Moringa, also known as the Miracle Tree, is a multipurpose plant, as the leaves, pods, fruits, flowers, roots, and even the bark of the tree can be utilized. It is also called the Drumstick Tree by Britishers, while in Philippines it is known as malunggay. The scientific name of this tree is Moringa oleifera. It is a powerhouse of minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. Therefore, it is widely promoted in poverty-stricken areas, to counter malnutrition. While conventional treatment methods take months to counter this problem, consumption of the parts of this tree may take just a few days to treat it. Its uses range from being a water purifier to protecting the skin and also, to make perfumes and sprays. The gum of this tree is a diuretic and astringent and can be helpful in treating asthma.
Health Benefits
Seeds
- The powdered form of moringa seeds is very well-known to treat scurvy, a common skin disease caused by bacterial infections.
- Crushed seeds are beneficial for purifying and clarifying water to make it available for domestic purposes. The seeds also minimize bacterial concentration
Weight loss has always been a concern for many people. This leads them to take up weight reduction programs, eat less, exercise more, and so on. Many natural products are known to promote weight loss in human beings. Mangosteen is one such fruit which has lately become very popular to promote weight loss. Native to Southeast Asia, it is a delicious purple-colored fruit that is round in shape, and is in no way related to mangoes. This juicy fruit is enriched with several essential vitamins and minerals. It has less fat content, less calorific value, and is a rich source of antioxidants. One fruit contains around 5 gm of fiber and 60 calories. Since the fruit is cholesterol-free, it is good for people suffering from medical conditions related to high cholesterol levels in the body. Health benefits of mangosteen are plenty, however, these days this sour and sweet tasting fruit is mostly used as a tool for losing weight.
Well, it definitely didn’t come as a surprise when I first heard about the efficacy of ginger tea for migraines. After all, haven’t we often heard from our grandparents and many elderly relatives about the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties of this wondrous modified rhizome? Don’t followers and practitioners of herbal medicine swear by its potency to fight various infections, such as sore throat and dry cough? My ear-nose-throat area has always been a sensitive zone and I catch a cold very easily, which mostly starts with a slight, tingling pain in the back of my throat and graduates into cough, slight chest congestion and a full-fledged fever. Back when I was young, my grandmother used to make me a mixture of crushed ginger, honey and black pepper which was spooned into my mouth and I was to slowly swallow this pungent stuff, allowing it to take its own sweet time to pass over my throat. I still resort to this ginger-and-honey remedy whenever I get strep throat and a cough and trust me, it still works as well as any over-the-counter medication