Have you heard of Moringa? I haven’t. Just last week, Well and Good released the “Top 18 trends of 2018 are here!”. That got me a little excited and the first one was on Moringa, saying that “If you like turmeric, you’re going to love moringa”, so I decided to read more about it. It seems like many people are going gaga over moringa.

So, What is Moringa?

No, it’s not momonga , the cute japanese flying squirrel. Maybe momonga fly from moringa to moringa though!

Moringa, officially known as Moringa oleifera is a plant that is native to the sub-Himalayan areas of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan,  commonly found in the tropics.Almost every part of the tree is edible- the leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, seeds, and root.

The Moringa tree is native to the foothills of the Himalayas.The name Moringa is most certainly derived from the name “Muringa” a Malayalam term, one of the many dialects of India.  There are many other names for the Moringa in different countries – In the Philippines it is called Malunggay; in Indonesia it is called “kelor”; in Chinese its called “la mu (辣木)” which literally translates to “ chilli-hot wood”. The pods looks like drumsticks so it’s also called “drumstick tree”; it tastes like horseradish so it’s called “horseradish tree” too.

Will it be the next “superfood” 2018?

Maybe, according to Well and Good. Let’s see if it  goes viral like avocado, shall we?
It is very high in nutritional value for sure. It contains a staggering 92 nutrients and 46 natural antioxidants! This can even be a my new multi vitamin.

In a gram to gram comparison, Moringa leaf contains:

96 times more Vitamin E than eggs
82 times more iron than prune
50 times more Vitamin B2 than sardines
16 times more calcium than milk
13 times more Vitamin A than spinach
10 times more amino acids than brown rice
8 times more polyphenol than red wine
7 times more Vitamin C than oranges
7 times more zinc than garlic
5 times more fibre than burdock root
4.6 times more folic acid than spinach
4 times more Vitamin B1 than pork
3 times more carotene than carrots

And probably many more that science can’t detect now. But I wonder how much of it is absorbed into the human body…

What does Moringa treat?

Moringa is used for anemia, arthritis and other joint pain (rheumatism), asthma, diabetes, constipation and diarrhea, epilepsy, stomach pain, stomach and intestinal ulcers,  headache; heart problems, high blood pressure, kidney stones, fluid retention, thyroid disorders; and bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections.

Moringa is also used to reduce swelling, increase sex drive (as an aphrodisiac), boost the immune system, and increase breast milk production.

It is safe to be taken orally and has been used safely in doses up to 6 grams daily for up to 3 weeks. Too much of anything (even plain water) can be toxic. It is not advisable to take if you are pregnant.

Moringa from a TCM perspective

Moringa is a native to the Himalayas and not ina hence it is not noted in the TCM books.
However from it is said to be acrid (have a rising effect) and warming property.

Nutritional value is important however in TCM, we look at the temperature and taste properties of food to determine if a certain food is suitable for an individual.

For example, mango is very nutritious but mango has a warming property so someone with a heaty constitution (easily constipation, get acne easily, red flushed face, red tongue body) is not suitable to eat too much as it may worsen the symptoms or have nose bleed. While someone with Yang deficiency cold constitution is suitable to eat more mango to warm the body. That’s because maintaining a certain core body temperature is important for keeping the immune system at its optimum to fight off pathogens.

Different parts of the Moringa tree have different functions.

Moringa seeds and fruit:

Tonfify the Spleen and eliminate dampness. Good for people with low appetite, bloating, heavy sensation in the limbs.

Moringa root bark:

Eliminate wind, Strengthen the Stomach and Spleen, support Yang, promote urination. Good for headaches, dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, high blood pressure, skin problems.

Moringa leaves (the most commonly used part):

Eliminate dampness, get rid of cold and expel toxins. Good for gynecological problems such as vaginitis, excess discharge. It is also very high in iron, hence it can be used for anemics to tonify the blood and is referred to as “Mum’s best friend” by the Filipinos. Those of Malawi believes that taking Moringa for a long period of time can increase the chance of ovulation and those who take it regularity has a higher rate of having twins. However further research is needed to confirm this.

Note: Moringa has warming properties and may not be suitable for everyone. Adding moringa on a heaty constitution is like adding oil to fire.

Moringa flower:

Moringa fragrant flowers, is a good source of nectar. In Haiti, Moringa oleifera tea is used to cure cold. Flowers contain high levels of calcium and potassium, which are used as health foods in India and taught to be good for eyesight.

Wow, no wonder some refer to Moringa as the Miracle Tree.

Moringa Food  & Beauty buys

Vegan Rob’s Moringa puffs
Power packed snack, the next kale chips?

Moringa Tea and Latte
After all the green matcha, yellow turmeric, red beetroot, purple taro, blue algea, now a mint #moringalatte?

Moringa Morning Yogurt

Super simple collabo-recipe! Mix some of the powdered leaves into your yogurt, it looks like matcha ice cream.

Moringa Morning

Kick start your morning with some bounty energy balls. You can add the powder into cookies, macaroons, pound cakes or anything you like. You can check out the recipe here.

Moringa beauty buys

True Moringa Facial Oil

100% pure, cold-pressed moringa oil. Ideal for daily moisturizing and you can even mix into your DIY facial mask!

Bodyshop Moringa series

Infused with delicate floral fragrance of moringa flowers, The Body Shop offers Moringa Oil, Moringa Body Butter and Moringa Lotion.
Personally, I like the body mist, which has a floral fruity freshness fragrance. It’s light and perfect  for freshening up after work.

Do you think Moringa will be the next trend in 2018?

I would love to hear your comments and thank you for reading!