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[bobdrake12]

http://news.bbc.co.u...lth/2230696.stm




Monday, 2 September, 2002, 10:01 GMT 11:01 UK

Pope receives fruit treatment (excerpts)




Pope John Paul II is in poor health


Pope John Paul II has been prescribed an experimental treatment made from a tropical fruit to ease symptoms of Parkinson's disease, it is reported.

The French paper Le Monde reports that the treatment, an extract of fermented Asian papayas, was suggested by a French doctor, who met the 82-year-old Pontiff in June.

However, Dr Montagnier, who co-discovered the Aids virus, also used the meeting to propose the papaya treatment for the Pope, whose symptoms include a hand tremor and slurred speech.

Dr Montagnier believes Parkinson's is linked to the damage caused to the body's tissues by molecules called free radicals that are released when cells convert oxygen into energy.

The theory is that the papaya extract contains chemicals that mop up free radicals, so that tissue damage is minimised.

[caliban]

Would be interesting to know if Wojtyla is indeed suffering from Parkinsons disease.

If he were afflicted that would give more credence to his negative view on stem cell therapies :(

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The papaya treatment illustrates that combating free radicals is not all about swallowing large amounts of ACE tablets, but that digestion, incorporation and phytochemicals play an important role. (Im sure ther will be a topic on this before long)