**SPAM** Moringa Oleifera (Horseradish Tree)

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Moringa Oleifera (Horseradish Tree) as an Eco-friendly Solution by: Junji Takano

 

 

 

Moringa Oleifera, commonly known simply as Moringa. Moringa is one of

eco-friendly plants that help the world hunger and sick people. It is a

soft-wooded tree that grows to about 20 feet tall, with corky bark and small

feathery leaves.

 

Moringa is entirely edible, from leaves to roots. It grows practically anywhere

around the world-even lands with poor soil, and even near the sea and dry areas.

 

Seeds sprout readily in one week. Alternatively, one can plant a branch and

within a week, it will grow by itself with another sprout. It is often cut back

year after year in fence rows and continues to thrive. Therefore, to keep an

abundant supply of leaves, flowers, and pods within easy reach, topping out is

useful.

 

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF MORINGA

 

The leaves contain significant sources of minerals and vitamins A, B, and C. It

contains high levels of calcium, phosphorous, iron, protein, with low fat, and

low carbohydrates. Its iron content is very good for anemia.

 

We like to believe that if we will plant moringa tree in our backyard garden as

well as all vacant lots around the world, there shall be no food shortages and

malnutrition problems.

 

According to other sources on the internet, Moringa has seven times the vitamin

C in oranges; four times the calcium and two times the protein in milk; four

times the vitamin A in carrots; and three times the potassium in bananas.

 

 

 

CULINARY USES OF MORINGA

 

Virtually every part of it is edible. The Moringa leaves are also eaten as a

leaf vegetable, particularly in the Philippines, where it is called malunggay.

It can be cooked in any various ways like that of spinach. The roots can be

pulled out and can be used as horseradish. Flowers can be eaten as vegetable, or

you can use it to make a tea, and it provides calcium and potassium. From its

seed, quality oil called Ben oil is yield by pressing. The oil is good for

cooking and lubricating precision machines such as watches and sewing machines.

 

So why I became interested in planting moringa? During the 1940s, Japan suffered

from food shortages. We used desiccated coconut powder as bread flour mixed with

edible grass powder. I can remember how moringa leaves were dried and powdered

to make a bitterly tasting bread just to survive from hunger. However, it was

good that moringa provided hungry Japanese with enough nutrients.

 

How did we make bread out of moringa leaves? At first, rinse moringa leaves and

boil it for 4-5 minutes. Then, dry it either under the sun or windy shade. Grind

it and mix with any flour to make cake, bread, or noodles. This makes a highly

nutritious daily meal.

 

 

 

 

 

The above photos are Moringa and the author, Mr. Takano.

 

WATER TREATMENT WITH MORINGA SEEDS

 

Moringa seeds are also used for water treatment. As seen in the photo below, the

right PET bottle shows artificially made polluted water out of kitchen wastes.

When kept with grinded moringa seeds, the dirt contaminated in the water settles

after a few hours as seen in the left PET bottle.

 

 

 

MORINGA FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES

 

Moringa's seed can remove hazardous materials from water. The use of Moringa for

body detoxification is also being studied by several research groups.

 

Moringa contains a compound known as Pterygospermin. It has powerful antibiotic

and fungicidal effects especially for skin infection. It helps slow down skin

aging, too.

 

Moringa contains antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties effective for

chronic swelling as well as trauma.

 

The Moringa leaves and seeds are used to treat high blood pressure, diabetes,

diarrhea, including cancers as an immediate local herb.

 

Proper use of moringa is therefore an excellent eco-friendly solution for the

world. Since moringa has hundreds of medicinal properties, we will talk about it

in our next issue.

 

Now, you can call Moringa Oleifera an eco-friendly miracle tree of the world.

Let us save the world from hunger and from sick people. Let us plant Moringa,

today!

 

 

 

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