Dengue season is officially upon us, now that monsoons have officially commenced. Cases of the mosquito-borne viral infection go up in the rainy months when the climatic conditions favour vector proliferation. Dengue fever has no vaccine or drug. The severe flu-like illness can turn fatal if it’s not managed properly.

“One of the scariest repercussions of dengue is that it can directly impact the platelet count in one’s body, which makes this fever life threatening. If affected by this virus, the platelet count in the body can easily drop to as low as 20,000 which can damage the immune system.” says Dr. Rajeshwari Shetty, head of dietetics, SL Raheja Fortis Hospital. Platelets are blood cells that help stop bleeding and facilitate coagulation. In case there are less than 1.5 lakh platelets per microlitre of blood, the chances of spontaneous bleeding are higher. This threat of haemorrhage is what makes dengue particularly scary.

“While there are various treatment methods available for early detection, a common home remedy, which is believed to work like a miracle, is drinking the juice of papaya leaves,” says Rasika Parab, HOD Nutritional Therapy, Fortis Hospital Mulund.

So does drinking papaya leaf juice really impact our platelet count? Here’s what the experts have to say to separate the facts from the fibs. Yes, papaya leaf is rich in enzymes that increase the platelet count in the body!

Dr. Shetty says that the leaf has antioxidant properties, which makes it a strong agent against homolysis (breaking down of red blood cells) caused by the dengue virus. Hence it is useful in treating dengue-induced low platelet count! “Having freshly-ground papaya leaves work the best and this extract should be consumed once or twice a day,” she adds.

Rasika says: “Papaya and its leaves are power-packed sources of antioxidants and it works wonders for boosting our immunity. Recent studies also state that consuming approximately 25 ml of papaya leaf extract diluted with water and sugar (if required) at least twice a day helps in increasing the platelet count. The fruit itself has a good vitamin A and C content, which makes it rich in its nutrient contents”

That’s not all. Papaya leaf also helps in bringing down fever, boosting protective white cells and building the body’s immune system. According to Ayurveda, a bitter and astringent agent like papaya leaf helps combat dengue fever. Out of the three best remedies for dengue in Ayurveda, one is papaya leaf.

There you have it! Experts have validated the use of papaya leaf to combat low platelet count due to dengue. Now the question is how to consume it. For that, you can either pluck fresh leaves, consume capsules with papaya leaf extracts or have a tea brewed from the leaves.

(This article is written for an informative purpose and should not be substituted for medical advice. Kindly consult your doctor before trying any tips.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2018 06:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).