Moringa Oil is extracted from the seeds of Moringa Oleifera tree, also known as the Drumstick tree. Moringa oil is also called Ben oil. It is called so because it has high amounts of behenic acid. Moringa oil has been mentioned as a very useful oil in the medicinal books of Greece and Rome. Ancient Egyptian Royalty used it as a beauty oil and protection against the harsh desert winds. Even today, Moringa Oil Uses are included in skin and hair care formulas.
Names- Moringa oil is also known as Ben Oil or Behen Oil.
Moringa Oil Uses / Properties
Moringa oil has many therapeutic properties because of its unique nutrition.
Antioxidants – Moringa oil is full of Antioxidants
Anti-inflammatory – The oil reduces inflammation both topically and internally.
Anti-aging – The oil provides nutrition to our skin and provides a supple and smooth complexion. Ridding the skin of fine lines and wrinkles.
Anti-microbial – Africa uses moringa seeds to purify water. Killing a large percentage of bacteria.
Disinfectant – can be used to treat wounds.
Carrier – It is excellent carrier oil for aromatic compounds.
Hepatoprotective – Moringa oil protects the liver from damage.
Emollient – Moringa oil is a great moisturizer for the skin.
Preservative – This oil resists rancidity and also used as preservative in certain products.
Exfoliant – used in a exfoliant drives away dead skin cells.
Perfume Base – Moringa oil absorbs the aroma of essential oils and other fragrant compounds. Making it the perfect perfume base
Known Health Benefits
Moringa seed oil offers many health benefits when used on the skin and also when taken internally.
1. Excellent Moisturizer Ben oil is one of the best moisturizers for the skin. It can be applied to the skin as a massage oil. It gives a natural glow to the skin and makes it well moisturized, but not too oily because it absorbs so quickly. Making it a nice ingredient in many home made cosmetic products. It's a brilliant moisturizer because of very high amounts of omega- 9 fatty acid ( oleic acid ) in moringa oil. It also makes the skin quite smooth, because of the behenic acid in it. Behenic acid is used in many products for its ability to smooth the skin and condition hair. This oil slips easily on the skin and spreads well.
2. Other Benefits for Skin Besides a good moisturizer, moringa oil can do a lot more for your skin.
Moringa oil pacifies dry skin. It is helpful in dry, irritated skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Acne – Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, moringa seed oil can be used as a spot treatment for acne. It also aids the body in healing acne scars.
It adds gloss to the skin, which may be needed sometimes, especially when the weather is dry.
It can be applied over scars left behind by wounds, scrapes, bruises and burns. Moringa oil mixed with tamanu oil is a powerful scar diminishing formula.
Fungal infections – Moringa oil can deal with certain fungal infections because it contains anti-fungal activity. One can use it on ringworm, athlete’s foot and jock itch.
Anti-Aging – Regular application of moringa oil reduces the striking appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the skin, It can be combined with an astringent product like aloe vera or witch hazel to make saggy skin taut.
3. Moringa Oil for Hair It is just as good for the hair as it is for the skin. Moringa oil is a powerful hair conditioner. It can be used as a hot oil conditioner to deal with nearly any hair related problem. The hot oil treatment leaves the hair well moisturized, the hair roots are nourished, dandruff is washed out and there is much less irritation on the scalp. The best result is the conditioning. Hair is manageable and can be combed nicely. It adds shine or gloss to the hair, making you hair look beautiful. This effect is because of behenic acid. Moringa oil also strengthens hair roots and as such can help with hair loss. It nourishes weak, damaged hair and reduces the lifelessness in them.
4. Liver health Moringa oil has been identified to improve liver health in people whose liver has received damage due to toxicity.
5. As a Rheumatic Oil Moringa oil is a nice rheumatic oil. It is applied to painful, arthritic joints. It can be use directly, or used as an oil pack, just like castor oil packs. It is effective at reducing swelling and inflammation, which provides relief from the pain in the joints. This can also be used in gout.
6. Management of Hysteria Moringa oil can be used to calm down hysteria and uncontrolled emotional instability. This is a traditional use for the moringa seed oil in India.
7. Boosts Gum Health Massage moringa seed oil onto the gums. It might seem a bit awkward, but its is not irritating as the oil has a mild taste. It relieves gum inflammation and is also helpful in scurvy.
These are some home remedies using moringa oil.
Sleep Aid – Massage the head with moringa oil with about 3 – 4 drops of lavender essential oil. It reduces irritability and sleeplessness.
Exfoliating Oil – Mix olive oil and moringa oil in equal amounts. Add some sugar cubes to the oil and rub it on the skin.
Nail Softener – If one has really strong, powerful nails then they may cause trouble if they become dry and grow awkwardly. Soak them in moringa oil to make nails soft so that they can be easily cut.
Homemade Perfume – Add a essential oil to moringa oil to make homemade perfume. Use 2 – 3 drops of this as a perfume.
Known Uses
Moringa seed oil has had lots of uses since it was first extracted. These are some of the prominent industrial and home uses for the Moringa oil.
Soap, Scrubs, Lotions, Conditioners, Shampoos, and many more Hair care and Skin care formulas – Moringa oil is used in skin and hair care formulas because of its skin cleansing and moisturizing properties.
Perfume Base – Perhaps the best natural perfume base of all oils. Moringa oil was preferred by people of ancient civilizations. It was used as base for perfumes. Even today, this remains one of the most important commercial application of moringa oil.
Buying and Storage- Moringa oil is one of the most stable oils. the healthiest one is the cold pressed oil. It is more dense, has more color and even more taste than filtered or solvent extracted oils.
Moringa Oleifera: A Review of the Medical Evidence for Its Nutritional, Therapeutic, and Prophylactic Properties. Part 1. Jed W. Fahey, Sc.D.
Interested in more information. Here is a Link to a study with John Hopkins