By Obiabin Onukwugha
The major use of herbal medicines is for health promotion and therapy for chronic diseases as opposed to life-threatening, conditions.
However, usage of traditional remedies increases when conventional medicine is said to be ineffective in the treatment of such diseases and chronic ailments.
Moringa is a plant native to many tropical countries especially, South Asia and Africa, but its popularity in the U.S. has blossomed in recent years, trickling down to Nigeria where many herbal medicine practitioners making huge incomes from it.
It contains proteins, vitamins, and minerals, making it useful to fight malnutrition. Moringa can be grown cheaply and easily, and retains much of its nutritional value 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.
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The 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.
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.
