Moringa

Proponents of Moringa oleifera sing its praises. It has been described as "one of the most useful plants that exists" - owing to its unusual combination of high nutritional value, medicinal properties, fast growing and ability to thrive in arid environments. The leaves are rich in vitamins, proteins and minerals such as calcium, potassium and iron. One of the reasons the tree can thrive in arid regions is that it has a long taproot - which also makes it valuable against soil erosion.[2] The main products made from the plant are edible seed oil, tea leaves and animal feed. The seed kernels are also used by the French perfume manufacturing industry.[3] The Moringa tree is now widely cultivated in Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Central and South America, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The tree is in full leaf at the end of the dry season when other food may be scarce.[4]

Moringa - History

Moringa is a tree with a very long history of use - "deep roots" in more senses than one. It has an entry in Lovell's Compleat Herball of 1665. This work, marvellously described on its title page as "Containing the Summe of Ancient and Moderne Authors, both Galenical and Chymical, touching Trees, Shrubs, Plants, Fruits, Flowers &c. " - states concerning Moringa:

Moringa is described as aphrodisiac in the 1840 Transactions of the Medical and Physical Society of Bombay, which states:

Robert Hamilton Irvine's 1848 A short account of the materia medica of Patna states that "The root is used in debility and as an aphrodisiac"[7]

It seems that every part of the plant has some folklore surrounding its aphrodisiac nature! It's interesting to note that these traditions stem from several different indigenous cultures, and appear to be based on old traditions rather than new invention.

Is Moringa an Aphrodisiac?

Moringa has been the subject of some scientific study. A search of Pubmed revealed 185 scientific papers featuring Moringa - and some interesting topics researched include; antioxidant properties, ameliorative effects on liver fibrosis, amelioration of fluoride toxicity and water purification research. Moringa peregrina has been found to have antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus in an interesting study of forty-two medicinal plants that confirmed the specific indications claimed by traditional healers.[8] However, none of the studies investigate the plant's alleged aphrodisiac efffects.

On the other side of the coin, some accounts exist as to the efficacy of Moringa as an aphrodisiac. One article, entitled the "Thirteen Weirdest Aphrodisiacs" states "A friend of mine, who is 60 year-old, revealed to me that drinking boiled malunggay [Moringa oleifera] leaves is better than Viagra."[9]

Moringa Oleifera's Wikipedia entry states that in Siddha medicines, the "drumstick" seeds are "used as a sexual virility drug for treating erectile dysfunction in men and also in women for prolonging sexual activity." [4]

Ram Nath Chopra's 1958 Indigenous drugs of India states that the flowers are sometimes boiled with milk and used as an aphrodisiac. It also notes (p.157) that Moringa pterygosperma (aka oleifera) has been found to contain a "sympathomimetic alkaloid" resembling ephedrine.

In summary, there's plenty enough folklore, tradition and talk surrounding use of Moringa as an aphrodisiac, for science to want to pick this one up. Not only this, but with the worthy causes of the plant being beneficial both as a crop in poor regions and as a possible combatant to desertification; it would appear that if science could produce evidence that supports this plant as a safe aphrodisiac, serious money could be made. What are they waiting for?

Moringa oleifera is listed in the AHPA's "Herbs of Commerce", p98. [10]

A full listing of the name of Moringa in many languages can be found at the University of Melbourne's Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database [11]