Moringa Seeds (Sohanjna ke Beej): Eating Them and Clearing Water
Moringa seeds (sohanjna ke beej) are edible: young ones go into drumstick curry, and mature seeds can be roasted like peanuts, though raw they’re bitter and can loosen your stomach. The surprising part is real. Crushed moringa seeds do make muddy water clearer, but clear water is not safe water, so you still have to boil or filter it. Here’s how to eat them, how the water trick works, and where the claims go too far.
We’ve already covered the leaves and powder in moringa (sohanjna) leaves and powder. This guide sticks to the seeds.
Where are the seeds, and how do you eat moringa seeds?
Snap open a long green drumstick (the sohanjna phali) and you’ll find a row of seeds. Young pods hold soft, pale-green seeds in white pith. Old, dry pods hold round, dark-brown seeds, each with three papery wings.
- Young seeds: soft, mild, a little like peas. You eat them every time you suck the flesh out of a drumstick in sambar or sohanjna ki phali ka salan.
- Mature seeds, raw: peel the winged shell and you find a white kernel. Chewed, it starts sweet, then turns sharply bitter.
- Mature seeds, roasted: dry-roast the shelled kernels in a pan on medium-low heat for 5 to 8 minutes until golden and fragrant. The bitterness softens and they taste nutty.
A sensible food amount is a few kernels, about 2 or 3, especially when you’re new to them. Raw seeds in larger numbers often act as a laxative and can cause stomach cramps.
In brief
- Edible: yes, young seeds and roasted mature kernels.
- Raw mature seed: bitter, and loosens the stomach.
- Water trick: clears muddy water; does not kill germs.
- Seed oil: ben (behen) oil, used on skin and hair and in cooking in some places.
- Pregnancy: food amounts in curry only; no seed “remedies”.
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Can moringa seeds clean muddy water?
Yes, they can clear it. They can’t make it safe. This is the most important point in this article.
Moringa seed kernels contain proteins that carry a positive charge. Mud, clay and many germs carry a negative charge. When you stir crushed seed into cloudy water, those proteins grab the tiny particles and glue them into bigger clumps (flocs). The clumps sink. That’s called coagulation, and it’s the same idea that water works use with alum.
The water on top looks much clearer. Some germs get dragged down with the mud. But plenty stay behind, and the water now also contains seed residue that can spoil within a day.
The traditional method, done safely
- Take 2 to 3 dry, mature seeds per litre of very cloudy water (a common rule of thumb; cleaner water needs less). Remove the winged shells.
- Crush the kernels to a fine powder with a mortar and pestle.
- Mix the powder with a small cup of clean water to make a milky paste.
- Pour the paste into the cloudy water and stir fast for 1 minute, then slowly for 5 minutes.
- Cover and leave undisturbed for at least 1 hour, until the mud settles.
- Pour the clear top layer gently into a clean pot through a cotton cloth. Leave the sludge behind.
- Then make it safe: bring it to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute, or use a working filter or purification method. Drink or store it within 24 hours.
We made the same point about alum in phitkari and water: clear is not the same as clean. For the bigger picture on home water, see RO vs boiled water.
What people say about moringa seeds
Online, sohanjna seeds are pitched as a do-everything pill from a tree. Two seeds a day for blood pressure. A spoon of powder for sugar. Seeds for weight loss, for men’s strength, for kidney stones, for hair growth. Some videos even say chewing them “purifies the blood” the way they purify water.
In Sudan, women have used crushed moringa seeds to settle Nile water for generations, and the practice spread through South Asia and Africa. In Ayurveda, the shigru tree’s seeds, root and bark were all used, with the root and bark treated as strong and risky. Desi homes valued the pods mainly as food and the seed oil for skin and hair massage.
Our honest take on moringa seeds
- Clearing water: Worth it as the first step only. Real, well understood, and used in water projects. Always boil or filter after.
- Eating roasted seeds: Depends. A few as a snack are fine for most adults. They carry protein and oil like other seeds, but in tiny amounts.
- Blood pressure and sugar: Skip as treatment. There are animal results, nothing that should change a medicine plan. If you take BP or diabetes medicine, an added effect could push numbers too low, so ask your doctor first.
- “Blood purifying”, weight loss, strength: Skip. The water trick works on mud in a bucket, not on blood in your body.
Any medicinal amount of seed powder is a question for a qualified practitioner, not a video. People who try it usually judge after a few weeks; if your readings or symptoms aren’t better, or you feel dizzy or weak, stop and get checked.
Myths about sohanjna ke beej
Myth: Moringa seed water is ready to drink once it looks clear
Clear water can still carry the germs that cause diarrhoea, typhoid and cholera. Boil or filter it.
Myth: Eat the seeds and they’ll “clean” your insides the same way
Your gut isn’t a bucket of muddy water. Eating raw seeds mostly gives you a bitter taste and loose motions.
Myth: More seeds make water cleaner
Too much seed powder makes water cloudy again and leaves more organic matter for germs to feed on.
Did you know?
- Moringa seed oil, called ben or behen oil, barely goes rancid. It was once prized by watchmakers as a fine lubricant and by perfumers for holding scent.
- The winged seeds float and drift on wind and water, which helps the tree spread along riverbanks.
Who should avoid moringa seeds?
Pregnancy: eat drumsticks as food, but skip seed powder, raw seed routines and above all any root or bark preparation. Moringa root and bark have been linked to miscarriage. Breastfeeding: food amounts only. Children: don’t give raw moringa seeds to children; whole seeds are also a choking risk under 5. BP or diabetes medicine: speak to your doctor before regular use, because readings could drop too far. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own. Thyroid medicine: ask your doctor before using moringa products daily. Stomach upset: stop if you get cramps or diarrhoea. Water: after seed treatment, still boil or filter. Seek help fast for diarrhoea in a baby, blood in the stool, or signs of dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, sunken eyes, extreme thirst).
Moringa seeds: your questions answered
How to eat moringa seeds?
Young seeds are eaten in drumstick curry. Mature seeds are best shelled and dry-roasted for 5 to 8 minutes until golden, which tames the bitterness. Start with 2 or 3 kernels, because raw or plentiful seeds can loosen your stomach.
What are moringa seeds benefits?
The proven, practical one is clearing muddy water before boiling. As food, they’re a small source of protein and oil. Claims about blood pressure, sugar, weight and stamina don’t have good evidence in people and shouldn’t replace medicine.
How to use moringa seeds to purify water?
Crush 2 to 3 shelled seeds per litre of cloudy water, mix into a paste, stir it in fast for 1 minute and slowly for 5, then let it settle for an hour. Pour off the clear water and boil it for at least 1 minute before drinking.
What are the side effects of moringa seeds?
The most common is loose motions or cramps, especially from raw seeds. Very bitter seeds can cause nausea. People on blood pressure, diabetes or thyroid medicine should ask a doctor first, and pregnant women should avoid seed remedies and any root or bark product.
Are moringa seeds good for high blood pressure?
There’s no reliable proof in people. If you have high blood pressure, keep to your doctor’s plan and check your readings at home; about 135/85 or higher at home is high. Adding seed powder on top of BP medicine could drop pressure too much, so ask first.
Can diabetics eat moringa seeds?
A few roasted seeds as food are fine for most people with diabetes. Using seed powder to lower sugar is different: it’s unproven and, with insulin or sugar-lowering tablets, could add to the risk of a low. Talk to your doctor before trying it.
Can I eat moringa seeds raw?
You can, but most people find them very bitter, and raw mature seeds often cause loose stools. Roasting makes them milder and easier on the stomach. Keep to a few at a time.
Are moringa seeds safe in pregnancy?
Drumsticks cooked as food are fine. Avoid seed powder routines and especially moringa root and bark, which have been linked to miscarriage. Ask your doctor or midwife before taking any moringa product beyond ordinary food.
Do moringa seeds help hair growth?
There’s no good evidence that eating them grows hair. Moringa seed (ben) oil can be used to soften hair and scalp. Patch test behind your ear for 48 hours, use a small amount, and wash it out if your scalp itches.
Moringa seeds for weight loss: does it work?
No. A few seeds have too few calories or fibre to change your weight, and there’s no fat-burning effect. Steady weight loss comes from portions, overall food and activity.
Is moringa seed water the same as boiled water?
No. Seed treatment removes mud and some germs by making them clump and sink. Boiling kills germs. Use the seeds first if your water is cloudy, then always boil or filter.
See more plant and seed guides in Desi Remedies.