Good moringa to you

Another one of those, ‘I’ve grown up eating yet another Indian super food’ moments. I remember having that weird household favourite drumstick curry (saragvo as we called in my native language gujarati) that my grandmother made as I was growing up and now years on I get to appreciate the medicinal value of these vegetables. It is almost always found in chutneys and south Indian sambhars.

This tropical/subtropical tree is known as the ‘drumstick tree’ or ‘shigru’ which literally means ‘an arrow’ (botanial name: Moringa oleifera) and has been used in Ayurveda for centuries amongst other indigenous cultures. It has a pungent and bitter taste with heating, sharp, dry and light qualities and pungent post digestive effect. Therefore this medicinal plant is great for balancing the vata and kapha doshas. It is both nourishing and detoxifying making it one of the most versatile plants of all time. With three varieties (black, white and red), so many parts on the tree including seeds, leaves, roots, bark, fruits, oil and flowers are used.

Moringa has gained popularity over the recent years as ‘superfood’, but it has multiple health benefits including its rich anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, helping to prevent the body from infections and free radical damage. Here are some of these benefits.

• The seed oil is useful topically in relieving pain from inflammation, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid as well as being rich in vitamin C and magnesium

• Moringa can improve our taste perception, appetite and digestive power

• Moringa acts as a nervine tonic

• It is useful in headaches through the pancakarma treatment of nasya and by rubbing the leaves over the forehead

• Can be used as a massage powder for skin conditions such as pruritis, urticaria and acne and give healthy glowing skin

• A tea is useful in loose motions and diarrhoea (red variety)

• Helpful in conditions of abdominal bloating, pain and distension

• Useful for worm infestations

• The leaves are useful in conditions of fever, coughs and colds especially with mucous, bronchitis

• Supports fat metabolism and weight management and reduces cholesterol

• Can improve sexual debility and fertility (particularly male)

• Can support menstrual issues like amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea

• The bitter and pungent properties makes a perfect detoxification aid especially for the blood and fat tissues

• Useful in reducing hypertension and is uniquely able to restore strength to the heart and blood after cleansing.

It is most likely that in the west that moringa leaf will be largely consumed in a powder form added to smoothies and shakes. It doubles up as a rich source of calcium, iron, vitamin C and A and amino acids (proteins). Traditionally it would be consumed with ghee, milk, honey, or aloe vera or as a decoction.

Moringa should be taken with caution if you have bleeding disorders, sensitive stomach, during periods, and if you have inflammatory conditions and high vata conditions.