The unripe, green papaya and its leaves contain an enzyme that is used
to treat herniated discs..... Don't believe us..... ask Harrison Ford.
It is said that Papaya plants originated in southern Mexico and Central
America. From there, the Spanish explorers introduced it to the
Philippines, India, and the rest of the southern American continent. The
papaya made its way to Hawaii in the early 1800s and today it is the
only U.S. state that grows this fruit as a commercial product. The two
varieties of this wonderful fruit are Hawaiian and Mexican. Their major
difference is in their weight: the Mexican papaya can weigh up to as
much as ten pounds, while the more commonly available Hawaiian version
only weighs about a pound. Another wonderful aspect of the papaya is
that you can use almost all of the plant. The seeds can be use as a
black pepper substitute while the bark is often used to make rope.