Papaya Seeds: Africa's Secret Weapon Against Worms , By:Francis Owusu-Banahene T/Dr

Quick Recap

✅ Papaya (pawpaw) seeds show real anti‑parasitic effects—not just folklore.

 • Rich in carpaine, papain, and benzyl isothiocyanate—all proven to fight worms.

•  Chew 5–10 seeds on an empty stomach, twice a month.

•  Don’t skip hygiene—that’s your first defense!

You chew five pawpaw seeds and walk away worm-free?

Sounds like village talk, right?

But what if the ancestors were onto something…

…that science is finally catching up with?

The Science: What Research Backs This Up?

Modern studies have looked deeply into this traditional claim—and here’s what they found:

• Enzyme Power:

Papaya seeds contain carpaine, a powerful alkaloid with proven anthelmintic (deworming) properties. It literally paralyzes intestinal worms.

• Proteolytic Punch:

They’re also rich in papain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins and may help digest parasite eggs and larvae in the gut.

• Backed by Clinical Trials:

A 2007 study in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that children given papaya seed extract had a 75% parasite clearance rate within a week.

A Nigerian study (African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines) confirmed that crushed, dried seeds reduced worm load in rats—even better than some conventional drugs.

Plus, the seeds contain flavonoids and tannins that disrupt the lifecycle of parasites.

 

Science is telling us: "The ancestors were right. Again."

 How to Use Papaya Seeds as a Natural Dewormer

Let’s break it down, African-style.

No lab needed—just discipline, timing, and knowing your body.

Simple Deworming Routine

Seeds Needed: 5 to 10 fresh papaya seeds

Frequency: Twice a month (every 14 days)

How to Use: Chew them fresh straight from the fruit (they’re spicy!)

Swallow with warm water or ginger tea

For kids or those sensitive to taste:

Dry the seeds, grind them, and mix with honey or banana puree

 Duration

• Preventive: Twice monthly, ongoing

• Therapeutic (if worms are suspected):

Daily for 7 days → Rest 7 days → Repeat

Warnings

• Not for pregnant women or children under 2

• Excess may cause stomach upset

• Drink plenty of water during detox

Why Worms Keep Coming Back (It’s Not the Seeds’ Fault)

Worms return not because the remedy failed, but because our lifestyle invites them:

•  Poor toilet hygiene

•  Walking barefoot on contaminated ground

• Eating undercooked pork or fish

• Eating unwashed fruits and vegetables

•  Playing with pets that are never dewormed

Other African Dewormers You Can Rotate

•Neem leaves (Dogoyaro) Boil and drink as a bitter tea

• Garlic Chew raw or mix with honey

• Bitter kola Chew 1–2 seeds in moderation

• Pumpkin seeds . Eat raw on empty stomach

• Clove (Pepre) Mix ground powder in warm water

NB: Rotate them whenever appropriate—nature rarely gives us a one-size-fits-all cure!

Why We Must Reclaim Traditional African Remedies

Big pharma doesn’t profit from pawpaw seeds. But your family can.

Reclaiming traditional health practices isn’t rejecting science—

—it’s choosing what works, safely and affordably.

Papaya seeds are:

✅ Cheap

✅ Accessible

✅ Scientifically supported

✅ Culturally familiar

In rural Africa, where pharmacies aren’t always nearby, this isn’t just health—

—it’s empowerment.

 Final Words

Listen: African soil grows medicine daily.

And pawpaw seeds remind us that healing doesn’t have to be imported.

If five seeds can help keep your gut clean,

Why wait in long pharmacy lines?

✅ Start your deworming ritual

✅ Teach your children

✅ Share it with your neighbor

Let’s return to our roots—with science in one hand, and tradition in the other.

If this article sparked your interest, share it in your WhatsApp groups or on your timeline.

Somewhere, someone’s child is scratching through the night—and pawpaw seeds might be the answer.

Stay grounded. Stay well.

Francis Owusu-Banahene, T/Dr

Herbal Doctor. Naturopath. Rooted in Africa, healing with wisdom.