Noni has been used for thousands of years in Polynesia as a food, dye and medicine. The fruit of the noni tree has most commonly been used to treat a variety of ailments, although all parts of the tree are utilized medicinally. Despite noni's popularity, there have been very few human trials on its use and its efficacy has not been confirmed for any health problems. Talk to your doctor before using noni for medicinal purposes.
Identification and Dosing
Noni is also commonly known as morinda, wild pine, hog apple, Indian mulberry, canarywood, and rotten cheese fruit. The fruit is commonly available as a juice, but preparations of the fruit extract are also available in pill form and as teas. There are no scientifically proven dosing guidelines for noni. However, according to Wellness.com, 1 to 2 oz. of noni juice every 12 hours has been used as a daily dosing regimen.
Benefits
Noni is used for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, asthma, arthritis, migraine headache, depression, cataracts, cancer, drug addiction and diabetes. It is also used for treating digestive problems, nausea, constipation, stomach ulcers, liver disease, kidney and urinary tract disorders and enlarged spleen. Other uses are cough, colds, fever, convulsions, pain, dysentery, smallpox and AIDS. Women use noni for menstrual problems and vaginal discharge during pregnancy. Noni is applied topically for joint and head pain, wounds and burns.
Effectiveness
According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, or NMCD, there is not enough scientific proof to verify the effectiveness of noni for any health condition. Currently, studies funded by the National Institutes of Health are underway to evaluate the effectiveness of noni for cancer, says the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine or NCCAM. The National Cancer Institute is also funding studies to evaluate noni for breast cancer prevention and treatment, adds the NCCAM.
Considerations
The NMCD reports that noni is possibly unsafe when taken in medicinal amounts. Liver injury has been reported after drinking noni tea and juice for several weeks, although it has not been confirmed that noni was the direct cause of the injury. Noni should be avoided in the presence of kidney disorders or liver ailments, warns the NMCD. Also, avoid noni during pregnancy and breast-feeding, recommends the NMCD.
Member Comments