The Power of Moringa Tree

Biochemists are calling Moringa the most nutrient-rich plant on the planet. They say that "with complex range of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other important phytonutrients (plant nutrients), Moringa is a rare powerhouse of nutrition."

Monica G. Marcu, PhD, Pharm.D., author of Miracle Tree says that "Among all the plants I know I cannot think of a more nutritious one than Moringa. And while I am definitely supporting a diet including a wide variety of plants, mostly un-cooked (in order to preserve the activity of enzymes, vitamins and phytochemicals), I believe that Moringa (leaves, pods, fruits) should be used as often as possible. One plant has it all! One-stop nutrients supply with few calories or salt."


The Leaves: Nutrition & Medicine
Moringa Leaves are full of essential disease-preventing nutrients

• Vitamin A, which acts as a shield against eye disease, skin disease, heart ailments, diarrhea, and many other diseases.
• Vitamin C, fighting a host of illnesses including colds and flu.
• Calcium, which builds strong bones and teeth, and helps prevent osteoporosis.
• Potassium, essential for the functioning of the brain and nerves.
• Proteins, the basic building blocks of all our body cells.

The Pods: Nutrition & Medicine
The young green pods also known as "drumsticks" are highly nutritious containing all the essential amino acids.

• If eaten raw, pods act as a de-wormer, treat liver and spleen problems and lessens joint pains
• Due to high protein and fibre content they play a useful part in treating malnutrition and diarrehea.
• It is generally prepared in a similar fashion to green beans and have a slight asparagus taste.
• Tender drumstick leaves, finely chopped, make an excellent garnish for any vegetable dishes, dals, sambars, salads, etc.
• It is primarily utilised worldwide by the Asian population as a vegetable but its other usage is increasing

The Roots,Bark & Gum: Medicine

Used for their antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties more concentrated than that of the seeds.

• The roots and bark are pounded and mixed with salt to make a poultice for treating rheumatism and joint pains
• It is also used for cardiac and circulatory problems, as a tonic and for inflammation.
• The alkaloid spirachin (a nerve paralysant) has been found in the roots.
• The gum is diuretic, astringent and abortifacient and is used against asthma
• The bark produces a sappy gum that can be used in cooking and food preservation

The Flowers:Medicine
The Moringa Tree takes about 8 months to a year to flower and continues flowering all year round in ideal conditions. The flowers are pleasantly fragranced, white or cream coloured and are borne profusely in axilliary drooping panicles 10-25 cm long.

• They contain good amounts of both calcium and potassium.
• Flower juice improves the quality and flow of mothers’ milk when breast feeding.
• Flower juice is useful for urinary problems as it encourages urination.
• In Haiti, villagers boil Moringa flowers in water and drink the tea as a powerful cold remedy.
• They can be eaten raw in salads or cooked. When cooked they have a taste similar to mushrooms.

The Seeds: Medicine Oil, Water Purifyer
The seeds contain 40% edible oil which is called Ben Oil (from the high concentration of behenic acid contained in the oil).

• The oil is highly nutritious and has a fat composition similar to Olive Oil. As with any vegetable oil, Moringa oil is best used raw and not heated. Heating damages the molecular structure of the fats in a similar way to Hydrogenation,
• The oil contains a potent anti-oxidant which makes it highly resistant to rancidity.
• Including Ben Oil in the diet will ensure the supply of many essential fatty acids which are utilised by the body to construct cellular membranes and other structures.
• The seeds when roasted, pounded, mixed with coconut oil can be effective against skin-infecting bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They contain the potent antibiotic and fungicide terygospermin
• Roasted seeds and oil can encourage urination.
• May also be used as a relaxant for epilepsy.

Moringa seeds make excellent water purifiers.

• The seeds are ground into a powder and the powder is used as a flocculant working as well or better than the expensive, toxic and environmentally harmful aluminium sulphate which many municipalities use to remove particles from the water.
• The Moringa seed powder flocculant joins with the particles and they sink to the bottom. Between 90 and 99% of the bacteria are removed in the same way.
• About 5 tablespoons of seed powder will purify 10 litres of water.
• It is believed that this flocculant effect takes place in the body as well, making the Moringa an excellent detoxifier 

MORINGA (Malunggay Philippines)