Enters Queen Intaka

Intaka Moringa going places, at the University of KZN

Moringa and Stretch marks

Definition

A shiny line on the skin of the abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks that is often lighter than the surrounding skin and is caused by the stretching and weakening of elastic tissues as a result of pregnancy or obesity, for example.

Ancient Egyptian methods for health care and scar removal date back about 5,000 years. Ancient Egyptians were meticulous when it came to caring for their bodies. They had many different herbs, oils and other substances that they applied topically for skin ailments including burns, bites and scars.

Egyptian healing recipes have been long forgotten. Some, recorded on the Papyrus of Ancient Egypt, contain ingredients that are no longer obtainable. For example, moringa oil, frankincense, fermented fruit juices and grass were the ingredients listed in one Egyptian recipe for scars, wrinkles and stretch marks. However no specifics are given, and moringa oil is unheard of these days.

A Moringa paste used in skincare

 We have personal experience of Moringa powder being effective  when used for skin problems. I am using it myself for a condition on my legs, caused by poor blood-flow that leaves unattractive "scabby" patches.

Moringa and Ointments

Ointments and cream contain medicinal properties that can help improve the skin condition. Depending on the oils you choose these topical preparations can be healing or comforting. An ointment contains oils or fats, but not water. Petroleum jelly or paraffin wax may be used, but a wonderful natural method is to use vegetable oil, such as Coconut, Olive, Sweet Almond or Sunflower oil, with beeswax. Making an organic cream is very similar to making an ointment, again using beeswax. This is also very easy to make at home.

Ointments may be used as skin conditioners and as a means of treating skin conditions, they are mostly simple to make with the base ingredients being readily available.

The easiest method is to buy a natural base ointment from your pharmacy. It should have no additives. You can then ad Moringa powder and other natural substances like Moringa oil. This makes an easy to use cream with the natural healing properties of Moringa.

You can also make your own base ointment.

Ingredients for ointment bases:

Vegetable oils

As heat is used in the preparation of most ointments it is better to choose more saturated oils that are stable to heat such as Coconut and Olive oil to make the ointment base.

Beeswax

White beeswax is chemically treated to clean and bleach it. Yellow beeswax is filtered and has had the honey removed by washing in water. Beeswax is added to the vegetable oils to "set" the oil giving the ointment its consistency.

 Lard and other animal fats.

The use of lard (pig fat) and other animal fats has fallen out of fashion, being mostly replaced by the more cosmetically acceptable and readily available vegetable oils.

Paraffin's and other petroleum products.

These also have fallen out of favour but are still used in some commercial creams such as Sorbolene cream.

The Internet has many recipes and advice on making ointments.