Moringa Through 4000 Years of History
The Moringa plant is native to Northern India, where it was first described around 2000 B.C. as a medicinal herb. The oral tradition of Ayurvedic medicine in India declared that Moringa prevents 300 diseases.
Ancient Egyptians treasured Moringa oil as protection for their skin from the ravages of desert weather. Later, the Greeks found many healthful uses for Moringa and introduced it to the Romans.
Over the centuries, the Moringa plant has been carried to all the tropical parts of the world, where it readily takes root. It is commonly used for food, for medicinal purposes, as a wind-break in fields, and many other purposes. The Moringa plant spread eastward form India to the lower parts of China, Southeast Asia and the Philippines. From India it also spread westward to Egypt, the Horn of Africa, around the Mediterranean, and finally to West Indies in America.
On the island of Jamaica in 1817, a petition concerning Moringa oil was presented to the Jamaican House of Assembly. It described the oil as being useful for salads and culinary purposes, and being equal to the best Florence oil as an illuminant--giving clear light without smoke. The leaves and pods were likewise used in local recipes.
In America, Moringa can be found in markets which cater to immigrants from India, Sri Lanka, China and the Philippines. Usually this is in the form of frozen or canned foodstuffs. The saltwater brine in which it is stored is poured off, and the water in which it is cooked is also discarded. As a result, much of the amazing health benefits of Moringa are lost in this process.
A break-through was made recently when Moringa leaves were harvested fresh in India and ground into pure powder, which was then stored in air-tight containers and shipped to America. Moringa Farms is the first to import this natural-strength powder to the U.S. and it is now available in convenient capsules or the original powder form.
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