Moringa spread east from India to China, Asia, west to Egypt, Horn of Africa, around the Mediterranean and the West Indies. There has been evidence of its use from 2000 BC as it was highly valued by the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians alike. The oil, made from the seed, was used as a skin protection against the sun, carrier oil for perfumes and medicines. The seeds were also used for water purification.
The Egyptians recognized its natural protective properties and used it on their skin to protect themselves from the harsh desert conditions. Its use can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians, who placed vases filled with moringa oil inside their tombs. A tomb dated from the 18th dynasty (1550-1292BC) in Egypt was found to contain 10 jars of ‘Sweet Moringa oil’ thought to have been used in the funeral procession of Maya. Moringa oil possesses exceptional oxidative stability which may explain why the Egyptians placed vases of Moringa oil in their tombs.
Forth century BC evidence shows that a base oil made from the seed nut of the Moringa was highly coveted as it was less viscous and very receptive to absorbing scent and its origin was the Syrian and Egyptian desserts.
Lise Manniche in the book ‘An Ancient Egyptian Herbal’ gives recipes that were used by the ancient Egyptians. It would appear that Moringa oil was used as a carrier oil which would be mixed with various other ingredients for medicinal purposes. For example:
- Maladies of the stomach – Moringa oil, honey, frankincense, wine which would be boiled from a paste and eaten.
- Cramps – Moringa oil, barley flour, ox fat, boiled and eaten.
- Sore gums – Moringa oil, gum, fig, ochre and water rubbed onto gums.
- Maladies of the head – Moringa oil, castor oil seeds, fat, made into a poultice and placed on the head.
- Poultice for stopping bleeding – Moringa oil, wax, fat, honey, carob pulp and boiled barley.
- Ear ache – Moringa oil, cucumber, ochre.
- Wrinkles – Moringa oil, frankincense gum, wax, cypress grass ground finely with fermented plant juice and applied daily.
- Moringa oil was used on a daily basis as a mosquito repellent.
In ancient India, Maurian warriors were fed Moringa leaf extract in the war front. The leaf extract was believed to have given the warriors extra stamina and strength. A story about the only time Alexander the Great was beaten in battle was in India 326 BC, over a two year period and around sixty battles. It was recorded that the Maurian warriors fed on a liquid Moringa diet that gave them almost super human strength as they needed little sleep and they never got sick and their wounds healed rapidly and in the end they wore Alexander’s army out.
On the island of Jamaica in 1817, a petition concerning Moringa oil was presented to the Jamaican House of Assembly. It described the oil as being useful for salads and culinary purposes, and being equal to the best Florence oil as an illuminant–giving clear light without smoke. The leaves and pods were likewise used in local recipes.
In Qasr Ibrim, once a major city in what is now Lake Nasser, traces of Moringa Peregrina fruits were found to be present as early as 7th century BC (Clapham A.J and P.A Rowley-Conwy 007 New discoveries at Qasr Ibrim Lower Nubia). Although Moringa Peregrina was thought to be different to Moringa Oleifera in Species Plant arum by Linnaeus in 1753 suggested they are one and the same.
So although it seems like Moringa is a new fad for the West it has been around a long time.