Our family travels to Arizona frequently and during these road trips, we stop at organic farms to buy moringa powder and seeds, among other handmade goods. The moringa seeds are bitter, and take a bit of getting used to, but they provide so many health benefits that it is almost like you can feel their positive healing energy unleashing itself within once eaten.
Our son Matthew sees it as a challenge to see if he can be the one to eat more seeds than everyone else, as a show of strength. We all like talking to the farmers who sell their moringa products. It is this connection that keeps us coming back to their farm when we visit. The fact that we rarely get sick is a contributing factor too, and we feel our morning habit may be part of that formula.
What is moringa?
Native to India, moringa trees thrive in hot, arid climates, making it a good choice for Arizona farmers and homeowners to plant moringa trees.
The benefits and uses of the moringa tree are many. They will be addressed later in this article. The products that come from moringa have been used since ancient times as medicinal, cosmetic, and topical.
The two species of moringa that are most commonly cultivated are the oleifera and the stenopetala.
There has been a growing interest in Moringa trees and the beneficial products they can create over the past several years, because not only is moringa a superfood, but every part of the tree can be used for something that is highly valued.
The leaves, bark, flowers, roots, and seeds of the moringa tree can all be harvested and gathered for nutritional, medicinal, and even industrial purposes.
The Miracle Tree
Because the whole moringa plant or tree can be used, it has earned the nickname “The Miracle Tree” or “The Tree of Life.” It typically grows in tropical and sub-tropical climates. Moringa will be affected by a freeze, so it can grow as an annual, though many say that theirs has come back after a freeze.
Even though moringa produces all sorts of different products, we are going to focus on the uses and benefits of the highly nutritious and useful oil that is created when the seeds of the tree are cold pressed.
Where can I buy young moringa plants to grow myself?
Some people make their own moringa products, as they live in the Southwest USA or arid climates that the moringa tree thrives in. The trees grow quickly, and it is rather easy and satisfying to dry the leaves and make them into a powder to add to smoothies, for example.
What is moringa oil?
Moringa oil comes from the seeds of the oleifera species. The tree’s seeds are harvested, unwrapped from their natural circular paper, and pressed in a machine. These seeds contain numerous nutritional vitamins and minerals within their oil.
How is moringa oil made?
When the seeds are harvested from the tree, they go through decortication, which is a process that removes the outer papery layer coat of the seeds. Once the outer coat is removed, the kernel remains. The kernals are dried and then crushed in a rotary press, usually a cold press. Solvent extraction methods can be used as well, but this method is for industrial purposes only. The oil is then filtered and then packaged according to use.
How to use Moringa oil
- Massage Oil: This is an excellent massage oil.It penetrates well into the skin without leaving it greasy. Daily hair massage allows the hair over time to strengthen as it nourishes the hair follicles.
- Beauty and Hair Products: Moringa oil that has been cold pressed has the ability to penetrate the skin deeply to produce healthy and glowing skin. Because of this, beauty products that you can find moringa oil in are many: Skin creams, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions.
- Cooking oil: Moringa cooking oil is a healthy fat as it is monounsaturated. It is high in oleic acid. Moringa is a nutritious and less expensive alternative to the more costly cooking oils.
Moringa oil benefits
- Moringa oil contains several compounds that are anti-inflammatory, and it delivers these benefits whether you ingest the oil or use it topically. Be sure that you buy oil that is food grade if you plan to ingest it.
- Can be used to treat acne topically
- Moisturizes and nourishes skin
- May help manage diabetes, though more studies are being conducted.
- Contains sterols that have shown to lower “bad” or LDL cholesterol, though more studies are being conducted on this.
Why use moringa oil instead of brand-name moisturizers?
The best part about using a natural oil like moringa on your skin instead of a skincare product is that you potentially avoid all of the preservatives, chemicals, and stabilizers added to the product to make it last a long time.
These “extras” are unwelcome in the body and are absorbed quickly through the pores. The liver has to work hard to filter unwanted chemicals from the bloodstream. This causes unnecessary stress on the liver and is not ideal.
SVA Organics makes an excellent organic, cold-pressed moringa oil for topical beauty uses at a good value.
How to use moringa oil on the face and skin
- Use moringa oil as a replacement for your facial cream. Use 3-5 drops on your face each morning and evening to ensure well-nourished skin.
- Use moringa oil on your legs and arms to prevent dryness and keep your skin healthy without all of the other stabilizers and preservatives used in other lotions and cream products.
- Use moringa oil to help with healing wounds, minor scrapes, and to help lower the inflammation from rashes while it speeds the healing of these conditions.
- Apply directly to acne blemishes to reduce inflammation and speed up healing.
- Massage a few drops of moringa oil into the scalp at night for healthy, shiny hair from the follicle.
Where can I buy young moringa plants to grow myself?
Some people make their own moringa products as they live in the Southwest USA or arid climates where the moringa tree thrives. The trees grow quickly, and it is rather easy and satisfying to dry the leaves and make them into a powder to add to smoothies, or grind up the seeds for homemade oil.
You can buy trees like this online on Amazon to plant yourself.
Where to buy moringa cooking oil?
Moringa may not be a typical oil choice that you see in your grocery store. I had to search online to find some cooking oil. Dr. Adorable offers 100% organic, cold pressed cooking oil online in a quart size.
Tips on choosing moringa cooking oil
- For the purpose of cooking, choose organic, cold-pressed, food-grade oil.
- Check manufacturing: Transparent origins and sourcing of the moringa used in production are best.
- Authenticity: Some cheaper moringa oils may contain very little moringa oil. The oil should be a pale yellow color and its scent should remind one slightly of peanuts.
If you use moringa oil for a beauty treatment or if you use it to cook your favorite dishes, let us know! Have you discovered any tips for using moringa oil yourself? Simply use the “Contact Us” form. We’d love to hear from you. We may publish your comment in this article for others to benefit. Thank-you in advance!
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