Moringa Plant

Written by: Maria-Cristina Oogur

What is Moringa?

The moringa is a genus of East Indian and African trees constituting the family Moringaceae and having pinnate leaves and irregular flowers with 10 stamens and a 3-valved capsular fruit.

History of Moringa

The history of the Moringa tree begins on the Indian subcontinent around 2000 BCE. It was used in traditional medicine for 300 conditions ranging in severity from minor skin imperfections to more serious illnesses like high blood pressure and heart disease.

In Egypt, it was used as a natural sunscreen to protect against the harsh desert environment; and then eventually to Greece and Rome where it served an important role as both a lotion and expensive perfume.

The progress of the plant also moved westward into Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands (most notably the Philippines), where its unique nutritional qualities caused it to become a staple vegetable in the local diet.

Today, Moringa is cultivated around the world, primarily in poorer regions with harsh climates where the many uses for Moringa are needed most places like Ethiopia, Haiti, Ghana, Honduras, Indonesia and Uganda.

Benefits of moringa

• Moringa has more protein than yoghurt, more potassium than bananas, more calcium than milk and more Vitamin C than citrus.

•Moringa reduced fatigue, improved skin, a better immune system, muscle growth, reduced stress, better digestion, improved energy levels and management, stronger teeth and bones, better vision, and even higher libido.

•Helps to reduce the amount of glucose in the blood, as well as sugar and protein in the urine.

Where to use moringa?

• stir it into your water, though it might go down easier in warm water mixed with a little lemon and honey.

•Steep it as a tea: There are various variety of moringa tea on sales in markets but you can also boil its leaves and drink it as well.

• Shake it into salad dressing: Moringa can be easily stirred into store-bought or homemade salad dressing.