Moringa oleifera or moringa is recognized worldwide for its wonderful health benefits and nutritional value of all parts of the tree. In herbal medicine we normally see flowers, berries or bark used medicinally from trees, but the nutritious bounty of moringa can be experienced from the whole plant.
Origin and botany
Moringa belongs to the Moringaceaeor horseradish tree family, which is closely related to the papaya or Caricaceae family. It is native to the Asian subcontinent and is grown in Southwest Asia, especially Indonesia, and is now growing in popularity in the southwestern corner of the United States. Moringa deserves attention among agro-forestry farmers for commercial sale because the entire plant – leaves, bark, branches, resin, seeds, roots and flowers – can be used for food and medicinal purposes.
The deciduous moringa tree looks slightly different on one side of the world than the other, although both versions have similar botanical characteristics, such as the thin leaves, dark, smooth bark and dark green leaves. Moringa has a light brown fruit that is large and distinctive, making this shrubby tree easy to recognize. When the fruit is cut open, rows of round black oily seeds with three papery wings are revealed in each corner. Moringa’s seed pods inspired the Tamil people of India to name the tree “Murungai”, which translates to twisted pod.
Modern applications
The moringa tree grows quickly and reaches a height of 2.5 meters in 3 months! The leaves are mainly harvested and consistent pruning ensures more successive harvests. The leaves are a great source of protein, especially sulfur-containing amino acids such as methionine and cystine, and vitamins A, B, C, calcium and iron. As a result, moringa is considered a highly nutritious food.
Commercial cultivation of moringa has become increasingly popular in less fortunate provinces in Asia, as it can support malnourished communities and provide shade and wind protection for existing crops within a typical agricultural model. Additionally, the leaves provide a nutrient-rich mulch to the soil, saving farmers the cost of fertilizer. (World Agroforestry Database 4.0 2009)
All parts of the moringa tree are edible. Many cultures cook the fresh green seed pods for curries or artisanal herbal medicines. A fellow WishGarden employee, Fodey, explained how West Africans know moringa as the ‘Never Die Tree’ because it can survive for long periods without water and in extreme heat, allowing for years of construction work and livestock feeding.
Natural water pollution reducer
If moringa has not yet proven its super strength qualities, research shows that “suspension of the ground seed of M. oleifera, the benzolive tree, is used as a primary coagulant. It can purify water of any degree of visible turbidity” (World Agroforestry Database 4.0 2009). In other words, moringa seeds are used to reduce polluted water. Clean water is best obtained if the seeds are ground into powder form and placed in cloth bags to swirl in water.
Moringa’s nutritional value and natural filtration qualities ensure health and abundance for people and the planet.
Works cited:
Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler attended the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and received her certification in Medical Herbalism. She owns it Blue yarrow herbs also known as Herbal Vice, an herbal product company that practices bioregional herbal medicine by growing plants and sourcing locally. Lauren loves educating and advocating for plant sustainability. She is the purchasing and sourcing manager for WishGarden Herbs.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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