Moringa is a plant native to India and other countries. It contains proteins, vitamins, and minerals, making it useful to fight malnutrition.
Moringa is an important food source in some parts of the world. It can be grown cheaply and easily, and retains much of its nutritional value when dried. As an antioxidant, it seems to help protect cells from damage. Moringa might also help decrease inflammation and reduce pain.
Moringa is used for asthma, diabetes, breast-feeding, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Is It Effective?
There is interest in using moringa for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Is it Safe?
When taken by mouth: Moringa is likely safe when the leaves, fruit, and seeds are eaten as food. Moringa leaf and seeds are possibly safe when used as medicine, short term. Products containing moringa leaf have been used for up to 6 months. Products containing moringa seed have been used for up to 3 weeks. Moringa root and root bark are possibly unsafe. The roots and root bark contain toxic substances.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if moringa is safe or what the side effects might be.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: It is possibly safe to use moringa leaves in pregnancy during the second or third trimester. But it's possibly unsafe to use the root, bark, or flowers of moringa when pregnant. Chemicals in the root, bark, and flowers might make the uterus contract. In traditional medicine, the root and bark were used to cause miscarriages. There isn't enough reliable information to know if other parts of moringa are safe to use when pregnant. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Breast-feeding: Moringa leaf is possibly safe to use while breastfeeding for up to 4 months. There isn't enough reliable information to know if other parts of moringa are safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: Moringa leaf is possibly safe when taken by mouth, short-term. Moringa leaf has been used with apparent safety in children for up to 2 months.
Hypothyroidism: Using moringa might make this condition worse.
Levothyroxine (Synthroid, others)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Moringa might decrease how much levothyroxine the body absorbs. Taking moringa along with levothyroxine might decrease the effects of levothyroxine.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Moringa might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Moringa might lower blood sugar levels. Taking moringa along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications moved by pumps in cells (P-glycoprotein substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are moved in and out of cells by pumps. Moringa might change how these pumps work and change how much medication stays in the body. In some cases, this might change the effects and side effects of a medication.
Nevirapine (Viramune)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Moringa might decrease how quickly the liver breaks nevirapine. This might increase the effects and side effects of nevirapine. But it's not clear if this is a real concern.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Moringa might lower blood sugar. Taking moringa along with other herbs and supplements that lower blood sugar might lower blood sugar too much. Herbs that might lower blood sugar include alpha-lipoic acid, bitter melon, chromium, devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng, and others.
Herbs with thyroid activity: Moringa might affect the body's production of thyroid hormone. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might alter thyroid function too much and cause side effects. Examples of supplements with this effect include bugleweed, lemon balm, and tiratricol.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Moringa is an important food source in some parts of the world. The immature green pods (drumsticks) are prepared similarly to green beans, while the seeds are removed from more mature pods and cooked like peas or roasted like nuts. The leaves are cooked and used like spinach, and they are also dried and powdered for use as a condiment.
Moringa is also available in supplements. Moringa leaves and seeds have most often been used by adults in powders or extracts, in doses of 6-10 grams by mouth daily. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
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