Folk herbalists and traditional societies of the East consider moringa—the “miracle tree”—to be both food and medicine for pregnant and breastfeeding women. In traditional medicine systems, it’s valued for its ability to penetrate into the deep tissues of the bone marrow and regenerate cells. The leaves are sweet, bitter, cooling, astringent, and correspond to the earth element. Recent clinical studies back up moringa’s folk use, suggesting that this nutrient-rich herb may have several benefits during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
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Moringa Safety Categorization
Pregnancy Safety:
Safe
Labor Safety:
Safe
Breastfeeding Safety:
Safe
Several clinical studies suggest that moringa is safe during pregnancy and has benefits for both the mother and baby. The traditional use of moringa for pregnant women and malnourished people is in line with the research evidence.
Human studies also show that moringa is safe and beneficial during breastfeeding. Moringa is also traditionally used during breastfeeding and is often described as a galactagogue—an herb that supports healthy milk production in breastfeeding mothers.
No studies have yet examined moringa use during labor, but folk use describes its benefits for reducing labor pains. Moringa is a good choice during labor because it’s a nourishing and energizing herb packed with minerals and other nutrients.
Precautions: Due to increased popularity, mass-produced industrial moringa may contain heavy metals and pesticides while being lower in beneficial compounds. Be sure to get organic, sustainably sourced moringa to avoid this risk and maximize its health benefits.
Check out other Herbal Doula monographs in the database:
Moringa Safety Infographic
Moringa Benefits & Actions
What is Moringa?
Moringa is called the “miracle tree” in some cultures, which speaks to the special role it holds as a medicinal, nutritive, and sacred plant. Moringa is rich in macro- and micronutrients and other bioactive compounds that support good health and help prevent an array of diseases (Islam et al., 2021).
The common name moringa more usually refers to Moringa oleifera—native to India, but it also includes Moringa peregrina—a variety native to Africa. Moringa is a fast-growing drought-resistant tree that’s now widely cultivated. Every part of the tree is used medicinally, while the young seed pods and green leaves make it into many culinary specialties.
Health Benefits Overview
Moringa is reported to have the following possible health benefits in the literature (Senthilkumar et al., 2018; Islam et al., 2021):
- Blood building
- Nutrient repleting
- Helps fight microbes & infections
- Antioxidant & neuroprotective
- Anthelmintic (helps fight parasites)
- Anti-mutagenic (protecting cells from mutations)
- May help reduce high blood pressure
- May help balance blood sugar & blood lipids
- Helps fight allergies and inflammation
- May help soothe ulcers
Nutritional Profile & Active Compounds
Moringa is a true superfood that contains (Islam et al., 2021):
- 10 times more carotenoids (pro-vitamin A) than carrots
- 7 times more vitamin C than oranges
- 17 times more calcium than milk
- 15 times more potassium than bananas
- Protein and essential amino acids (hence vegetarian cultures especially endorse its use)
Moringa leaves contain a spectrum of active compounds that act as antioxidants, metabolism-balancers, and inflammation-modulators (including tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, phytosterols, terpenoids) (Senthilkumar et al., 2018).
Thanks to its nutritional and medicinal profile, moringa is popularly considered a functional food—a food that offers health benefits beyond basic nutrients and calories.
Leaves vs. seeds
When people use moringa for its health benefits, they usually take leaf powder. Moringa leaves are packed with nutrients and contain more iron than spinach, more protein than eggs, and more calcium than milk. For people living in poverty and malnutrition who don’t have access to other nutrient-dense plant or animal foods, moringa does seem like a miracle tree (Islam et al., 2021).
Moringa seeds are also rich in proteins (19%) and lipids (31%), vitamins, and minerals. Plus, seed extracts show antibacterial activity and are also used to purify water (Islam et al., 2021; Saa et al., 2019).
And although this is great, it’s important to mention that many of these nutrients are harder to absorb or activate from plants than from animal sources. Adding natural sources of vitamin C helps absorb iron from plants.
For people living in higher-income countries or who have access to various whole foods, moringa can be a good dietary addition–but you shouldn’t count on it for all your nutrient needs.
The bottom line
Moringa leaves and seeds are rich in essential nutrients, antioxidants, and beneficial active compounds. Adding moringa to your regimen can boost your nutrition and wellness, but it’s not a replacement for a healthy wholesome diet.
Historical & Folk Use
The leaves, fruits, flowers, and immature pods of the moringa tree are all edible, and they form a part of traditional diets in many countries of the tropics and subtropics. Moringa got its name from the Tamil word “murunggi” or the Malayalam word “muringa”.
Moringa and its healing potential were documented for the first time around 5000 years ago in the Vedic literature in India. Historical data show that Indian, Greek, and Egyptian civilizations were also using Moringa for thousands of years (Patwardhan, 2000; Senthilkumar et al., 2018).
Moringa is even mentioned in the Bible—Moses used moringa seeds to purify water at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 15:20-25), referring to it as the “Tree of Life.”
Moringa leaves and fruits were part of traditional diets, considered to help maintain skin health and mental well-being. Traditional herbalists mixed the seeds with other herbs in formulas for repleting nutrients and minerals in cases of malnourishment (Senthilkumar et al., 2018).
Ancient Maurian warriors of India ate moringa leaf extracts believing in their power to reduce pain and stress. Meanwhile, Ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations valued the aromatic, edible seed oil—known as Ben oil—as a skincare and perfume ingredient (Senthilkumar et al., 2018).
Moringa Energetics & Emotional Properties
Energetics
Elements: earth (primarily), air
Taste: bitter, sweet–leaves, acrid—roots
Temperature: cooling—leaves and seeds; warming—roots and bark
Actions: penetrating, restoring, purifying, adstringent
Organs: bone marrow, spleen, stomach
Tissues: blood
Planetary ruler: Mars, the Moon (possibly—uncertain)
Moringa is considered a sacred plant in many traditional cultures. Native people of the Arabian Peninsula have many cultural, spiritual, and religious connections with it (Senthilkumar et al., 2018).
In essence, it’s a rebuilding plant. In systems of holistic or traditional medicine, moringa should be considered based on each person’s constitution and needs. Though its health effects are wide-ranging, it’s best described as an energizer and structural rebuilder (Meireles et al., 2020)
The Moringa tree and its lush leaves grow quickly in poor soil. It’s sustainable even in dry and hot climates and is resistant to drought. This tells us a lot about its energetics: moringa’s natural environment is nutritionally depleted, dry, and hot—and this is usually the constitution it’s perfect for!
Astrologically, moringa can be associated both with Mars (due to its blood-building, energizing, grounding action) and with the Moon (nutritive, moistening, trauma-releasing).
Emotional/mental actions
Flowers: Encourage a positive attitude and a renewed outlook on life; help to let go of stored trauma, mental obstructions, guilt, and fears; said to bring light to the spirit
Leaves: Restore self-confidence, help with indecisiveness, and encourage mental clarity
Seeds: Give energy, tonify, and help overcome feelings of hopelessness; Believed to renew the spirit and reinvigorate the body and mind
Root: Mildly calming and grounding (as most root medicines are); said to enhance feelings of serenity and balance.
The bottom line
Moringa is associated with the earth element and its possible planetary rulers are Mars and the Moon. Energetically, moringa is thought to encourage mental clarity, positivity, and trauma release. According to traditional medicine, it should be used according to each person’s constitution.
Moringa in Traditional Medicine Systems
Ayurveda
Ayurveda claims that over 300 diseases can be helped with different parts of moringa, used in an individualized way according to the principles of Ayurvedic Medicine (Meireles et al., 2020).
Indications: unbalanced conditions of vata (movement, air) and kapha (solidity, earth)
When unbalanced, vata can lead to both physical and energetic exhaustion, causing all sorts of abnormal movements in the body, such as tics, tremors, and muscle spasms.
Kapha constitution is that which holds things together, creating structural cohesiveness. At one level, kapha is represented by the cells that make up our organs and the fluids that nourish and protect them. Emotionally kapha embodies love and compassion, related to the water element. When out of balance, kapha has the tendency to create physical stagnation and congestion in organs, tissues, and at the mind level. An excess of Kapha has a tendency to produce mucus and obstruction in the sinus and nasal passages, lungs, and colon.
In Ayurvedic ancient texts, the psychological and spiritual properties of moringa are described as powerful, penetrating, purifying, and regenerating.
Moringa penetrates into the deep layers of the body’s tissues. It has a particular tendency for the bone marrow, the deepest tissue of all. The bone marrow is especially important during pregnancy since it produces red and white blood cells.
Moringa is also said to purify the blood and rejuvenate cells, helping remove toxins, parasites, and metabolic waste.
TCM
Native to the Himalayas, moringa is found in Chinese herbal medicine texts but is not a typical TCM herb (Chen 1998; Wan 2001; Zhang & Hengshan 2001).
Moringa leaves are most commonly used medicinally. They’re characterized as bitter and sweet in taste with downward movement and cooling properties (Dong et al. 2019). Due to its cooling action, moringa leaves are usually not suitable for people with a cold constitution or yang deficiency.
According to TCM concepts, Jing or the “deep life force” is strongly related to the bone marrow (Ross 2003).
Moringa leaves are thought to be a potent rebuilder of marrow in the body, restoring life force energy at a deep level (Gopalakrishnan, 2016). They are recommended for reversing malnutrition, tonifying the blood, eliminating dampness and heat, and detoxing. (Brown 2002).
The seeds and fruit are said to tonify the spleen and eliminate dampness. They’re recommended for people with low appetite, bloating, and a feeling of heaviness in the limbs (Brown 2002).
The roots have an acrid and pungent taste and warm nature and are used as food.
The roots and bark are thought to eliminate wind, strengthen the stomach and spleen, support Yang, and promote urination. They are recommended for headaches, dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, flatulence, high blood pressure, and skin problems (Brown 2002).
The bottom line
Moringa leaves are astringent, cooling, and bitter-sweet. It’s traditionally valued for penetrating into the deep tissues of the bone marrow, which is said to build blood and regenerate tissues. The roots are acrid and have a more grounding and warming effect; they’re said to tonify the spleen and stomach.
Moringa Benefits for Pregnant & Breastfeeding Women
1) May improve anemia in pregnancy
In a study of 70 pregnant women in total, moringa leaf biscuits along with iron supplements improved anemia better than iron supplements alone. The women ate two biscuits per day, each containing 2.8 g of moringa leaf flower. After 60 days, women taking moringa biscuits had higher hemoglobin and a tendency for higher iron and zinc intake (Mangul et al., 2021).
Several animal studies were also conducted. Their findings have not been confirmed in pregnant women, human studies would be needed.
In pregnant goats, moringa increased antioxidant levels and enzymes in the blood. It also improves plasma sugar levels, carotenoids, and progesterone profile, suggesting beneficial effects on early pregnancy stress in animals (Afzal et al., 2021).
In pregnant sows and piglets, moringa supplementation reduced stillbirths, enhanced reproduction, and increased protein levels in the colostrum and antioxidant levels in the blood (Sun et al., 2020)
2) May support breastmilk production
Moringa has been used as a galactagogue in Asia, particularly in the Philippines. Small studies from the Philippines suggest that it might be a helpful galactagogue for mothers of preterm infants. It’s thought to act by increasing maternal prolactin (the “milk hormone”) and milk volume. Moringa had no effect on milk quality in several small, poorly done studies. One small study found no adverse effects in nursing mothers who ingested Moringa leaves (Drugs and Lactation Database, LactMed).
A recent systematic review of 33 studies (7 human studies and 26 animal studies) concluded that limited evidence backs up the benefits of moringa throughout pregnancy, breastfeeding, and beyond. Lower moringa doses (0.5 g/day) increased breastmilk volumes in mothers (Brar et al. 2022).
In two other meta-analyses, two out of six studies reported higher prolactin, higher breastmilk volume on day 7, and 12% greater weight gain in babies at week 4 (Drugs and Lactation Database, LactMed).
In animals, moringa increased milk production in two of three studies. Larger, more rigorous trials are needed (Brar et al. 2022).
3) May increase weight gain & improve anemia in children
In one clinical study, moringa extract supplementation during pregnancy helped prevent stunted growth in children between the ages of 36 to 42 months (Basri et al., 2021).
At higher doses (14-30 g/day), moringa improved hemoglobin in children with iron-deficiency anemia, and increased hemoglobin and vitamin A status in postpartum women. It also improved weight gain in breastfed newborns by 12% in the first two weeks (Brar er al. 2022; Pujiastuti et al., 2022; Raguindin et al., 2014)
Another clinical trial investigating the effects of moringa on breastmilk production is underway (Fungtammasan & Phupong, 2021).
Remember, galactagogues don’t solve breastfeeding issues. Breastmilk production works by supply and demand. Ensure a proper latch and breastfeed on demand. Get help from a lactation consultant if you’re struggling rather than reaching for anything to try to “boost” your breast milk production.
The bottom line
Clinical studies suggest that moringa may help prevent anemia and improve nutrient status in pregnancy. A few studies suggest that it may also help prevent anemia in breastfed babies and encourage newborn weight gain.
One study points to its potential in increasing breastmilk volume, backing up its folk use as a galactagogue—but additional studies would need to confirm this.
Moringa Use in Labor
Moringa has been reported to reduce labor pains, but data about its use in labor is sparse (Senthilkumar et al., 2018).
We know that it’s not a typical painkiller. It more likely helps through its nutritive, grounding, and restoring action. Since the leaves are cooling, they may be better suited for women who feel strong heat during contractions.
There are no known safety concerns to using it during labor in typical, food amounts.
Moringa Precautions
The only possible concern with moringa is its purity. Mass production increases the risk of contamination with heavy metals. One analysis revealed that moringa supplements sold in Thailand contained several heavy metals (including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury (Limmatvapirat et al., 2015).
Be sure to buy organic, sustainably sourced moringa from a trusted manufacturer.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the stems, roots, and flowers of moringa may prevent implantation, promote uterine contractions, and increase the risk of miscarriages at high doses (Dutta 2017; Nath et al. 1997; Dutta 2017).
However, no human, animal, or cellular studies reported adverse effects with moringa leaves and leaf extracts at typical doses, taken by mouth (Stohs et al., 2015).
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What Is the Bottom Line?
- Moringa is a nutrient-rich herbal remedy that’s traditionally used in Asia among pregnant and breastfeeding women as both food and medicine.
- Clinical studies attest to its likely safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Moringa may help prevent anemia in pregnancy and in breastfed babies; it may also support breastmilk production.
- Traditionally, moringa is thought to penetrate into the bone marrow, balance the spleen, and build blood; it’s said to bring mental clarity and good mood.
- Energetically, moringa is tied to the earth element. It’s thought to activate the deep life force in the body.
- Moringa leaves are bitter-sweet, cooling, and have a downward adstringent effect. They’re constitutionally best suited for people with excessive heat and dryness.
- Low-quality, mass-produced moringa may contain heavy metals. Always buy organic and sustainably sourced plants.
>>>>> If you’re interested in blood-building herbs that help prevent anemia, be sure to read this article about ways to prevent postpartum hemorrhage naturally.
Did you use moringa while pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive?
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