I have been blessed with many benefits from Moringa that I knew I wanted to introduce you to this gift from the earth. If you have not yet heard of Moringa, this ancient herbal remedy has been called the “Miracle Tree” and the “Tree of LIfe” and aptly so. It is a hearty plant being, thriving in even the harshest conditions, making it easy to grow. Every part of this green being is useful and beneficial. Moringa is a nutritional powerhouse that is packed with 25 bio-available vitamins and minerals, 47 antioxidants, 36 anti-inflammatories, 30% vegetable protein and all 8 essential amino acids. When compared by weight, Moringa contains 7x the Vitamin C found in oranges, 4x the Vitamin A of carrots, 4x the calcium of milk, 3x the potassium of bananas, and essential minerals including zinc, magnesium, and iron. And this is just one dimension of what it offers us.
I was aware of Moringa for some time and had been searching for a high quality supplement but I couldn’t find a source that I trusted. What often happens when a new “super food” is discovered – or actually re-discovered – is that it becomes popular and highly commercial. Many want to cash in on its popularity and so aren’t as concerned with quality. There are those who are seeking to make as much profit as possible who offer versions that are not as pure or that are highly processed. It was easy for me to find many sources for moringa, but I had yet to find someone who could answer even the most basic questions, like where it comes from and how it’s processed. I was thrilled when my essential oil supplier starting to carry it because I knew that I could trust the quality.
Moringa is offered in different ways – the raw fresh leaves for salads, dried leaves as supplements and in the form my supplier offers – a cold pressed oil made from the seeds. I would love to be able to eat the raw Moringa leaves straight from the tree but it does not grow in our Canadian climate. The seed oil is, in my opinion, the next best option. Though having experienced it, I would not give it up even if I did find the fresh leaves. I have found there to be an element in the seeds of a plant that you don’t find in a full grown plant. Some say that seeds and sprouts are more nutrient dense – everything that can be found in the full grown plant is there in the seed/sprout in condensed and potent form. Also the oil can be used in ways the leaves cannot.
REMEMBERING
I had high expectations for this super food … I expected to feel better overall – perhaps less hungry because it is so nutrient dense and I did … I truly noticed a difference in the way I felt. But what I wasn’t expecting was an increase in sharpness of mind and memory. I think I realized it when my husband and I were watching Jeopardy one night and I was suddenly answering a lot of the questions. Before I’d know the answers afterwards … I would often say … “I knew that – I just couldn’t remember”. Now I was actually remembering. I have to tell you that it was quite a powerful thing to experience the positive effects of a plant so soon after taking it. AND it is quite something to realize the potential of my mind and my recall, given the right nutrients. The more I experience the benefits of nature’s medicine, the more I realize how simple additions to diet (or eliminations of the “not so natural things”) can lead to increase of well being.
Moringa is not only beneficial for internal nutrition, but it also is very nourishing and healing for the skin. I discovered that by accident. After I take my spoonful of Moringa Seed Oil, not wanting to waste a drop of this precious natural elixir, I took to gathering up the leftover oil on my finger and using it on my face for moisture. My whole life, I’ve had dark circles under my eyes and Moringa began to erase those circles. My daughter immediately noticed the difference and commented on how much younger I looked. She is not one to give out compliments unless she means it – so I took notice of that.
That’s not all Moringa did for me. It also helped me with my toenail fungus. I’d been having an issue with that for some time and nothing I tried seemed to help – until Moringa. A couple drops on the nail and IMMEDIATE results. With the first use, I began to recognize my toenail again – I saw pink! I had the fungus for a long while and it is understandable that it would take time to completely heal. Using it in conjunction with clay made a difference. I did have a reaction on my feet when I began using the oil. I noticed my toes getting red and some puffy bumps appeared and my skin began peeling. I considered that I might be having a reaction to the Moringa and I checked in with my supplier. She didn’t think it was an allergic reaction because it was only happening on my feet. She said …
“Because of gravity, the feet and toes tend to collect a lot of toxins in their tissues. This inhibits circulation, and makes the skin and nails susceptible to things like fungal infections and rashes–even sores that do not heal. Many people use foot baths and detoxifying foot treatments to help remove those toxins. Since toxins build up in the feet, the circulation in the feet is often depleted. When you put the Moringa oil on, it increases circulation in the area rapidly. This is going to turn the tissue pinkish. It is also going to give the body a boost to heal nail fungus. However, when the blood begins to circulate more in these areas, it is naturally going to “wake up” the toxic accumulations in the tissue. If the body has enough help from the oil to initiate the healing process, it will immediately try to kick out the toxins. The only way it has to do this, is to form rashes or blisters, or in some cases phlegm, to move the toxins out to the surface. The body must take the tissue involved into an acute stage before it reaches the stage where the tissue is healed and clear. I have seen this many times, and I believe it is the source of the old expression, “It has to get worse before it gets better”. Now what to do about it; stopping the oil application will take away the body’s support to heal. But applying it daily is taking it further into a cleansing reaction. So my advice would be to cut back, but not discontinue, using the oil. You may want to wait several days between applications, which will give the body time to settle down again between exposure. Obviously, if it is necessary to move through an acute stage process with this to clear something out, it is still going to happen. But, as with herbal cleansing, sometimes it is possible to gradually work your way through it without experiencing intense symptoms, just by controlling the level of exposure to the cleansing herbs or oils. It just requires patience to do so. Another possibility might be to incorporate some detoxifying foot baths during this time, to lower the level of toxic accumulation. There are many different types, including the Ionic foot bath, epsom salt foot baths, clay foot baths, and even essential oil foot baths. You may want to do some online searching to find out the pros and cons and to select the best form for you.”
(My thanks to Kathryn of White Sage Landing for that “SAGE” advice and the following advice on using this precious oil.
HOW TO WORK WITH MORINGA
Moringa is a thick oil and needs to be slightly warmed to get it to pour. You don’t want to heat the oil too much because that will defeat the purpose of having a cold-pressed raw oil. A good way to warm the oil is to place it in a bath of hot (but not boiling) water just long enough to get it flowing. Check it often and once it is truly liquified use it quickly before it returns to its thickened state. Moringa will stay a bit more liquified by adding other essential oils to it. You can experiment to find what works best for you.
AS A SUPPLEMENT … Moringa seed has an amazing ability to clean toxins out of water, and is used for this purpose in some cultures where potable water is in short supply. Likewise, it cleans toxins out of the bloodstream, and so should be taken internally in low doses until you know how many cleansing symptoms your body is going to experience. I would suggest beginning with 1/4 teaspoon twice daily. If symptoms become uncomfortable, cut it back even further until your body becomes comfortable with that level of consumption. After 4 or 5 days, if you have experienced no symptoms, you may try to raise your consumption level to 1/2 teaspoon twice daily. Again, follow your body’s signals to decide if and when you should increase your daily dose. Some people may benefit by working all the way up to a full teaspoon twice daily. For others, that might be too much. Children and Sensitive Ones should cut the adult suggested dosage in half, gradually working their way up to 1/2 teaspoon daily.
FOR THE SKIN … When applying Moringa oil to the skin to treat acne, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, collagen degeneration, dark spots, uneven complexion; or to increase hydration; or to treat cuts, bruises, and abrasions; apply Moringa seed oil neat. It can be used alone, or small amounts of essential oils can be added for a specific purpose. I intend to experiment with pure Moringa oil for a few weeks, just to get a feel for the oil and its healing properties. After that I will begin adding it into other products and blending with it.
There are many wonderful natural elements that the earth gifts to us. But sometimes you happen upon something that is so beautifully beneficial that it makes you marvel at the natural world. Moringa is one of those things. I think that If I was only allowed to choose one single plant medicine to take, Moringa would be the one.
DISCLAIMER: This post is related from personal experience and is opinion. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. See a health care professional for medical advice. Please do your research before you use this or any essential oil, as some of the oils require you to take certain precautions.
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO ORDER OUR HIGH QUALITY PURE MORINGA SEED OIL.