How Moringa Tree Flowers and Seed Pods Are Used for Healing and Food

The Moringa Tree is one of the most useful and nutritious trees in the world. In my last article, I wrote about the role of Moringa leaves in AIDS treatment, high blood pressure, anemia, and increasing breast milk production. But the leaves are only one part of this story. The flowers and pods are also used for food and in healing.

Proper Harvesting is important:

As with any herb or food source, proper harvesting of Moringa leaves, flowers, and seed pods is important to process a quality product. The Moringa Tree flowers all year around unless you live in an area where it goes dormant. Any area where the temperatures falls below 70 degrees will cause the tree to lose its leaves and go into its winter sleep. The tree is not dead just resting. If you live in areas that receive heavy freezes, the cold will kill it. You can plant it in a large trash can with plenty of drainage and keep it indoors on your porch or living room during the winter. You will have to give it good window light or a grow light to keep it going until spring. Pruning the older branches is good for the tree, because it encourages new branch shoots with new leaves. Pruning can be done at any time with the Moringa Tree.

Moringa flowers can be harvested at any time. The younger flowers are better, quality wise. The flowers contain a fair amount of both Calcium and potassium and provide nectar for bees as well.

Moringa seed pods when young and tender can be cooked as you would asparagus. The green seed from the older pods is shelled, stored and then cooked as you would green peas.

Moringa Blossoms:

You can either dry the blossoms in the shade or in the oven under a low temperature. The flowers are used to make tea. The flowers can also be fried by themselves or battered and fried. They are said to have a taste similar to mushrooms.

In Haiti and other countries, the flowers are steeped into boiling water for about 5 minutes. Sugar is added and then drunk for colds and sore throat. In Puerto Rico the flowers are made into an infusion and used as an eye wash. In Ayurvedic medicine, Moringa flowers are used to treat inflammations, muscle diseases, tumors and enlargement of the spleen.

Caution: Flowers can act an abortifacient so do not use in pregnancy.

Moringa Tree Seed Pods:

Cook the seed pods as you would asparagus.

How to extract oil from the seed pods:

#1 Brown the mature seeds in a skillet being careful not to burn them.

#2 When the seeds are browned, mash them and place them in boiling water. The Moringa oil will float to the top. It is an excellent cooking oil and also valuable as a lubricant. The oil preserves well but will last longer if stored in the refrigerator in a closed container.

Native medicinal Uses:

The pods are used in India as an anthelmintic. An anthelmintic is used to kill worms in the body. The seeds are used against fevers and used in the treatment of abdominal tumors.. In Aruba, the seeds are crushed and made into paste that is applied to warts. In India, the seed oil is externally applied to relieve the pain and swelling in gout and rheumatism. It is also used to treat skin disease.

A study was published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 1992. Ethnopharmacology is dedicated to the exchange of information and understanding about native people's use of plants, fungi, animals, microorganisms and minerals and their biological and pharmacological effects. This published study showed Moringa seeds made into an infusion demonstrated an ability to reduce intestinal spasms and increase urine flow. This study supports one of the native uses for the seeds.

This information is not based on double blind research but Ayurvedic medicine has been used for hundreds of years and is used by physicians in India today. Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine are two of the most effective healing systems in the world. Non-Traditional healing therapies used by a competent physician educated properly is highly successful with fewer side effects than standard medicine. You should not expect a standard medicine physician who has little knowledge and experience in non- traditional medicine to administer it properly. It is not in his expertise or within his experience. If you want a doctor who knows how to use non-traditional medicine, find a holistic doctor such as a Homeopath, Naturopathic doctor, Asian doctor who specializes in herbal medicine or Ayurvedic physician from India. The right physician for the the right therapy.

I would appreciate your comments if you have used Moringa in any form and if you are using it in your own country such as India. By leaving your experience using Moringa leaves, flowers, pods, and bark, you will be educating others and giving them a new insight into this wonderful healing tree.

References:

Caceres, A., A. Saravia, S. Rizzo, Z. Lorena, E. DeLeon and F. Nave. "Pharmacologic Properties of Moringa Oleifera. 2: Screening for antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic activity". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 36:pp. 233-237. 1992

Moringa-Is It Really Capable of Miracles, July 2006,Germany, www.anamed.net

The Moringa News Network, http: www.moringanews.org/

Echo, Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization, 17391 Durrance Rd. N. Ft. Myers, FL 33917-2239, Email:echo@echonet.org, 1-239-543-3246 , www.echonet.org/