Moringa Benefits, Medicinal Usage, Complete Ayurveda Details

Moringa or drumstick tree has been used as a part of diet in India since ages. Its use in treatment is seen in Ayurveda from the times of Sushruta. Many of its parts like drumstick leaves, fruit, oil etc have immense health benefits targeted towards many systems like digestive, heart and circulatory system.
Botanical name: Moringa oleifera
Family: Moringaceae (Sobhanjana Kula)

Vernacular names

Hindi Name: Sahijan, Munaga
Tamil Name – Murungai
English name: Drumstick plant, Moringa, Horse radish tree
Kannada name: Nugge mara, Nugge kayi

Classical categorization

Charaka Samhita –
Krimighna – A group of herbs that are used to treat worm infestation.
Svedopaga – Ayurvedic plants that are used in Svedana (preparatory procedure for Panchakarma)
Shirovirechanopaga – group of herbs that are used in Nasya Panchakarma treatment
Katuka Skandha – a group of herbs that have a pungent taste.
Charaka has mentioned this as one of the herbs used in powder massage, useful in pruritis, acne and urticaria.(Reference: Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 3rd chapter)
Charaka has also mentioned it as a plant source for oil – Sthavara Sneha Yoni  (Reference)

Sushruta and Vagbhata – Varunadi Group of herbs. (Hence it is an ingredient of a famous Ayurvedic medicine – Varanadi kashayam)
Bh. P . Ni – Guduchyadi varga

Morphology

Habit- Small or Middle sized tree.
Bark- Corky
Wood-Soft
Root-Pungent. Young parts are tomentose

Leaves-Usually tripinnate, rhachis are slender, pinnae and pinnules are opposite. rachides are very slender
Inflorescence- Large puberculous panicles

Flowers-White in colour, calyx lobes are linear, lanceolate, , petals are veined, stamens five and are fertile.
Fruit- Pod, reaching up to 45 cm long and 9 ribbed.
Seeds -Three angled, and the angles are winged

Medicinal Qualities of drumstick tree

Rasa (taste) – Katu (Pungent), Tikta (bitter)
Guna(qualities) – Laghu (light to digest), Rooksha (dryness), Teekshna (strong, piercing)
Vipaka – katu (Moringa undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion)
Veerya – Ushna – hot potency.
Effect on Tridosha – Balances Kapha and Vata.

Parts used

Drumsticks root bark, stem bark, leaves, fruits and seeds are used for therapeutic purposes. They have their own unique medicinal qualities.

Dosage

Swarasa (Juice) – 20 – 30 ml
Kwatha (Decoction) – 30 – 50 ml

All values are per 100 grams of edible portion. (Reference)

	Fresh Leaves	Dried Leaves
Arginine	406.6 mg	1,325 mg
Histidine	149.8 mg	613 mg
Isoleucine	299.6 mg	825 mg
Leucine	492.2 mg	1,950 mg
Lysine	342.4 mg	1,325 mg
Methionine	117.7 mg	350 mg
Phenylalinine	310.3 mg	1,388 mg
Threonine	117.7 mg	1,188 mg
Tryptophan	107 mg	425 mg
Valine	374.5 mg	1,063 mg

Vitamins and Minerals

All values are per 100 grams of edible portion.

	Fresh Leaves	Dried Leaves
Carotene (Vit. A)*	6.78 mg	18.9 mg
Thiamin (B1)	0.06 mg	2.64 mg
Riboflavin (B2)	0.05 mg	20.5 mg
Niacin (B3)	0.8 mg	8.2 mg
Vitamin C	220 mg	17.3 mg
Calcium	440 mg	2,003 mg
Calories	92 cal	205 cal
Carbohydrates	12.5 g	38.2 g
Copper	0.07 mg	0.57 mg
Fat	1.70 g	2.3 g
Fiber	0.90 g	19.2 g
Iron	0.85 mg	28.2 mg
Magnesium	42 mg	368 mg
Phosphorus	70 mg	204 mg
Potassium	259 mg	1,324 mg
Protein	6.70 g	27.1 g
Zinc	0.16 mg	3.29 mg

Home remedies

By Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu), PhD.

Hypertension

1. Drumstick pod decoction for Hypertension, improper fat metabolism, lethargy, sexual debility:
Daily, 1 drumstick is taken and it is cut into pieces and decoction is made. According to one’s need and acceptance, slight salt may be added. This is taken once daily, preferably during the evening, before food.
This has good benefit in hypertension, hyper cholesterol, improper fat metabolism, lethargy, sexual debility etc

Decoction of any herb is prepared by adding a tablespoon of herb with 2 cups of water, boiling and reducing to half a cup. Filtered and consumed when it is hot. It is also called herbal tea.

Conjunctivitis, swollen eyes

2. Leaf juice in conjunctivitis and swelling of the eyes:
A fistful of leaves is taken and its juice is obtained. This is instilled to both the eyes in the dose of 2 drops.
In cases of swelling around the eyes, this juice is applied around the eyes (paste can also be used for this purpose)

Dysmenorrhea

3. Leaf decoction in dysmenorrhoea, back ache and pimples:
It balances Vata and Kapha Dosha. Leaf decoction of drum stick in the dose of 50-60 ml twice daily is helpful to overcome the back ache and dysmenorrhoea.
Being a blood purifier it pacifies the pimples and black heads.

Anorexia

4. Flower curry or powder in Abdominal distention and tastelessness:
A fistful of moringa flowers are collected and cooked well with salt and black pepper (or garlic and ginger powder /paste).
This is served during lunch as a side dish. This has a very good effect in subsiding gaseous distension of abdomen and anorexia.

Dried flower is fried with little ghee and sprinkled with a little pepper powder and salt. Or it can be made into fine powder and can be kept ready to serve during food. This has good benefits in cases like morning sickness caused during pregnancy and in any other tasteless conditions.

Face pack, soup

5. Leaf paste with lemon juice face pack:
 Leaf paste or juice with lemon juice can be mixed and applied over the face. This is useful to overcome black heads and acne.

6. Drumstick Pod soup:
The soup prepared from drumstick pods is very much useful in treating the diseases of liver, spleen, pancreas etc. This is an aphrodisiac also. It strengthens the bones and joints too.

Health benefits of Moringa

There are three varieties of Moringa explained in the Ayurvedic text book Bh. P . Ni
1. Shyama – black variety
2. Shveta – white variety and
3. Rakta – red variety. It is also called Madhu shigru.

Based on the colour of flowers 2 varities – Sweta (Katu sigru) and Rakta (Madhu Sigru) – Moringa concanensis. Sweta sigru is the common variety.

4 varieties are mentioned in Ra. ni – Sighru, Nila Sighru, Sweta sighru, Rakta Sighru

Sanskrit verse

Drumstick – Black variety

Black variety of drumstick tree is the most common. Its qualities are –
Katu – pungent,
Teekshna – piercing, sharp, strong
Ushna – hot in potency
Madhura – slightly sweetish
Laghu – light to digest
Deepana – improves digestion
Rochana – Improves taste
Rooksha – dry
Kshara – Has alkaline properties
Tikta – Bitter
Vidaahakrit – causes burning sensation
Sangrahi – Useful to check diarrhea
Shukrala – Improves semen quantity and sperm count
Hrudya – Good for the heart. Cardiac tonic
Pittarakta prakopana: Increases Pitta and vitiates blood. Hence, drumsticks should not be consumed during bleeding disorders, during menstruation and for people with pimples and Pitta related skin diseases.
Chakshushya – Improves vision, good for eyes.
Kaphavataghna – Decreases imbalanced Kapha and Vata
Vidradhi – Useful in abscess. It helps in quick wound healing of abscess, upon oral intake and external application as paste.
Shvayathu – It is a good anti-inflammatory herb.
Krimi – useful in worm infestation in stomach and in wounds.
Meda – helpful to decrease fat and obesity.
Apachi – Useful in relieving carbuncles.
Visha – Anti toxic. Has detoxifying action.
Pleeha – Useful in spleen related diseases
Gulma – Useful in abdominal bloating and tumors
Ganda Vrana – Useful in lymphadenitis

Drumstick – white variety

White variety drumstick uses:
It is quite similar to the black variety.
Dahakrut – causes burning sensation
pleehaanaaM vidradhim hanti – useful in splenic abscess
VraNaghna – helps in quick wound healing
pittaraktakrut – Increases Pitta and vitiates blood.

The red variety, called as Madhushigru
Deepana – Increases digestion power.
Sara – promotes proper bowel movements.

Drumstick leaves and bark

The juice extract of drumstick leaves and bark are very useful in relieving pain. They act as natural analgesics. They are used both for oral intake and also for external application as paste.
In an Indian household, the leaves are used to prepare Chutney or sambar.
The paste of moringa leaves are applied externally to relieve pain and inflammation.
It is applied over pile mass to relieve pain and itching.
Moringa leaves are used internally to improve eyesight, also for the treatment of Ulcerative colitis.

Properties as per Bhojana Kutuhala

According to Bhojana Kutuhalam twelfth chapter, The leaves of shigru when used as a vegetable imparts taste, relieves vata and kapha related disorders. It is pungent in taste, hot in potency, stimulates the digestive fire, wholesome for the body, checks intestinal worms and promotes digestion.

The fruit of white shigru is cold in potency, Is aphrodisiac, slimy in nature, aggravates kapha and is heavy for digestion. It stimulates the digestive fire, alleviates vata and pitta, imparts complexion and treats hemorrhoids and prameha.

The fruits of Red shigru are pungent and sweet in taste, It is unctuous, penetrating in nature, cold and heavy for digestion. It improves clarity of vision, increases production of breast milk, aphrodisiac, nourishing and cleanses the bladder. It treats disorders of medha, gulma, abdominal disorder, dyspnoea, impairment of voice, worm infestation and edema.The root alleviates vatadi doshas, promotes strength, is hot in potency and stimulates the digestive fire.

The flowers of shigru is heavy for digestion, cold in potency, alleviates pitta and kapha dosha and treats intestinal worms, improves clarity of vision, increases the quantity of semen, imparts taste, It nourishes the body, stimulates the digestive fire and loosens the stools.

The oil is pungent in taste, hot in potency, alleviates vata and kapha dosha, is slimy in nature, helps in treating skin diseases, wounds, itching and edema.

Drumstick seeds uses

Chakshushya – good for eyes
Vishanashana – anti toxic
Avrushya – do not have aphrodisiac qualities
Nasyena Shiro Artinut – When used for Nasya (in the form of powder or oil), it helps to relieve headache.
Moringa seeds are called Shweta Maricha.

Moringa for headache

As explained above, moringa leaf paste applied externally, or used as a vegetable helps to relieve headache.
Its seed powder, in the form of nasya treatment, cures headache.

Moringa for diabetes

Many studies have been conducted to prove the anti diabetic and antioxidant effect of Moringa.

Moringa flowers

It is useful in intestinal worms. It balances Pitta and kapha.

Moringa oil

Oil prepared with Moringa is useful to relieve headache, pungent, and useful in skin diseases and diabetes.

Moringa leaves for balanitis

Leaves are ground to make a paste. It is applied over the inflamed area.

Moringa powder

How to consume Moringa powder? What is the best way?

Moringa leaf powder can be readily consumed. In a research study, 100 grams of powder was administered over one week. That is about 15 grams per day. (1). It was for the purpose of testing the iron status of Senegalese lactating women.
However, for a healthy person, Moringa can be consumed in a dose of 3 – 5 grams, once or two times a day, before food.
It can be administered along with water or sesame oil, for Vata balance, along with ghee for Pitta balance and with honey, for Kapha balance.

Moringa powder can also be consumed in the form of decoction. To prepare its water decoction, 1 tablespoon of powder is added to two cups of water, boiled till the water reduces to half a cup and consumed. Here, the dose is half a cup per day. Read rules to prepare Kashayam

Moringa in Ayurvedic medicines

Because of its analgesic effects, Moringa is used as an ingredient in many Ayurvedic pain relief oils such as Murivenna, Kottamchukkadi Thailam,
Because of its anti-inflammatory effects, it is an ingredient of Shothaghna Lepa – a paste application used to relieve swelling, pain and redness.
Because of its wound healing benefits, and usefulness in abscess etc, it is an ingredient in Aragwadhadi kashayam.

Moringa Side Effects

As explained above, it causes an increase in burning sensation and is pungent. Hence, people with gastritis or a sensitive stomach should use this vegetable carefully.
It is not ideal to be taken during periods, since it increases Pitta and vitiates blood.
It is also not ideal to be taken during bleeding disorders.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Drumstick during pregnancy and lactation

Drumstick fruit is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Hence it can be used during pregnancy. But drumstick leaves, root bark and flowers are not indicated during pregnancy.

It is not ideal to take this soon after delivery. However, a couple of weeks after delivery, this can be used.

Drumstick to increase sperm count

Drumstick fruit is known to improve sperm count and quality.
Drumstick (Moringa) leaf powder was evaluated on male reproductive system of Swiss albino mice Mus musculus. The sperm count, its mobility and mortality, histology of testis and epididymis of normal and hyperglycaemic male Swiss albino mice have been investigated and an attempt has been made to evaluate the efficacy of Moringa leaf powder in repair mechanisms in case of hyperglycemia. In treated mice (Group III), the sperm count significantly increased, sperm mobility also increased but sperm mortality decreased significantly. There was a slight decrease in weight of testis (0.478±0.008gm to 0.33±0.006 gram) respectively when compared to the control mice group. (research)

Moringa seeds for colitis

An experimental study conducted on rats concluded that MSHE (Moringa oleifera seeds hydro-alcoholic extract) and MCF (chloroform fraction ) were both effective to treat experimental colitis and this might be attributed to their similar major components, biophenols and flavonoids. Since the efficacy was evident even in low doses of MSHE, presence of active constituents with high potency in seeds is persuasive. (Source).

Sanskrit Synonyms:
Shobhanjana – Very auspicious tree
Bahumula – Sigru plant has many root
Ghanachada – Plant has dense foliage
Mulakaparni – Leaves have strong qualities like that of radish
Krushnigandha – Odour of shigru is very strong like that of black pepper
Harita saka – Sighru is used as green vegetable
Shigru – has strong, piercing qualities
Teekshnagandha – Strong and pungent odor
Aksheeva – relieves intoxication
Mochaka – helps to cure diseases
Vidradhighna – Sigru is very useful in abscess

Drumstick leaves, raw

Taste – pungent, bitter
Properties – light, dry, sharp, piercing
Potency – hot
After digestion taste transformation ( Vipaka ) – pungent
Effect on Doshas
Vata balancing
Pitta increasing
Kapha balancing (paste is useful in treating balanitis)

Drumstick leaves, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt

Taste – pungent, bitter
Properties – light, dry, sharp, piercing
Potency – hot
After digestion taste transformation ( Vipaka ) – pungent
Effect on Doshas
Vata balancing
Pitta increasing
Kapha balancing

Drumstick leaves, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt

Taste – pungent, bitter, slightly salty
Properties – light, dry, sharp, piercing
Potency – hot
After digestion taste transformation ( Vipaka ) – pungent
Effect on Doshas
Vata balancing
Pitta increasing (salt is also Pittakara)
Kapha balancing

Drumstick pods, raw

Rasa – sweet, bitter
Guna – light (moderate calorie), unctuous
Veerya – cold
Vipaka – sweet
Effect on Doshas
Vata balancing
Pitta balancing (good for hair, skin, blood detoxifier)
Kapha increasing (Shukrakara)

Drumstick pods, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt

Rasa – sweet, bitter
Guna – light (cooked), unctuous
Veerya – cold
Vipaka – sweet
Effect on Doshas
Vata balancing
Pitta balancing (good for hair, skin, blood detoxifier)
Kapha nourishing (cooking makes it less heavier and less Kaphakara)

Drumstick pods, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt

Taste – sweet, bitter, slightly salty
Properties – light (cooked), unctuous
Potency – not very cold (salt is hot in potency)
After digestion taste transformation ( Vipaka ) – sweet
Effect on Doshas
Vata balancing
Pitta nourishing (cooked drumstick pod is Pitta balancing, but salt is Pittakara)
Kapha nourishing (cooking makes it less heavier and less Kaphakara)

Distribution

All over India

Sthanika karma (Systemic action)

External application- External application of its leaf and stem bark indicated in oedema, abscess. It can cause burning sensation. Seed powder can be used for Nasya. Seed oil used for oedema and pain.  

Nervous System – It has Tikshna (Penetrating), ushna (Hot) property. so stimulate the nervous system. Indicated in weakness of nervous system, Hemiplegia, paraplegia, facial palsy and other degenerative nervous disorders

Digestive system – Being spicy and hot it stimulates taste buds, carminative, absorbent, anthelmintic and analgesic. Madhusighru, has laxative action. Indicated in loss of appetite, abdominal disorders, phantom tumor, abdominal pain

Circulatory System – Stimulate heart, increase blood pressure. Reduce oedema. Indicated in weakness of heart

Respiratory System – Pacify Kapha dosha, Indicated in Cough

Excretory system – Stimulates kidney, increases urine production, causes alkalinity of urine. Not indicated in renal disorders

Reproductive System – Being hot it stimulates menstrual bleeding, Indicated in oligomenorrhea.Satmikarana –Anti poisonous, Reduce sperm count, reduce body fat (Medoroga)

Tapakrama – Indicated in fever (Sweda janana)

Netra – Anjana with its seed is indicated in eye disorders