For the love of Moringa
What do you know about moringa?
A few years ago, an uncle introduced me to this wonder plant as he was fostering them from seedling to tree in the countryside. The benefits sounded amazing - a multivitamin cure for many ailments and recommended daily tonic for boosting immunity. Its praises reminded me of the neem tree - called Mwarobaine in Swahili - which I had been more familiar with and used in the past.
After my visit (and bringing back some fresh moringa powder), I paid it no mind until I saw a major hair line boasting of moringa extract in their formulation. I was floored! My curiosity was piqued - why is moringa becoming so popular?
Well, there are quite a few reasons...
Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is a plant native to Asia and the tropics. For thousands of years the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans grew moringa trees (WebMD). Every part of the plant is useful - leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, seeds, and root - all are used to make medicine.
The plant is an anti-oxidant, aphrodisiac, germ-killer, perfume, immunity and breast milk booster chock full multivitamins.
Moringa offers excellent skin and hair benefits by being a source of:
- Vitamin A and its precursor beta-carotene which speeds up healing and prevents breakouts
- Vitamin C - a natural skin exfoliator to help reveal new younger skin
- Vitamin E - a moisturizing antioxidant
- Essential amino acids - the building blocks of protein that helps boost collagen production, strength and elasticity
- Polyphenols - plant compounds that protect organs from internal and environmental stressors
- Oils - its seeds contain beneficial fatty acids which are extra moisturizing and conditioning to the hair and skin
I loved this so much that it's a key ingredient in our:
- Aloe Vera & Moringa Soap
- Black Magic Hair Oil
- Deep Conditioning Black Magic Hair Mask
- Miti Neem & Moringa Soap
Next time you see organic moringa powder in the shopping aisle, pick it up! It's perfect for smoothies, stews, in a herbal water - anything is possible with moringa.