By Obiabin Onukwugha
Moringa is a plant native to many tropical countries especially, South Asia and Africa, but its popularity in the U.S. In Nigeria many herbal medicine practitioners make huge incomes from it.
Moringa contains proteins, vitamins, and minerals, making it useful to fight malnutrition. Moringa can be grown yand retains much of its nutritional value even when dried.
This all-important plant is sold in an assortment of forms, including a stand-alone powder, oils, pill capsules, etc, and can be consumed as tea or food supplements.
Moringa plant has been used for centuries throughout the tropics for medicinal purposes and to improve nutrition, especially in children.
Traditionally, moringa has been used as a remedy for such conditions as: Diabetes, long-lasting inflammation, bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, joint pains, heart related health issues, and cancers.
When used for diabetes and joint pains treatment, moringa can be added to soup or be taken as tea. The dosage of moringa should be one teaspoon regularly which is equivalent to 2 grams.
Moringa is also used for treatment of asthma. Most importantly, Moringa is caffeine-free. Caffeine is one of the leading causes of heart cancer, according to reports
But it is important that you don’t take moringa when undergoing treatment with Orthodox medicine, except so directed by your doctor.
Reports also warn pregnant women against taking moringa in any form, whether as food supplements or treatment of any disease. This is especially if taking the diabetes drug Januvia (sitagliptin) or taking drugs that are substrates of the cytochrome P450 family of enzymes.
Medical researchers have noted that moringa can possibly interact with diabetes, blood pressure and thyroid medications. Hence, it would be pertinent to ask your doctor if it is safe to take Moringa if you are taking such medications.