Busting the myth: Do papaya leaf juice and giloy increase platelet?

The onset of the monsoon brings with it a set of infections like cholera, dengue, malaria, and many others. Dengue is one of the most dangerous diseases that are caused due to mosquito bites and the major cause of concern for the patient is a rapid decrease in the level of platelets. It is a common belief that the juice of papaya leaves or giloy help to increase the platelet count very fast. But is this scientifically proven?

Dengue and platelet count drop

The normal range of platelet count in a human body is between 1, 50,000, and 4, 50,000 per microliter of blood. But more often in dengue, this platelet count starts dropping and is a temporary phase. The platelet count reverses once the infection has left the body, especially from the 7th day after you have caught an infection. However, in a few cases, there is a severe drop in platelet count and that is when blood transfusion is used as a lifesaver.

Apart from that, many times juice of papaya leaves or giloy is recommended as a natural treatment to increase the platelet count. Papaya contains an enzyme called papain which often is believed to help in the production of platelet. But there is no scientific evidence related to it. It is a proven fact that papaya as a fruit is extremely nutritious and beneficial for overall health.

But no direct relation between papaya and papaya leaf juice aiding in increasing platelet count has been found. Although a few studies have shown that it can lead to an increase in platelet count in a few animals, no such reports from validated human studies have surfaced yet. Importantly, in dengue the platelet count drops suddenly, and hence an immediate decision has to be taken.

Under such circumstances, only blood transfusion is considered the ideal mode of treatment.

Giloy can prove harmful to liver

Giloy is also known as Amrita or Guduchi. It is commonly used in Ayurvedic treatment and is known for fever management and immunity-boosting properties. But there is no study that proves that it can increase platelet count. Rather a study published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies has said that un-prescribed use of this herb can cause damage to the liver and many of these patients recovered from liver problems once they stopped using it.

It indicates only one thing there is not much scientific data currently available that confirm that the juice of papaya or papaya leaves or giloy can increase platelet count in dengue.