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The Papaya Tree

If you have ever been in Hawaii then you have seen a Papaya Tree. They are everywhere. While, I find them completely useless aside from being the best birdfeeder, many people find lots of uses for this (in my opinion) tasteless fruit... especially medically.

• The mature (ripe) fruit treats ringworm, green fruits treat high blood pressure, and are used as an aphrodisiac.
• The fruit can be directly applied topically to skin sores 
• The juice of the fruit (specifically the enzymes within it) are used to reduce gastrointestinal gas, useful to sufferers of IBS.
• The seeds are anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and analgesic, and they are used to treat stomachache and fungal infections
• The leaves are used as a heart tonic, analgesic, and to treat stomachache
• The roots are used as an analgesic

Next time you buy a papaya save few seeds for planting. Choose dark, unblemished seeds. Simply plant the seed in soil and it takes about 8 months to actually have fruit start to grow.