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What’s the Tea on Moringa Oleifera?
Our story begins in the cradle of civilization, where there stood a tree unlike any other. It was a slender, elegant being with delicate feathery leaves and pods that dangled like twisted drumsticks. The locals knew it not just as a plant, but as a living gift- a remedy, a sustenance, a whispered secret passed down through the generations. They called it The Miracle Tree and its legend was about to journey across continents and centuries. I feel so thankful to have been a receiver of this whisper as I learned about this plant while I was living in Ethiopia in 2012 and it was all the rave around Africa, the Caribbean, and amongst health nuts in the West (before herbs and wellness lifestyles were all the social media craze).
The Tree of Endless Gifts
So back to the start with the Egyptians as they were occupied by the ancient Romans and then Greeks, they saw this tree as a treasure trove. From its seeds, a luminous oil was extracted, light and fragrant, commonly called “Ben Oil”. This precious liquid was more than just a luxury, it was a staple for perfumers, a lubricant for machinery, and a balm to protect skin from the harsh desert sun. In the fertile lands of India, the tree’s tale took on an even deeper significance. With the texts of Ayurveda, its leaves were documented as a cure for over 300 ailments, a panacea for the body and spirit. The mighty warriors of the Maurian Empire, would use extracts from the leaves believing it would grant them the power to endure pain and strength. The very name Moringa is from the Tamil language (Dravidian language native to South India and Sri Lanka) which described its “twisted pod”, while “oleifera” was a nod from the Romans, a term for “bearer of oil”. This tree serves as a living bridge between cultures, its roots spreading across the globe, reaching Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Americas, where it took on new names and new roles in the lives of the people. Moringa then and even now serves as a symbol of nourishment, a silent guardian against famine, offering its bounty during the leanest of times (as Moringa is a drought resistant plant).
Actual Plant Protein?
To understand its power, we must look closer, past the history and into the bioactivity within the plant. The leaves of the moringa tree are a veritable goldmine of nutrients. A powerhouse of essential vitamins, including a remarkable amount of Vitamin C (far more than orange), a wealth of Vitamin A from beta- carotene. Rich in the foundational B vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin, which are crucial for our body’s daily function. While this is a lot to discover within a single plant, one of the most shocking discoveries in modern science is that Moringa leaf is also a source of high-quality protein! It is a rare find in a plant, complete with all the essential amino acids needed to build and repair our bodies. Imagine a single plant containing the very building blocks of life. For those seeking plant-based nutrition, Moringa is a hero. I have been thrilled to be able to offer moringa leaf in one of our newest herbal tea blends called, The Best Day. It is a tropical mix with mango and moringa, and this combo offers the beautiful reminder that all we have is now, so regardless of circumstances, it is The Best Day.
More Calcium than Milk & More Iron than Spinach?
The story doesn’t end there. If you consume it in the form of a powder, the leaves are also a good source of dietary fiber, while the seeds, though less known, are a reservoir of healthy fats, particularly oleic acid. The tree’s gifts extend to a profound mineral profile. It offers more calcium than milk and more iron than spinach, making it a champion for bone and blood health. Studies have shown its high iron content, a beacon of hope against anemia. It’s also packed with potassium, a silent worker in regulating blood pressure, along with magnesium and zinc, the quiet conductors of countless bodily processors. Across the world (even in our own City of Las Vegas) organizations are working to combat “hidden hunger” which is a silent malnutrition amongst people young and old due to a devastating lack of micronutrients. This issue plagues billions- and moringa tree is not just a plant, it is a solution as a vessel of nourishment.
Bioactive Compounds of The Miracle Tree
Modern science, with its sterile labs and rigorous studies, have been captivated by the secrets of this ancient tree. It’s not just folklore, its therapeutic properties are rooted in powerful bioactive compounds. Some of these phytochemicals include flavonoids, like quercetin and kaempferol, the bodyguards that combat oxidative stress and inflammation, providing a shield against chronic disease. Then come the phenolic acids, such as chlorogenic acid, which support its antioxidant power and help in managing blood pressure. However, perhaps most intriguing compounds are the isothiocyantates, the unsung heroes of the moringa story. These sulfur-containing molecules are under intense study for their potential to fight cancer, repel microbes, and quell inflammation, validating centuries of traditional use. Without boring you by continuing this list, researchers have confirmed it shows promise in protecting the liver and heart. Some studies hint at its ability to help manage sugar, suggesting its future role in combating diabetes. Its seeds have even shown the power to inhibit the growth of the common bacteria, like staphylococcus aureus. While some of these discoveries are still in their early stages awaiting confirmation from human trials, they lend a serious, scientific weight to the ancient legends of the “miracle tree”.
Countless studies, both in laboratories and on animal subjects, have been conducted, each one unravelling another layer of the moringa tree’s potential.
How to Integrate it into Your Diet
Finally, we return to the kitchen, where some cultures utilize the plant as a culinary delight. The leaves are cooked like spinach adding a boost of nutrients to soups and stews. The pods are beloved in South Asian cuisine and serve as a star ingredient in curries and sambars. Even the flowers are edible, and the roots offer a taste reminiscent of horseradish. Though honestly, I find drinking my High Tech Healing tea one of the most effective ways to get it into my body, consistently. During the summer I have been drinking it as an iced tea in my Stanley tumbler. However it also is efficient as a vibrant green powder as a supplement for smoothies (though somewhat bitter in taste- hence the emphasis on the mango balance my tea provides).
Keeps on Giving
Since we said this plant keeps on giving, please believe it also has industrial purposes. A centuries old tradition was using the crushed seeds as a remarkable water purification. They act as a natural filter causing impurities to clump together and sink, leaving behind cleaner drinking water. Farmers feed the leaves to their livestock, and homes around the world still use it in various remedies to treat fever, soothe headaches, and even help new mothers produce more milk!
From a whisper in the ancient world to a shout in the modern one, the story of the moringa tree is a testament to the power of nature. A Reminder of the Divine Design™: Some of the greatest physical treasures are found not in a vault or on a digital screen, but in the humble, life-giving soil of our earth. To try moringa leaf in a palatable form, as a hot or iced tea, visit High Tech Healing at the Downtown Summerlin Saturday farmers market every week or online at www.hightechhealing.org
