Tiny leaves, enormous benefits

Henriette Lamprecht – Called the Moringa Oleifera, it is best known as an excellent source of nutrition and a natural energy booster. Loaded with nutrients, vitamins and amino acids, it replenishes the body and provides one with what’s needed to get through a hectic weekday or active weekend.What’s more, it is also relaxing, reduces blood pressure and assures you of a good night’s sleep. Elizabeth Hilger recognised the potential in these tiny leaves, and now spreads the gospel and philosophy of Moringa across Namibia.Elizabeth says the Moringa’s ability to contribute to energy levels and greater relaxation at the same time, lies in its well-documented detoxifying effect. “University laboratories around the world have studied its ability to purify water, attaching itself to harmful material and bacteria and allowing them to be expelled as waste. The evidence points to this same process going on inside your body.”It produces long-lasting energy without hyperactivity, a nerve system at rest, a blood system not under pressure, and a gland and hormone system in balance.Other health benefits identified by people who use Moringa report the same pattern: a strengthened immune system, restored skin condition, controlled blood pressure, better managed headaches, migraines and blood-sugar levels, reduced inflammation and arthritis pain, restricted tumour growth and healed ulcers. According to Elizabeth, a body that’s not fighting damaging internal elements is better able to use the nutrients which come into it to build healthy skin, bone and muscles, as well as the all-important hormones that keep your body in balance.“Moringa is loaded with nutrients. Each 25g of Moringa contains seven times the vitamin C found in oranges, four times the vitamins A of carrots, three times the iron of spinach, four times as much calcium as milk and three times the potassium of bananas!”Namibia has its own indigenous Moringa called Moringa Ovifolia, mostly found in the Etosha and Tsumeb area. The type of Moringa grown by Elizabeth’s Theresia Foundation is called Moringa Oleifera, which originated from India and was bought by the foundation from the Ministry of Agriculture’s department of forestry in Rundu.Elizabeth explains all of the Moringa tree is usable, starting from its seeds, leaves and flowers to its roots and bark.In India, the juice from the leaves is believed to have a stabilizing effect on blood pressure and is used to treat anxiety. Leaves and young buds are rubbed on the temples for headache, while leaves are also considered to be anthelmintic (able to kill intestinal worms). In the Philippines eating leaves is believed to increase a women’s milk production and is sometimes prescribed for anaemia.According to Elizabeth the flowers are traditionally used as a tonic, diuretic, and abortifacient. For this reason, the flowers and derivatives of the flowers should not be used by women in the course of a healthy pregnancy. Flowers are considered to be anthelmintic and are used to cure inflammations, muscle diseases, tumours and enlargement of the spleen. Juice pressed from the flowers is said to alleviate sore throat and catarrh. The pods are also believed to be anthelmintic and are used in afflications of the liver and spleen and in treating pain in joints.Medicinal treatment using the roots is not recommended for people with high blood pressure. Roots are used as a purgative, while a root poultice is used to treat inflammations, especially pedal oedema (swelling of tissues in the foot). A snuff made from roots is inhaled to relieve earache and toothacheThe seeds are used against fever, while the seed oil is used to treat hysteria and scurvy. Oil from the seed is applied to treat prostate and bladder trouble.According to Elizabeth the foundation planted 5 000 Moringa Oleifera in their field, with the leaves washed, dried and processed into powder. “While we use some powder to fill capsules, some of our clients prefer pounding dry leaves into powder themselves.”The powder is sent to a company in Otjiwarongo that uses it to fill capsules. Elizabeth’s involvement with Moringa began with a trial run in 2013 and 2014. “After everything to do with the tree worked that we observed and studied, we started marketing and selling the product in 2015.”Elizabeth is the founder of the Theresia Foundation that supports vulnerable children at the Mavanze village. Running an income-generating project to sustain the foundation was very challenging, as most of the villagers are unemployed, with many residents depending on their mahangu fields for food and an income. “First we started with selling home-baked bread, sewing clothes and selling live chickens but all these activities did not work out. We then started with the plantation of Moringa trees, selling it to other towns in Namibia.”When they started selling the product to the public, most clients had no idea about the Moringa tree or its benefits, Elizabeth says. “Some people had it in their backyard and had no idea about its benefits. They thought it was just a shady tree!”The foundation started marketing it through NBC radio in different languages, in newspapers, distributing flyers and by word of mouth. Now Namibians are starting to wake up to the Moringa Oleifera, its benefits and how to use it, Elizabeth says proudly.“Namibians, especially in the rural areas, are very aware of the local plants and its benefits as this information is passed on from generation to generation. They know the medicinal benefits of their local plants in the bush or wild. People living in town are more into pharmacies and hospitals.”However, Namibians are becoming more and more aware of medicinal plants and their uses, she says.“I’m so proud of our newspapers in Namibia who do their best to promote local plants, especially The Namibian.”Currently the Moringa Oleifera is sold countrywide, but it may be sold beyond borders soon.“Germany has been on our neck to sort out our documentation for exporting. Currently we want to cover the home market first before expanding.”The hope is that the sale of Moringa Oleifera will support the further education of the Theresia Foundation beneficiaries and for the centre to be sustainable and less dependent on donors. Currently the foundation still depends on donors for all its administration, education and food.(lizza.hilger@gmail.com)

Tiny leaves, enormous benefits

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Republikein 2025-07-04

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Tiny leaves, enormous benefits

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