Makulay ang buhay sa sinabawang malunggay

Biotechnologists of the Department of Agriculture believe the ultra nutritious malunggay or horseradish tree (Moringa oleifera L.), an ingredient in many Filipino dishes, would significantly improve the health of Filipinos–while providing a new agri-business opportunity for farmers.

Malunggay is making a golden comeback and promises to be “the next big thing” in Philippine agriculture biotechnology, said Alicia Ilaga, director of the DA Biotechnology Program, during the recent 2007 Agrilink/Foodlink exhibit.

The Department of Agriculture is now encouraging the massive cultivation of the once lowly malunggay, dubbed a “miracle vegetable.” – Source: Inquirer.net

Here are some of its uses from Filipino herbs healing wonders:

Commercial

• Oil, known as ben oil, extracted from flowers can be used as illuminant, ointment base, and absorbent in the enfleurage process of extracting volatile oils from flowers. The oil, applied locally, has also been helpful for arthritic pains, rheumatic and gouty joints.
• Nutritional
• Flowers, leaves and pods eaten as a vegetable.
• Source of calcium, iron, phosphorus and vitamins.

 

Medicinal

• Young leaves increases the flow of milk. Pods for intestinal parasitism.
• Constipation: Leaves and fruit
• Decoction of boiled roots used to wash sores and ulcers.
• Decoction of the bark used for excitement, restlessness.
• Pounded roots used as poultice for inflammatory swelling.
• Juice of roots is used for otalgia.
• Decoction of roots is use as gargle for hoarseness and sore throat.
• Boiled leaves used to help increase lactation.
• Seeds for hypertension, gout, asthma, hiccups, and as a diuretic.
• Rheumatic complaints: Decoction of seeds; or, powdered roasted seeds applied to affected area.
• Juice of the root with milk used for asthma, hiccups, gout, lumbago.
• Poultice of leaves applied for glandular swelling.
• Pounded fresh leaves mixed with coconut oil applied to wounds and cuts.
• The flowers boiled with soy milk thought to have aphrodisiac quality.

I’m with Ilocano housemates and they often cook meals with malunggay like tinola with malunggay and  noodle soup with malunggay.

I remember telling them not to put malunggay.. but now, i think i’ll be the one to tell them to put malunggay even in adobo, sinigang, fish fillet, and other dishes! Hahahha