Nature's Medicine
When considering treatment for an illness or disease many people seek a variety of treatment options, whether in lieu of traditional Western Medicine or in conjunction with it. While conventional Western medicine often plays a significant role in advancing treatment options for individuals with various diseases, we would be remiss to dismiss the massive contributions that nature has provided us with for centuries. Two of our favorite superfoods for disease prevention and treatment are Moringa and Soursop. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the healing and protective properties of these two powerful natural ingredients.
Moringa
Moringa Oleifera, sometimes referred to as a miracle tree, because of its robust potential in providing essential nutrients, is a tree that flourishes in tropical and subtropical climates. Almost every part of the plant, including the young pods, flowers, leaves, bark, seeds, and fruit are consumed as a source of nutrition and used in many countries across the world to remedy various ailments. The leaves, in particular, have been studied and found to have massive anti-tumor capabilities, stopping or slowing the growth of tumors.
In fact, the Moringa Tree contains more than forty different antioxidants, as well as more than thirty natural anti-inflammatory agents. The different parts of the tree, consumed as teas, ointments, and powders, not only have anti-cancer properties but have also been found to be anti-fungal, anti-viral, as well as have protective properties to inhibit the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. It is renowned for being one of the only plants in the world to provide all of the amino acids required by the human body to thrive. In a study focusing on the anti-cancer effects of Moringa leaves, seeds, and bark, it was found that the growth and survival of cancerous cell colonies were notably reduced when treated with the extracts.
Soursop
Soursop, also known as graviola, custard apple, and guanabana across different regions in the world, is a fruit with a spiky exterior, and a creamy interior. In the Caribbean, it is consumed as a sweet fruit treat, or a creamy drink while its leaves are boiled to make a nutritious tea. Utilizing the bark, stems, and leaves to develop traditional medicines, the Soursop Tree has been found to slow the progress of certain types of liver and breast cancer cells, as well as positively impact the absorption of other treatments for various illnesses. Similarly to the Moringa Tree, Soursop has been found to have antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. In a study in the late 1990’s, researchers found that the Soursop Tree extracts had the ability to kill tumors in what was considered drug-resistant cancer cells. The active ingredient said to be a phytochemical is known as annonaceous acetogenins. It has been found to spur on the death of cancerous cells, however, the mechanism behind how it is able to do this is still unclear.
Although there is a lack of human trials, discoveries during lab research have proven to be promising and is an encouraging look at the future of cancer prevention and research. The potential for this to have a widespread impact on populations in places where it is abundantly grown is endless.
What's Next?
We hope that the future holds more research and case studies needed to compound the information already available about the value-packed possibilities for Soursop and Moringa. It is already clear that they are capable of making innovations in disease and illness prevention and treatment more robust. We encourage you to do your research next time you are in need of treatment and consider the power of nature to aid in restoring your health. What other natural remedies are interesting to you? Tell us in the comments below.
