The Moringa Oleifera tree is a family of the Moringacceae. The Moringa Oleifera is one of 13 different Moringa species and originates from India and Bangladesh. This tree contains nutritional benefits, more than most fruits and vegetables, that have also helped people in underdeveloped countries where food and nutrition are limited.
How to use the Moringa tree?
Most of the tree is edible and gets used for medicinal purposes. Worldwide, people use this magic tree’s leaves, seeds, seedpods, bark, and root for their health benefits and nutritional properties.
Apart from India and Bangladesh, this tree is also found in the Pacific islands, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia. In the last few years, the Moringa tree has gotten more attention worldwide. This is because the tree gets used in different ways for different purposes. After reading this article, you will know the complete guide on using Moringa.
What Part of the Moringa Tree can be Used?
The Moringa Oleifera is known as a special tree because every part of the tree has beneficial properties and is edible. The leaves, seeds, seedpods, bark, and root have been used for centuries. Some used the benefits of this tree for dietary purposes and others as a medicinal healers.
As mentioned before, the Moringa tree contains many health benefits. First, in this paragraph, we will give you an idea of what nutritional benefits the tree contains, then what parts of the tree are used and what the indigenous used them for. In the next paragraph, we will dive deeper into the health benefits that the tree gets used to in today’s day and age.
Usable parts of the Moringa Tree and its health benefits- Indigenous
The Leaves, seeds, seedpods, bark, and root all get used for their own health benefits and in different ways. The great thing about these parts of the tree is that they contain
- Amino acids
- Vitamins
- Calcium
- Iron
- Potassium
- Minerals
- Protein
- Anti inflammatory compounds
These are all nutritions that we need to stay health. Studies have shown that this tree contains more of the above mentioned properties than most fruit and vegetables have.
1. Leaves
The leaves are the part of the tree that probably gets the most attention. The tree has many leaves that grow quickly. The leaves get used in different ways.
- Fresh
The fresh leaves are used in cooking or for making tea. - Dried
The dried leaves are used in medicine, cooking, or making tea. - Powder
The powder of the leaves gets used in medicine, cosmetics, cooking, and matcha-style teas. (The indigenous use fresh or dried leaves).
Indigenous
The indigenous used the leaves for health benefits and to cure different kinds of diseases. They are known to help with:
- Flu,
- Heartburn,
- Eye and ear infection,
- Headaches
2. Seed
To get to the seed, you need to open the seedpod. The seedpod hangs from the branches and is green in color. They pick the seeds unripe and use them to make oil and snacks. Apart from the above-mentioned nutritional properties, the seed also contains oleic acid, a good fat recommended in your diet.
Indigenous
The indigenous used the seeds for medicinal purposes. Some of the most common diseases that are treated with this special seed are - Cramps
- Sexual transmitted disease
- Epilepsy
3. Seedpod
The seedpod, as mentioned before, hangs from the stem of the trees. After the tree flowers, the pods start to grow. Due to the looks of the seedpod, it is also known as a drumstick. The seedpods most often get eaten as a vegetable and contain lots of iron.
Indigenous
The indigenous ate seedpods for their nutritional benefits, but also because they believe it treats and helps with different physical disorders.
- Joint Pain
- Diarrhea
- Liver
- Spleen problems
4. Bark
The amazing thing about this tree is that it is not just the leaves, seedpod, and seeds that get eaten and used. Also, the bark is said to have different health benefits—containing antimicrobial (kills unwanted microorganisms) and anthelmintic (expels parasitic worms and other internal parasites) properties.
Indigenous
The indigenous also use the bark for its different health benefits helping as an
- Anti- inflammatory
- Cardiac stimulant
- Antiulcer
5. Root
Last but definitely not least is the root of the Moringa Oleifera. It is used as a condiment, and people say it is similar to eating horseradish. The root is not just eaten for its nice taste but also used in medicine, as an anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, and for stimulating antitumor activities
Indigenous
The indigenous also figured out that the root contains these beneficial properties, as mentioned above. Therefore they use the root of the Moringa tree as they use the bark of the tree to work as an -Anti-inflammatory
– Cardiac stimulant
– Antiulcer
What are the Health Benefits of Moringa?
As mentioned above, this tree contains many nutrient properties that our bodies need. We obtain the nutrients through our food, spending time outside in the sun, etc. The great thing about this tree is that it contains the, for us, necessary nutritions in high doses naturally. Therefore, when consuming parts of this tree, we set our bodies up to stay energized and happy.
Apart from the nutritions helping us to feel fit, they can also help us treat and even cure (researchers are working hard to prove this) chronic diseases.
Moringa Oleifera as a medicine to help treat chronic conditions
In the above paragraph, we have explained why the indigenous use this tree. This paragraph will explain how different diseases in western medicine get treated with parts of the Moringa Oleifera tree.
Important
*Before even thinking about trying to treat symptoms yourself, make sure to talk to your health physician. Especially when you are already taking medication, combining Moringa and some form of medication together can result in both functioning differently than they were intended to. With all the consequences that it entails.
- Diabetes
We are often in a hurry, and taking time to eat healthy foods is often not on our priority list. Therefore, Diabetes is, unfortunately, a disease that has increased over time due to the way we live our lives.
When the bark, root, and leaves of the Moringa tree get used for medicinal purposes, they can balance blood sugar. (Link to a scientific article, click here). Small doses get added inside the medicine to help the body balance its blood sugar and automatically help treat Diabetes.
- Low cholesterol
Hypocholesterolemic (deficient cholesterol levels in the blood) is not often something we hear. Instead, we often hear people that have high cholesterol. Low cholesterol is just as dangerous as a high one. Therefore, it must be treated.
In India, they use the Moringa tree leaf to help raise the cholesterol levels in people’s blood. Studies with rats have shown that the Moringa leaves have a positive effect. - Improve heart function
“The Moringa Oleiera leaves makes changes in the cardiovascular parameter.” As you can imagine, this has a positive effect on the condition of the heart. Taking leave extracts will lower blood glucose, heart weight, and body weight.
It is essential to take the proper doses. The leaves have a healing ability, but overtaking a substance is never the key. It is all about the balance. - Arthritis
Arthritis is a disease that causes stiff joints and joint pain. This is often caused by inflammatory. The indigenous use the seedpods for their anti-inflammatory benefits. In modern studies, it has been proven that the seedpods due contain anti-inflammatory benefits, which have been used to help treat arthritis. - Asthma
Asthma is a term to describe a long-term inflammatory disease of the longs. As mentioned above, the Moringa Oleifera tree contains anti-inflammatory parts. Specifically, the seed kernel is said to have a positive effect on treating asthma.
Studies have shown that patients felt a lot better when taking the seed kernel in a short period of time. Within three weeks of taking seed kernels of this special tree, they felt and could see a significant difference.
- High blood pressure
It probably speaks for itself, but in order to treat high blood pressure you need something that lowers the blood pressure. When consuming parts of the Moringa tree it lowers the blood pressure in your body. Depending on the amount you take and how often you take it, the effects will differ. - Cancer
The Moringa Oleifera tree gets used for its health benefits for quite some time now. It is not surprising that it was not just tested to treat the above chronic diseases but also to see if it could reduce cancer. In other words, if the tree contains antitumor properties.
Studies have shown that yes, the Moringa Oleifera tree has anti-tumor properties.The part of the tree that was tested for this was the seeds. Therefore, the seeds (often made into oil) are also used for medicinal purposes.
What Happens When you Drink Moringa Everyday?
When you drink Moringa, you are often referring to drinking leaf extract. Either the fresh, dried, or powdered form of the leaves gets drained by boiling water. (You can read more about how to make Moringa tea in the paragraph below)
There haven’t been any studies that state what happens when you were to drink Moringa tea every day. What we do know is that the leaves contain many health benefits and have a positive effect on the body (as written above). However, people that drink Moringa tea say that the leaves are good for their health, skin, and hair.
That being said, everybody is different, and the chances are that everyone will react differently to. So, taking a particular substance, or in this case part of a tree daily, it is recommended to be aware of how you react to it. We believe that balance in your life and diet is essential. Overtaking something can have detrimental effects on your health.
If you are taking some form of medication, it is advised to discuss whether it is safe to drink Moringa Oleifera tea daily with your doctor.
How to Make Moringa tea?
Moringa Oleifera tea has become more and more popular worldwide. The tea is even sometimes found on menus of restaurants. Especially the vegan and healthy cafes are interested in the leaves of the Moringa tree.
Making Moringa tea
There are three different ways how you can make Moringa tea.
- Leaf
-Pick mature leaves
When picking leaves of the Moringa tree for making tea its best when they are mature.
-Fresh leaf tea
Place the leaves in a cup, pour boiling water over the leaves, and let them sit for about 5 minutes. Sip and Enjoy!
–Dried leaves
Another option is to make tea using dried Moringa leaves. In this case, you place the picked leaves in a dry and warm area (make sure it’s not moist). Depending on the climate you are in, the leaves will need a few days to dry. Once the leaves are hardened and lose their bright green color, they are ready to become tea.
As the leaves are dried, it is best to place them in a sieve. If you pour boiling water over dried leaves, they will most likely crumble. You don’t want to literally drink the leaf, just the extract.
Let the tea in the sieve sit in boiling water for approximately five minutes. Sip and Enjoy! - Tea bag
If you can’t get your hands on fresh leaves, you will most likely need to buy tea bags. The great thing about the tea bags is that it is super easy.
Place the tea bag in a mug, pour boiling water over the bag, let it sit for approximately five minutes (or as desired), sip, and enjoy!
When getting store-bought Moringa tea, be aware of the brand that you are buying it from. As mentioned before, the Moringa tree has been getting more popular. Therefore, there are people and companies out there trying to make money. If you want to obtain some of the many benefits that the leaves contain, buying biological and as close to home as possible is probably best. - Matcha style with powder
The last option, and probably the most common choice, is making Moringa tea using powder. The powder contains blended dried Moringa leaf. The powder often includes a higher concentration of Moringa than store-bought tea bags. Another benefit of powder is that it is easy to export without damaging the leaf. These are a few of the reasons that most cafes use powder.
When drinking powdered Moringa, it is advised not to pour boiling water over the powder. The powder is finely ground. The boiling water can therefore destroy the nutritional benefits.
Instead, place some powder, as much as you desire, in a mug, pour hot water on top of the powder, sip and enjoy!
Tip
– Add a few drops of lemon to your fresh Moringa leaf tea, dried Moringa leaf tea, or your tea bag for an extra fresh taste.
– Using Moringa powder? Then why not mix it up, and make your tea into a chai, using different spices and some milk instead of water.
We would love to know how you like your Moringa tea!
Benefits of drinking Moringa Oleifera leaf tea. The leaves of the Moringa tree contain a high amount of antioxidants. Therefore, drinking Moringa tea is good for various reasons.
- Obtain healthy, and glowing skin
- Support strong and healthy Hair growth
- Help Prevent disease
- Help treat disease
Is it Safe to Take Moringa Daily?
There aren’t any studies that have proven Moringa not to be safe when you take it daily. Some parts of the tree will have a more substantial effect on the body than others. Some indigenous and scientists say that especially the bark and the root of the Moringa tree aren’t suitable to take daily.
Taking drops of Moringa oil will most likely have a different effect on the body than drinking tea daily. So, always use your common sense when you decide to take something in such a high dose.
Be aware
Some doctors and studies think that taking Moringa can have a few side effects.
- Pregnancy
Some tribes believe that Moringa can affect pregnancy. It can cause anti-fertility. Therefore, it is not advised to take Moringa when you are trying to get pregnant or when you are pregnant.
- High or Low Blood pressure
When you are taking medication to treat high or low blood pressure, it is not recommended to take Moringa. This is because Moringa can have the opposite effect on the medication. Therefore, the medicine won’t do what it was initially supposed to do. This can have disastrous consequences.
- Diabetic medication
As with high or low blood pressure, Moringa Oleifera can also react with diabetic medication. Moringa can have a positive effect on treating diabetes. But this is only when people aren’t already taking some form of drugs to treat the disease.
- Thyroid treatment medication
When wanting to treat high or low blood pressure and Diabetes with Moringa, make sure you talk to your doctor about the medication you are already taking. Ask them if the Moringa can affect the purpose of your current prescription.
Why is Mooring Called the Miracle Tree?
The Moringa Oleifera tree is also known as the Miracle tree. They call it the miracle tree for four main reasons.
Quick growing
The Moringa tree is very resilient. It grows quickly even when the circumstances aren’t ideal.
If you want to grow a Moringa tree, you can do this either by placing the seed into the soil or by using cuttings.
Leaves grow fast
It is not just the tree itself that is a fast grower. Also, the leaves grow quickly. Therefore, harvesting leaves for consumption won’t damage the tree.
All parts are edible
It doesn’t often happen that all parts of a tree are edible and actually get eaten. The miracle tree has edible leaves, seeds, seedpods, bark, and roots.
Nutritional properties
The leaves, seeds, seedpods, bark, and root aren’t just all edible, but they also contain lots and lots of nutrients. Nutrients that we all need to stay healthy and vibrant. Think of things like vitamins, proteins, iron, antioxidants, etc.
The Moringa tree is known to feed people in third-world countries where food is scarce, and it is hard to obtain all necessary and primal nutrients.
Why is Moringa Called the Drumstick Tree?
The Moringa tree is also known as the ‘Drumstick’ tree because of its seedpods. The seedpods look like drumsticks. This is where the name derives from. The immature green pods get eaten as vegetables and contain many health benefits like the rest of the tree.
What are the Benefits of Moringa Powder?
Moringa powder has many different benefits over just using fresh or dried leaves.
- Contains more nutrients than dried
The powder is high concentrated dried leaf Moringa and contains more protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber then fresh leaves.
It contains almost the same as fresh leaves. If you compare the two, then the dried leaves have more nutrients.
- Easy to export, keeps its nutrients
The powder is easy to export. Often the powder is shipped in capsules. The Moringa powder won’t get damaged, keeping it dry. As the Moringa has become popular worldwide, customers want to obtain Moringa in a form that it still contains its nutrients. Making powder is the way to go. - Used in drinks
Another great benefit of Moringa powder is that it is easy to add to different drinks. Athletes throw the powder in protein shakes. Cafes add Moringa to juices and smoothies or cell it as matcha-style teas.
What are the Side Effects of Moringa Powder?
There are also a few side effects to taking Moringa powder.
- Fewer nutrients than fresh leaves.
Fresh leaves naturally contain more nutrients. On the other hand, if you don’t have a tree in near proximity, then the powder is better than not having Moringa leaves at all.
- Not recommended to combine with certain medicine
As mentioned before, Moringa can affect the working effect of your current medication.
- Anti- fertility
Moringa can cause anti-fertility. Taking Moringa powder is not advised when pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Balance is key!
Is Moringa Good for Sleep?
Studies show that it is unclear if Moringa has a good or bad effect on sleep. What we do know is that it does not contain caffeine as some other plant extracts do have.
If you want to know if Moringa is good for sleep, it is best to try it yourself. In the end, some people can fall asleep five minutes after consuming their last cup of coffee, and other people can’t sleep even if they finished their last cup of coffee hours before going to bed.
Can I grow a Moringa tree?
Yes, you can grow a Moringa tree. All you would need are either seeds or cuttings.
The Moringa tree is native to tropical and subtropical climates. This is where it will grow best. If you live in cold weather or get frost, you will need to grow the Moringa Oleifera somewhere inside.
What does a Moringa tree look like?
The Moringa Oleifera is a reliant tree and does not need much. However, if you want to give your miracle tree its best shot, then there are some things that will help it grow.
-Full sun
First off, this tree particularly likes the sun. So place the tree in your garden where it gets sunlight all day.
It does best at a temperature around 77-79 Farhenheit (25- 35 degrees). Is your garden temperature often a lot hotter? Then, it is better to grow the tree in the shade.
-Soil
For your Moringa tree to grow strong and healthy, it will do best in well-drained, sandy, or loamy soil.
Don’t place the tree somewhere where it gets too much moisture. The soil may be moist but not wet. The roots will get mold, and your tree will die.
–Pruning
The tree grows its fruits best when it gets pruned regularly. Also, it will make the harvest a lot easier.
What Does Moringa Taste Like?
The taste of Moringa is challenging to describe. This is mainly because so much of the tree is edible. However, below we have written down a list of how most people describe the taste of the Moringa Oleifera tree.
Leaves
- Green
- Matcha spiked with hint of spirulina, and algae
- Grassy
- Butter
- Earthy
Seeds/pods - sweet green beans
- Horseradish
- Asparagus
Bark and Roots - Bitter
- Green
If you genuinely want to know what Moringa tastes like, it is best to try it yourself!
Some Last Thoughts About Moringa
Moringa Oleifera, Miracle tree, Drumstick tree, however, you want to call it is a unique and special tree. This one of the thirteen species contains many health benefits and nutrients that people have enjoyed over the centuries. It might be native to India and Bangladesh, but it is fair to say that it has become a tree that lives worldwide.
We would love to hear your experiences with the Moringa tree, what part of it you are consuming, and why!