Page 95 - EBOOK_Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing

skin where it efficiently removes blemishes like moles.

Tapping papaya requires caution. The enzyme’s digestive action is so
powerful that workers must avoid contact between the juice and their skin. Yet, a
face mask of mashed papaya fruit will do wonders for dry, flaky skin, but it must
be removed after a few minutes. A pulped paste is an effective cream for treating
burns, and insect and snake bites.
Boil papaya leaves, drink the water and you’ll clean the blood. To most, this

is an old fashioned remedy for health, not a jamu where ingredients normally
produce a chemical reaction. A mother who has problems with breastfeeding will
often take papaya leaves to improve the flow and taste of her milk.
Eating papaya seeds forces out intestinal worms but beware, abortions have
been caused by large doses. Over-indulge in papaya and merciless stomach
cramps are the result, whilst too much papaya latex is known to inflame the
intestines. Poisoners use this fact to advantage. They combine the juice with
young pods from a horse-radish tree, lizard egg-white and other secret
ingredients to create dangerous but highly effective potions. This is not an
overstatement—papaya contains active ingredients strong enough to remove the
toughest warts and corns.

Papaya roots are used for tumours in the uterus, to control excessive
bleeding or increase the flow of urine thus removing a kidney stone. Case
histories confirm papain relieves wind, flatulence, heartburn, bad breath,
bloating, headaches as well as stomach and abdominal pain. In one recorded
instance, an operation for external haemorrhoids was pre-empted by papain
tablets. Furthermore, papaya provides generous amounts of vitamins A and C.
How much you consume and what you mix it with is obviously crucial.

Despite papaya’s wonderful attributes, the plant has a few drawbacks. Mrs
Kloppenburg-Versteegh, the Mrs Beaton of the Dutch East Indies (see page 16),
suggests avoiding it altogether if you are hysterical, suffer from gallstones and,
contrary to other opinions, have a kidney complaint. She writes that anyone
suffering from eczema or women with a white discharge will itch if they persist
in eating it. Her words of wisdom end with a dire warning: papaya skin should
never be consumed because it contains a chemical that can cause blindness.

Unripe papaya is the key to a good rujak (a spicy salad of unripe fruit and
vegetables) and is a favourite with West Sumatrans who fancy urap, a salad with
coconut dressing. The young fruit can be made into jam or crystallized. If it is a
bit sour, cooks boil the papaya with sugar and let it cool to make a refreshing
dessert. In Java, papaya flowers are often served as vegetables, while East