Noni Plant Uses

The noni plant originated in Southeast Asia about 2,000 years ago and has a long-standing medicinal use. According to Neil Solomon, M.D., in his book "Noni: Nature's Amazing Healer," noni provides relief for a variety of health conditions and is a staple Polynesian healing plant. The noni fruit as well as the associate foliage have many uses.

The Bark, Leaves and Flowers

Polynesians use the leaves of the noni plant as bandages for wounds and other external abrasions due to its antimicrobial properties that safeguard against infection while promoting healing, according the Creighton University Medical Center. You can also eat the leaves to relieve stomach pains, coughs and high blood pressure, the Medical Center adds. Whether used as a topical treatment or brewed as tea, the flowers and bark may help to heal eye conditions, gum and throat disease and act as a mild laxative.

The Fruit

The noni fruit is the most used portion of the noni plant as it provides health benefits in a variety of ways. Consuming the fleshy fruit can reduce fevers, respiratory complication and gastrointestinal irritation, according to Creighton University Medical Center. For example, traditional uses by Hawaiian healers crushed unripe noni fruit for administration on caner sores and oral abrasions. Ripe fruit contains asperuloside, eugenol and scopoletin, which provide anti-inflammatory relief, which helps to relieve symptoms associated with abscesses, mouth and gum infections and toothaches.

The Juice

According to the University of Hawaii's Department of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the most widely utilized methods of procuring noni juice are fermentation, fresh squeezing and extraction. Traditional juicing uses the process of drip-extraction, which follows a two-month fermentation period. The University of Hawaii's Agriculture department recommends fresh squeezed noni juice in lieu of fermentation and extraction as it can prove dangerous if you don't know exactly how to do it. Creighton University Medical Center says noni juice can help regulate menstrual cycles, provide urinary tract relief and reduce inflammation associated with arthritis. Due to the abundance of polysaccharides, the noni juice may help in the prevention of tumor development and encourage a health immune system.