platelet count among the patients in the experimental group compared to those in the control group.