My tree of life

Some time ago, I experienced a moment that will have a lasting, profound effect on me. It was a chance meeting with David Makin, a modern-day version of Johnny Appleseed, who introduced me to the extraordinary Moringa tree (known as Malunggay in the Philippines). The Moringa is also known by several nicknames, including "The Miracle Tree" and "Mother's Best Friend". David has a large plantation of the trees in Israel as well as in the Philippines and has dedicated his life towards healing others with the many features this tree possesses.

Moringa leaves, flowers, seeds, seed pods and roots are commonly used in cooking in south-east Asia, and have many healthy features, including a wide range of vitamins, enzymes, minerals, antioxidants, protein, and oils rich in nutrients. It has, gram for gram, more Vitamin C than oranges, more iron than spinach, more calcium than milk, more potassium than bananas. It also has all the amino acids, including those that our body cannot synthesize. Some people call this tree "Nature's Pharmacy" as it has nearly everything humans need. It is indeed an extremely healthy source of food.

Moringa also has healing effects. I am a lung transplantee. All transplant patients must take a drug called Prograf to prevent rejection of the implanted lung. But this drug exposes us to adverse effects, the most common being recurring skin cancers. Some patients have serious cases of skin cancer, others less so. All growths must be removed immediately by a surgeon. Two weeks after the operation, the patient must have the stitches removed and wait for the result. Was the growth benign or cancerous, and if so, which type of cancer? Basal or Squamous cell cancer? This procedure is repeated every two weeks. This seemingly an unending process is crucial for maintaining good health.

But Moringa may have healed me, and it has certainly helped me. Moringa's edible flowers and leaves are delicious when made into tea, with the addition of honey if desired. A glass or two of Moringa tea before bedtime has soothing qualities that help you to sleep like a baby throughout the night.

I don't know if Moringa cured my skin cancer. I don't dare delude myself into thinking that. But I also use Moringa leaves that have been made into soap, and a very rich nutritious Moringa oil. Twice a day I make a rich lather with the soap on my arms, legs and face. After a few minutes I wash it off and then put the oil on. Since I started using the soap and oil twice a day, there have not been any new skin cancer growths. 

I visited a lovely woman from Manila in the Philippines, Mary, whose family often uses the leaves in cooking. Mary's family loves baked chicken with garlic, onions, ginger and fresh Moringa leaves covering the fowl. She says that over the years the Filipinos have realized what a fabulous product they have. The government has stepped in to promote the growth of Moringa as a priority crop. Nursing mothers in the Philippines are routinely given Moringa leaves because they are believed to increase lactation. The government hopes to embark on a campaign declaring the benefits of "The Miracle Tree" to all sections of the population.

Millions of people around the world live in abject poverty, and in many countries Moringa has been used to combat malnutrition, especially among infants and nursing mothers. Several aid organizations advocate using Moringa, in particular Moringa leaf powder, in areas where starvation is imminent.

For well-fed Westerners, Moringa may have other benefits, helping to lower both cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

Humans have always eaten from trees for nutrition and health. Ezkiel 47:12 says: "And its fruit shall be used for food, and its leaves for healing." In the Book of Revelation 22:2, appears this verse: "The leaves of the trees shall be for the healing of the nations." Exodus 15:23 – 25 refers to Moses promising the Israelites at Marah that a tree would turn bitter water into sweet drinking water. And so it did! Any of those references could easily apply to the Moringa tree

The writer serves a Moringa breakfast at Nancy's Place in Caesarea, tel: 052 394 8415; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..