木瓜 风云 之 完结篇

续上回半粒木瓜被打入冷宫（冰箱），今天终于重见天日。

基于不浪费食物的原则下，¼粒木瓜被可妮下锅炒了。色香味都全了，就是甜了点。无奈！

既然改不掉木瓜的甜，索性将余下的¼粒木瓜煮木瓜糖水。加玉竹、杞子、红枣、百合、白糖，慢火褒2句钟。终于出了一锅可入口的甜木瓜汤了。

木瓜 风云

迈可种了棵木瓜树，结果累累。安妮煮了一大锅木瓜汤，迈可喝了午餐又晚餐，终于勉强给喝完。树上还有木瓜累累，难道要天天木瓜汤、炒木瓜、木瓜奶？

一粒给了米雪搅了木瓜奶。一粒给佳丽活生生吃了。半粒给王子煮了汤。

可妮吃腻了王子料理。王子不会变化，木瓜汤里只有木瓜。安妮说，不如加入党参、玉竹、杞子，好喝多了！

王子照样画葫芦，还加了猪肉，慢熬三句中钟。熬出来了，王子还是不爱喝，小王子把一碗饭给送完，可妮还是不爱喝。

太甜了。爱人褒的汤水甜到入肺 ！

Ongrizinal Papaya Milk

Papaya is not cheap nowadays, it costs about RM3/kg…   

Yesterday, I came across papaya promotion at a local wholesale market, its only RM1.50/kg.  So I bought one.  Cost me about RM1.50.

Upon reaching home, I straightway cut the fruit originated from the tropics of Americas, and devoured half of it. 

Another half of it, I blend it with milk powder and some water… and voilà ! 2 big mugs of papaya milk.   The best drink in the heat of January night.

( Milk powder is the best alternative when fresh milk is no where to be found.  Its easily available, at least in my kitchen. )

The Star : Alternative Treatments for Dengue Fever

Sunday April 13, 2014

BY TAN SHIOW CHIN

DENGUE fever is a problem that just does not seem to want to go away in Malaysia. And even worse, it seems to be escalating.

The latest report from the Health Ministry states that as of March 22, both the number of cases and deaths nationwide for the year have increased by 314% compared to the same period last year.

The number of dengue cases in the latest report totalled 23,633, while the number of deaths was 58.

The problem is not just limited to Malaysia, although we are considered an endemic dengue hotspot.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates there may be 50-100 million dengue infections globally every year, with two-fifths of the world population, or 2.5 billion people, at risk of this mosquito-borne infectious disease.

While being infected with dengue is an unpleasant experience – it is also known as breakbone fever – with typical symptoms being fever, headache, rashes, and muscle and joint pains, a healthy person’s immune system usually has no problems fighting the virus off.

The problem comes when dengue haemorrhagic fever develops.

This extreme form of the illness causes severe bleeding due to “leaky” blood vessels and delay in blood-clotting caused by low levels of platelets, which are essential in forming blood clots.

According to the WHO, an average of about 2.5% of those who develop dengue haemorrhagic fever die.

This number can exceed 20% in cases with no proper treatment, while the risk of death in those who receive the proper supportive treatment is less than 1%.

There is no cure for dengue, nor is there any vaccine for it, although there are several research teams currently working on one.

The main method of controlling this disease is via prevention; for example, ensuring that there is no stagnant water or any container where water can pool in around, fogging, using mosquito nets and repellent, and covering up or staying indoors at dawn and dusk when the Aedes mosquitoes are most active.

Medical management of dengue is purely supportive, with maintenance of the body’s fluid balance being the key objective, whether via oral rehydration therapy, intravenous fluid replacement, or in the worst-case scenario, blood transfusion.

With no definitive treatment from modern medicine available, it is not surprising that many have turned to alternative therapies for relief.

Papaya leaf juice

This is probably the most well-known alternative treatment for dengue.

Several small scientific studies have been carried out in dengue-endemic countries like India and Malaysia, looking into the efficacy of this herbal remedy.

While the results cannot be said to be definitive, due to their small study size, they are certainly promising.

The main effect of this juice lies in raising the level of platelets in dengue patients – a critical aspect of this viral infection.

One study, conducted by the Institute for Medical Research and Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang, Selangor, reported that patients given papaya leaf juice showed a significant rise in their platelet levels 40 hours after first receiving the juice, compared to patients in the control group who were only on standard supportive therapy.

The open-label randomised controlled trial, published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine last year, had a total of 228 participants recruited from the hospital’s dengue ward, divided almost equally between the control group and the juice group.

The patients in the juice group took the pure fresh juice extracted from 50gm of clean papaya leaves of the sekaki variety once daily for three consecutive days.

Pharmacist and holistic medicine practitioner Datuk Dr Rajen M adds that a blend of raw young papaya and papaya leaves made into a juice, taken two to three times a day, is one of the alternative therapies for dengue in Ayurvedic medicine.

He notes that consuming papaya in general is safe, and taking it does not contradict medical advice.

Tawa-tawa

This hairy herb is commonly used in the Philippines as an alternative treatment for dengue fever.

Also known as gatas-gatas or by its scientific name Euphorbia hirta, it is said to increase the platelet levels in dengue patients.

A 2012 animal study conducted by pharmacy students from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, showed that a decoction of tawa-tawa did indeed increase platelet levels and decrease bleeding time in rats with induced thrombocytopenia (i.e. an abnormally low platelet level).

The Philippine’s Department of Science and Technology is currently researching the effect of this plant on dengue fever, and have stated their concern over possible toxicity resulting from overdosing on tawa-tawa.

Meanwhile, Philippine Star columnist Dr Willie T Ong said in a 2009 article that Filipino doctors in general allow dengue patients to take tawa-tawa as long as they clear it with them first.

He also explained how to prepare the herb: “Take five whole tawa-tawa plants. Cut off the roots, then wash and clean.

“Boil tawa-tawa in a pot of clean water. Pour the liquid and then let cool. Sip one glass three to four times a day.”

Traditional Chinese medicine

Inti International University Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine director and head of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) programme Dr Yong Kian Fui says that there is no cure for dengue fever in TCM either, and treatment is usually supportive based on the stage of the disease.

The acupuncturist and Chinese physician notes that because of the vague symptoms of dengue fever, most people are only diagnosed with the disease about four days after their fever starts.

TCM therapy at that stage consists of a herbal concoction based on the formulation called qin wen bai tu san.

“This helps to clear the plaque and detox the body,” he says.

Patients have to take one dose daily for three days. If their platelet levels are still low by the end of that period, Dr Yong says they would be referred to the hospital for further management.

He adds that he personally also prescribes a bitter gourd and meat soup, which should be double-boiled for two hours.

While the meat can be from any animal, including fish, it is crucial that the seeds in the bitter gourd must be included in the soup.

“According to TCM theory, bitter gourd is used to clear ‘fire’ and to detox the body.

“The meat neutralises the bitter gourd, so that it doesn’t become too ‘cooling’.”

Ayuverdic medicine

Dr Rajen explains that there are four ways to treat dengue patients according to Ayuverdic medicine.

Two methods are targeted at boosting the patient’s blood production and providing an antiviral effect: the papaya fruit and leaf juice mix mentioned earlier, and juice made from pegaga leaves, also known as India pennywort or Centella asiatica.

According to Dr Rajen, one dose of the pegaga juice is the amount obtained from juicing one handful of leaves.

The other two treatments are mainly applied for their general antiviral properties.

One is cow or goat colostrum, which can be drunk as often as desired. Colostrum is the first secretion from the animal’s mammary glands before the milk comes out.

The other is turmeric, which can be added to the patient’s food or milk.

Ongrizinal Papaya Milkshake 木瓜奶昔

Papaya milkshake is a very popular drink in S.E. Asia.   

To prepare papaya milk, just add papaya to a glass of milk and blend with a food processor.  The quantity and quality of papaya and milk are crucial in making a good papaya milkshake.   The right combination is often well guarded and kept secret.  It is not surprise some papaya milkshake can’t even pass own taste bud, while some manage to sell it franchise worldwide.

Well, for me, papaya milkshake is another way of having papaya and milk.  I don’t have fresh milk in my fridge, so I substitute with formula milk.  For a cup of milk, I put in 2 slice of papaya.  In case its too thick, adding more milk will just do.   

以形补形

“以形补形” 的理论是中医中重要的“取象比类”思维的延展，是一种取于形象归于抽象再用于形象并辅于生活经验矫正的方法论。它不是完全可以全套照搬、更不能按字面意思来解释。


孙思邈 ( miǎo ) ( 541 或 581 – c 682 ) ，唐朝京兆华原（现陕西耀县）人， 创立了“以脏补脏”和“以脏治脏”的理论。他利用羊骨粥来治疗肾虚怕冷；以羊肝来治疗夜盲雀目；用鹿肾医治肾虚阳萎。



民间流传的“吃啥补啥”，如：木瓜丰胸、猪脑补脑、虎鞭壮阳、以肝补肝等，就不可盲目跟从。

科学可取：以血补血、胡桃补脑。

木瓜炖排骨汤 Stewed Papaya with Pork Ribs

Ingredients :

排骨 pork ribs

青木瓜 matured unripe papaya ( Carica papaya ）

红枣干 dried jujube ( Ziziphus zizyphus )

干贝 dried scallop

Method :

First, blanch the pork ribs.

then, cut the papaya into 1-inch cubes.  The papaya should be matured, yet unripe.  Preferably with only slight yellowing on the skin.  The flesh should be slightly hard yet already yellowish.

Put everything in a clay pot, simmer for 2 hours.

Add salt to taste.

炒木瓜 Stir-fried Papaya - Experimental Cooking

It had been quite a long time since I last experimenting with papaya in kitchen. 

This time, I stir-fried it !  Sound scary ?

Lets get started !.... first I saute some anchovies.  Then put in the sliced papaya.  Just make sure the papaya is not too  ripe and soft.  Pour in a bit water and simmer for a while.  Just add salt to taste.

Papaya Soup - Experimental Cooking

I bought 2 unripe papayas last week, hoping they would ripen in a few days.  But they started to develop lesions before managed to ripe.   ( … better not buy unripe papaya anymore )

I had no choice but to cut it premature.  The semi-ripe papayas are somehow too bland for any tongue.

So… instead of torturing myself with tasteless papayas, I throw in into a pot with some minced chicken and some 2liters of H₂O.  After simmer for a while, and a pinch of salt and MSG,  voilà !  Papaya soup for dinner !