Papaya leaf juice best remedy for dengue

Hyderabad: Papaya leaf juice, Giloy Papita Ras, Caripilli syrup, etc to name a few are in heavy demand in city medical stores for the last few weeks with the spreading of dengue and other viral fevers.

Papaya leaf juice is the best therapeutic agent for increasing platelet count in any individual once tests reveal the platelet count is below the prescribed range (1.5 lakh to 5 lakh).

As Papaya trees are not grown in the twin cities unlike in the rural areas, these syrups are being sold at high costs ranging from Rs 180 to Rs 350 per bottle depending on the pharma company.

G V Jyothi Kumar and G Karunakar, who run an Ayurvedic pharmacy in Anandbagh, Malkajgiri, said they are selling five to six Papaya leaf juice bottles every day for the last few weeks.

"Not only dengue-affected patients, but other people are also buying this syrup for fear of dengue. Even those hit by viral fevers are also buying this syrup if their platelet count is found to be less than the normal range.

Every week, we are ordering a carton of bottles to meet the increased demand," they said. Another shopkeeper, who has two stores selling Ayurvedic medicines in Malkajgiri and Safilguda, said that he was selling 10 bottles in the two shops combined every day.

Two months ago, selling one or two bottles every day was a rarity as sometimes not even one bottle was sold, he added. Dr Prithvi Raj, MD (Ayurveda) said that Papaya leaf juice is the best natural remedy for increasing platelet count whenever the count falls below the normal range.

"Platelet count will be known in CBP (Complete Blood Picture) test and once the count is below the normal range, any doctor, Allopathic or Ayurvedic, will prescribe Papaya leaf juice.

Within 2 to 3 days of its usage, the platelet count is expected to increase unless there are health complications. And then CBP test has to be repeated and if the count is normal consuming the syrup can be stopped," the doctor said.

He also stated that besides Papaya leaf juice, tablets that are made of Papaya leaf extracts are available in the market and they can also be used as a remedy to increase the platelet count.

Platenza is the most bought tablet and there are others like Platacia, which are prescribed by doctors.