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| Friday, 22 March 2002 |
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Papaya-in breast milk miracle Dr. Lakshman Ranasinghe, the well-known Colombo Family Physician and one time editor of the Ceylon Medical Journal has sent us a story of papaya producing milk in virgin breast. This papaya human milk miracle has been one of the findings in a research on papaya's medicinal and nutritional aspects done in Australia several years ago which has not properly been published among the people, although the findings are of general importance to them, especially those in this part of the world. Dr. Ranasinghe in 1981 has editorially commented on this study in the Ceylon Medical Journal issue No. 26 we are leading the page today with this editorial which we are certain would be found very useful to our readers very specially the breast feeding mothers and the general public at large. We thank Dr. Ranasinghe for communicating with us on this study. Papaya Miracle The earliest attempts at using papaya medicinally antecede scientific medicine. In Sri Lanka as well as in Australia, doctors observed during the 19th Century that it had been used both as a home-remedy as well as an internal and external indigenous medicine. The Medical Section of the Royal Society of New South Wales around the year 1887, appointed a Sub-Committee to look into the properties of Carica papaya, and published a report in the Australian Medical Gazette, and abridgement of which appeared in the Ceylon Medical Journal. It stated that boiling the green fruit with two parts of vinegar to one of water produced an excellent galactagogue which abundantly stimulated mammary secretion in more or less dry breasts with internal use of the liquid extract (in 1-2 teaspoonful doses) or a solid extract of papaya of glutinous consistency, or, by topical application of a tincture of ordinary Pharmacopoeia strength. Even in the virgin breast a transient limpid liquid was produced. Secretion could be enhanced in one breast while the other was under treatment for abscess. Poultices for cancerous growths Papaya is a nutritious fruit. When ripe it contains 85% moisture, 14% carbohydrate, 7.7% total sugar and 19, 6 and 61 mg per 100g of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin C, respectively. The leaves had been used for washing purposes long before the introduction of soap. Indigenous Practitioners made poultices with the leaves for cancerous growths and wounds, and women used it in attempts at abortion. The fresh latex (milk) is identical with cow's milk in colour and consistency (perhaps slightly more viscous) but is insoluble in water, coagulates at 170-175F (77C), is acid, in reaction, and has an acrid taste. Variety of Medicinal uses Papaya latex has been used successfully for infantile diarrhoea. Mixed with lard it has been used for psoriasis eczema, ringworm and freckles, and Modder treated corns, warts and toothache with papaya milk in the 1880s. He also observed that the local application of papaya to infected wounds separated slough and promoted quick healing in a short time. Infusions and decoctions were administered for low fever. As had been done before by Indigenous Practitioners Modder treated worms (including round and tapeworms) with papaya, and particularly noted its efficacy in ankylostomiasis. He added the latex to egg or milk and these became partially digested and more assimilable especially by patients with dypepsia, flatulence and chronic diarrhoea. Muscle fibres became less coherent with papaw latex and papain (the pure extract), due to dissolution of the sarcolemma. Meat wrapped in papaya leaf (or daubed with the latex) for rosting, or made into curry mixed with a piece of unripe fruit, softened remarkably. With excess of the milk a pulpy mass resulted, due to the proteolytic action of papain, which exceeds that of pepsin, and does not need the assistance of hydrochloric acid unlike pepsin. Huybertsz used papain (in tabloid or cahet) 2-6 grains (120-360mg) after meals to promote digestion of meat, milk and eggs. He also used papain tabloids to treat sore-mouth, furred tongue with halitosis, and cracked tongue with chronic diarrhoea and a glycerine-papain solution to dissolve diphtheritic membrance and ulcerative follicles from the tonsils. A borax, glycerine and papain mixture removed corns and warts in a few days. Papain and lard cured ringworm. An alcoholic solution of papain removed freckles. For sloughing ulcers, either a paste of fresh leaves, or papain and glycerine, were applied. He even reported the disappearance of chigoe eggs from a wound within 48 hours (published in an American Journal) the cure of the pimples of Yaws, the clearing of the discharge of infected middle, ears with 5% papain ear drops, and the relief of complications of inflamed gums during teething. In a continuation of his paper on papain, Huybertsz, later gave an interesting table summarising his experiments with papain digestion of 14 articles of food including pork, mutton, beef, chicken, duck, rice and bread, giving the time taken and end result in the case of each item. Worthy of Investigation It would appear that all these claims are worthy of further investigation. In the case of chronic ulcers the next logical step would be to determine the most convenient and economical method for the treatment, and the form, strength and duration of application of papaya topically to infected ulcers. ========================== World attention an Sri Lanka's mental health Sri Lanka's mental health problems will be discovered at an international conference on mental health to be held at Taj Samudra in Colombo next month - from April 4th to 7th. This is the first international conference on mental health to be held in Sri Lanka and it is being organised by the Sri Lanka Mental Health Association to mark its 20th anniversary. Prof. Nalaka Mendis in a note to the Health Watch states that: The theme of the conference is "Community Care: Issues and Challenges". The conference will attempt to bring into focus the major issues confronting mental health in Sri Lanka, and it is open to those who are directly or indirectly involved in the development of mental health in Sri Lanka. Plenary lecture topics include 'Work Place Stress and Mental Health', 'Improvement of Quality of Life of Mentally Ill' and the 'Difference Between Physical and Mental Illness'. Topics selected for panel discussion include 'Culture and Mental Health', 'Community Care', 'Child Mental Health', 'Elderly Mental Health', 'Suicide' and 'Psychological Trauma'. A special session is devoted to a discussion on the relevance of the World Health Report 2001 on Mental Health to South Asian countries. Workshops will be conducted on special topics including 'Public Mental Health in Post Conflict Areas', 'Role of the Family in the Care of Mentally Ill', 'Cognitive Behaviour Therapy', 'Psychiatry for the Family Physician' and 'Training of Primary Care Workers in Mental Health'. Additionally, a number of guest lectures, postgraduate training sessions, free paper presentations and poster sessions have been organised. The conference will provide an opportunity for the development of linkages among interested groups, and psychiatrists from the region are due to meet to establish a South Asian forum on Mental Health and Psychiatry. Mr. P. Dayaratne, Hon Minister of Health, Mr. R. Samaraweera, Hon. Minister of Social Services and Mr. Milinda Moragoda, Hon. Minister of Economic Reforms and His Excellency Jon Westborg, the Norwegian Ambassador in Sri Lanka, are due to attend the inauguration ceremony of the conference. Dr. C. P. Wijesinghe, founder Professor of Psychiatry University of Colombo will be the guest speaker at the inauguration. More than twenty-five distinguished speakers have already confirmed their participation. These include Professors A. Sims, R. E. Kendell, R. Littlewood and Doctors M. Shooter, S. Jadhav from the UK. Professors N. Desai, S. Murthy, M. Isaac and Drs. E. Mohandas and R. Shankar from India; Professor P. Deva from Malaysia; Professor N. Chaudhry from Bangladesh; Dr. M. Nepal from Nepal, Professor M. Weiss from Switzerland; Professor A. Heiberg and Dr. E. Hauff from Norway; Doctors R. Chandrasena, A. Ravindran, L. Fernando and Ms Dianne Froggatt from Canada; Professor P. Birleson from Australia; Professor Z. Taintor from USA; Professor Joop de Jong from Netherlands; Dr. B. Saraceno from the WHO Geneva. A number of scholars and psychiatrists including Professors G. Obeskerer and D. Somasunderam from Sri Lanka will also make presentations. Nearly one hundred overseas participants including a large number of Sri Lankan psychiatrists working overseas are expected to attend the conference. In addition to psychiatrists and mental health professionals, other interested persons, too, may register for the conference or for selected sessions or workshops. Details relating to the conference and registration can be obtained from the conference secretariat. The exhibition of paintings titled "Shades of Emotions" will be opened on the 4th April at the Lionel Wendt theatre Colombo and will continue up to the end. Paintings of well-known artists as well as of persons suffering from mental illnesses will be exhibited and will be available for sale. Her Excellency Ms Linda Duffield will be the chief guest at the opening of the exhibition while Mr. F. N. G. Mendis will be the guest of honour. The international conference is funded by a generous grant from the government of Norway, while the exhibition of paintings is sponsored by Louis Browns Company. An organising committee headed by Professor Nalaka Mendis is in charge of the organisation of all activities related to the 20th anniversary celebrations of Sahanaya. Those who wish to obtain further information about the conference or any other activities related to the anniversary celebrations may contact 685960 or 075350819 at the Conference Secretariat, Sahanaya, Kitulwatte Road, Colombo 8. Email: [email protected] Website: www.sahanaya.lk ========================== Kelaniya Centenarian gets a wheelchair Health Watch Centenarian Study Team headed by Prof. Colvin Goonaratna, last week met a Centenarian in its study project. The wheelchair was donated by the lappen family in Old Kandy Road, Kelaniya in response to our appeal for a chair for the Centenarian we made in this page last week. Seen here on right are the two daughters in the lappen family Jacolyn (right) and her elder sister Evangelin with Dr. Dennis J. Aloysius (centre) of the Centenarian Study Team handing over the chair to Mrs. Padmini Gunaratne, the eldest of the Centenarian Mary Nona, of Narampola, Deketena, Kelaniya, at her residence in Dekatana. Picture on (left) shows the Centenarian Mary Nona lying on bed, being examined by Dr. Aloysius. The two lappen girls, who are very enthusiastic with the study project are looking on. They highly valued the social objective of our study of fostering recognition, respect and honour for completing hundred years of human life. - A living century. While offering their good wishes, and fullest cooperation in all possible ways for the project, they said "we feel it is the bounden duty of every living human being to support this study. Health Watch and the Centenarian Study Team headed by Prof. Colvin Goonaratna wish to thank the lappen family for the donation and cooperation extended for the project. ========================== Dr. Atukorale contradicts Professor Narahari on protein and vegetarian diet Consultant cardiologist Dr. D. P. Atukorale has written to us contradicting the view in Colombo by Professor D. Narahari of the Madras veterinary college that vegetarian diet Proteins certain minerals and some of the vitamins. Dr. Atukorale says:- I refer to the lecture by Prof. D. Narahari (Professor of the Madras Veterinary College) said to have been delivered recently at the OPA and published in the "Health Watch" dated 01-03-2002. The Professor is said to have mentioned that vegetarian diet is lacking in proteins, certain minerals and vitamins. Hence the "need to supplement vegetarian diet with meat eggs and milk". Vegetarian diet contains all the proteins As far as I am aware vegetarian diet contains all the proteins, vitamins and minerals you require and vegetable proteins are superior to animal proteins. There are millions of vegetarians in this world who are much more healtheir than non - vegetarians. Majority of vegetarians live in India and even in vegans or pure vegetarians no deficiency in proteins, minerals or vitamins have been reported as far as I am aware. Plant proteins are healthier Vegetarians meet their protein needs with the least effort and plant proteins are healthier for you. Plant protein reduces your cholesterol and saturated fats compared to animal proteins. Plant proteins prevent heart attacks and cancer and are better for your bone health. Vegetarians unlike non-vegetarians don't get excess proteins in the diet.Plant proteins contain all the essential amino acids (E.A.A.). Vegetarians can meet all their protein needs by just consuming rice or wheat or potatoes when these are eaten in combination with legumes such as beans or nuts or seeds. It is Impossible It is impossible to be deficient in proteins if you are a vegetarian. Good quality proteins with all the E.A.A. are abundant in grains, vegetables, legumes such as dhal, nuts and seeds. Some of the plant proteins do not contain all the E.A.A. in sufficient quantities but, as vegetarians take a variety of foods, they don't get any deficiencies of E.A.A. R. D. A. (Recommended dietary allowance) is 63 grams for an adult male and 50 grams for an adult female according to American figures and ours must be very much lower. Specific R.D.A. for proteins is 0.8 grams for every Kg of ideal body weight. Some vegetarian foods are superior to meat products Veg etarians don't have to do anything special to meet their requirement of proteins, vitamins and minerals. Just eat enough calories and maintain your ideal weight and include a variety of plant foods such as soya, lentils (dhal), other legumes such as beans, "lima" beans, potatoes, spinach, tofu, wheat bread, brown rice and peas. Some of the vegetarian foods such as broccoli are superior to animal foods such as beef and are more protein dense. ========================== 'Shame on us in the medical profession' - Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya "Shame on us in the medical profession that so far even in this space age we have not been able to find out the cause for diabetes". This is what the President of the Sri Lanka Diabetes Association Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya, said when he spoke to the press last week on the forthcoming International Conference on Diabetes to be held in Colombo on 6 & 7th July this year. He said the world Diabetes Association has been meeting several times, but unfortunately no attempt was made at any of those meetings to arrive at some conclusion as to the cause or causes for diabetes based on the material available on studies done so far, with the result the emphasis has always been on controlling the disease, rather than on prevention. With the world fast heading for a diabetic epidemic, and for some reason or other the disease prevalence being more in this part of the world, Sri Lanka had to intervene in the last conference to move that the next world conference be devoted to the all important issue of arriving at consensus on the cause or causes for the disease. This had been accepted, and we in Sri Lanka are hosting the conference in July. The probable causes for diabetes elicited on studies done so far are * Genetic At this stage, when Dr. Wijesuriya once again emphasised that there was no cure for diabetes. A member from the press asked him. Q: Doctor, you represent the Allopathic medical profession. How do you know, whether in the world some form of cure has been found by the practitioners of other forms of medicine which has for some reason or other not come up or received public attention so far? Dr. Wijesuriya: If there has been any such thing, we should have come to know about it. A few years ago there was a big hue and cry even in Sri Lanka about a certain cure. The promoters of that medicine claiming results in just six months. After a short time the whole thing just died down. That wouldn't have happened, if the promised cure was positive and had results. Health Watch would like to hear from any of our readers, if they know of anyone who may have had diabetes, and finds himself cured now by any particular doctor, or by taking any kind of medicine. We know that there are some family medicines, which are very effective, for some of the ailments, which are being kept confined to the families and never given out. In the case of diabetes, if there is any such medicine, this is the time to come out, and prove to the world that we have a cure. We are emphasising this, because the role of the Health Watch is not only inform our readers about health and health related issues, and get their health related questions answered by doctors, but also to make a positive impact on health where possible. ========================== Next issues of Health Watch will be devoted to the following health issues: New causes for new diseases Fax: 429210 Email: [email protected] |
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