Pawpaw Shots (or The Red Crab Saves the Day)

Rowena & Richard by Cannonball Tree in Dominica

        You may recall that we recently met up with our friends Richard and Rowena, sv Galene, in Guadeloupe. We spent a “jolly good” month cruising and touring with this lovely British couple until we both sailed to different destinations from Roseau, Dominica a few weeks ago.  During our long and lazy visit with them, we learned that they both had contracted the chikungunya virus in the BVI in January and were still bothered by its lingering effects.  Rowena, specifically, continued to have pain and weakness in her arms.
      When they mentioned this, Dan chimed in that he, too, had been experiencing similar symptoms, but didn’t recall being sick. Of course HE didn’t recall it!!  HE was totally out of it at the time!  However, I clearly remembered him suffering a severe 48 hour illness that came on suddenly last November when we were in Los Roques, Venezuela. He was so uncomfortable that he barely spoke, ate, drank, or moved for two full days! We were anchored alone off a small out island and his condition concerned me enough that I devised an emergency plan to single-handedly move the boat back to El Grand Roques (the main island) if his symptoms worsened.  Thankfully, he perked up the next day. So after talking with Richard and Rowena, we put two and two together and concluded that Dan had probably had chikungunya, too.

Bob serving fresh coconut to Becky's Maya (2012)

         Many of you know that our son Bob is into organic gardening and that has also lead him to become familiar with some natural remedies. We spoke with Bob shortly afterward and mentioned chikungunya to him.  He said that he had heard about treating it with papaya leaves.  “Google it,” he rightly suggested and we did.  Sure enough, there were a number of entries describing the effectiveness of using papaya leaves and how to prepare the ‘tonic’.

       The next day, Rowena collected a few leaves from a papaya or- ‘pawpaw’ as many islanders call it- along the shore of Portsmouth, Dominica and mixed up a batch of tea (as a Brit would) to share with Dan and he felt some relief.  A few days later we parted ways as Exit Strategy sailed on to Carriacou (a sister island of Grenada) while Galene moved on to Martinique.

                                                                                                                          Papaya or pawpaw seems to grow like weeds here in the Caribbean and is seen nearly everywhere you wander. While hiking along a back road in Carriacou, I noticed a roadside pawpaw that was clearly not in someone’s yard or garden.  So I harvested a couple of young leaves to mix up some more tonic for Dan. Instead of making a tea, though, I merely processed it well with water and then strained it into a shot glass for Dan, as this was also a preparation method found online. Two young, tender leaves were enough to make four ‘shots’. Once again, Dan was happy to get some relief from achiness in his arms and hands.

    

         Next, Exit Strategy moved on to Grenada where we had spent the hurricane seasons of 2012 and 2013.  Thanks to many lengthy walks through nearby neighborhoods and the bush with my good friend Lilly (sv Tiger Lilly) in 2012, I knew EXACTLY where to find more pawpaw leaves to continue making fresh tonic for Dan.  The first morning we were in Prickly Bay, I dutifully set out to get more leaves.  At the first place I recalled that had a papaya, just a bump of a stump remained.  When I reached the second place, only a tall dried up pawpaw trunk stood. Determined to return to my Captain with leaves in hand, I walked on through the neighborhood of Lance Aux Epine. I soon realized that this well-manicured neighborhood would NOT have any wild papayas growing along the pavement…

Lilly and me (2012)

       H-m-m-m, what would Lilly do? 

       I trudged on scanning yards for pawpaws as some light rain fell intermittently.  If I found one, I was going to knock on the door and just ask for a couple of leaves. Surely, my simple request wouldn’t be refused.  But still I saw no pawpaws.  I turned down a side street named ‘Farm Drive’ as I felt it was a good omen, but it was a dead end.  And there I encountered the sweetest elderly lady sitting outside her home.  She thought I was lost, but I explained that I was searching for pawpaw leaves. She had none in her yard, but knew of some next to her restaurant, The Red Crab.  We introduced ourselves and Maureen urged me to go with her to the restaurant, as she was waiting for her ride there, “Just now.” 

      When we arrived at The Red Crab and Maureen told her son that I wanted some pawpaw leaves to make a tonic for my husband.  He disappeared for a few moments while Maureen and I sat at the bar and I reviewed their menu.  Soon enough, Maureen’s son returned with a bouquet of fresh papaya leaves and said, “Come back when you need more.”

      I am so grateful for the openness of the folks at The Red Crab to help me, a stranger, and am delighted that Dan’s symptoms have improved using this natural elixir.  (And I’m really anxious to go back and have dinner at The Red Crab!) 

I'll  have one of EACH, please!!!