Noni, also referred to as Indian mulberry and Morinda citrifolia, is an evergreen plant found throughout Polynesia. The leaves of the noni tree are applied topically to sooth headaches, arthritic joints and stomach aches and to promote wound healing. Its roots, leaves, fruit and juice are also taken internally for a variety of medicinal purposes and noni can be found in capsule, tincture, powder or juice form.
Noni Nutrients
According to "Nursing Herbal Medicine Handbook," noni contains essential oils, digestive enzymes and phytonutrients, which are non-essential nutrients that have been found to fight disease in humans. The fruit and leaves contain a specific phytonutrient known as glycoside, which is a potent antioxidant. Extracts of noni contain antifungal properties and they may produce an analgesic effect, which means it helps to numb and reduce sensations of pain. Noni is also thought to stimulate and enhance the immune system. Due to the digestive enzymes found in noni it may also help to repair damaged cells in the digestive, respiratory and skeletal systems.
Diabetes and Cancer
One of the phytonutrients noni contains is tannin, and tannin may help to lower blood sugar levels. Diabetes is a disease characterized by chronic high blood sugar levels, so noni is potentially beneficial as a diabetic aid. In addition, "Nursing Herbal Medicine Handbook" says that noni may have anti-carcinogenic and anti-tumor properties. Carcinogens are cancer-causing substances, so noni may be helpful for both the prevention and treatment of cancer. Noni's suspected anti-tumor properties are derived from the fact that noni contains damnacanthal, which is a substance that has been found to prevent the growth of tumors. Noni may also help to reduce the risk of cancer in smokers, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, or MSKCC.
Purported Benefits of Noni Juice
Noni juice has gained recent popularity in North America as a health tonic, and it is obtained from the fruit of the noni tree. The juice is made by harvesting the fruit and leaving it to ferment for four to nine weeks, and then straining the juice off. The juice has been purported as a treatment for arteriosclerosis, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, high blood pressure, hypertension, liver conditions, premenstrual syndrome, skin conditions, thyroid disorders, and ankylosing spondylitis, which is a rheumatic disorder. MSKCC says, however, that these purported uses are anecdotal and unsubstantiated by scientific evidence.
Noni Precautions
Noni may cause drowsiness or discolored urine. Due to the high potassium content of noni, individuals with chronic renal failure may experience hyperkalemia -- a condition where you have too much potassium in your blood -- from taking noni. For safety purposes, you should talk to you health care practitioner before supplementing with noni.
References
- "Nursing Herbal Medicine Handbook;" Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Noni
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