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When taken by mouth: Papaya fruit is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken in amounts commonly found in foods. Papaya leaf extract is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken as medicine for up to 5 days. Nausea and vomiting have occurred rarely.
The unripe fruit is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth. Unripe papaya fruit contains papaya latex, which contains an enzyme called papain. Taking large amounts of papain by mouth may damage the esophagus.
When applied to the skin: Papaya latex is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin or gums for up to 10 days. Applying unripe papaya fruit to the skin is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Unripe papaya fruit contains papaya latex. This can cause severe irritation and allergic reactions in some people.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Ripe papaya fruit is
LIKELY SAFE when eaten in normal food amounts. Unripe papaya fruit is
POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth during pregnancy. There is some evidence that unprocessed papain, one of the chemicals found in unripe papaya fruit, might poison the fetus or cause birth defects.
Breast-feeding: Ripe papaya fruit is
LIKELY SAFE when eaten in normal food amounts. There isn't enough reliable information to know if papaya is safe to use as medicine when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid amounts greater than those normally found in food.
Diabetes: Papaya that has been fermented can lower blood sugar. People with diabetes who are taking medications to lower their blood sugar should pay close attention to their blood sugar as adjustments to medications might be needed.
Low blood sugar: Papaya that has been fermented can lower blood sugar. Taking this form of papaya might make blood sugar too low in people who already have low blood sugar.
Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism): There is concern that eating large amounts of papaya might make this condition worse.
Latex allergy: If you are allergic to latex, there is a good chance you are also be allergic to papaya. If you have a latex allergy, avoid eating papaya or taking products that contain papaya.
Papain allergy: Papaya contains papain. If you are allergic to papain, avoid eating papaya or taking products that contain papaya.
Surgery: Papaya that has been fermented can lower blood sugar. In theory, this form of papaya might affect blood sugary during and after surgery. If you are taking papaya, you should stop 2 weeks before surgery.
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