Noni's therapeutic uses
Noni, scientifically known as Morinda citrifolia, is a small tree native to the Pacific Islands, Polynesia, Asia, and Australia, recognized for its potential therapeutic properties. Traditionally, noni fruit and leaves have been utilized in various cultures for treating a range of health issues, including skin inflammation, digestive disorders, and wound healing. The fruit is often noted for its unpleasant odor and taste, which has led to its use primarily in times of scarcity. Current commercial preparations, such as noni juice and supplements, have gained popularity for their proposed health benefits, which include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-supporting properties.
Despite its widespread promotion for conditions like arthritis, cancer, and digestive ailments, scientific research on noni is still relatively limited and has yielded mixed results. Preliminary studies have suggested noni may offer anticancer effects and pain relief, though more robust clinical trials are necessary to confirm these claims. Safety profiles indicate that noni is generally well-tolerated, although rare cases of liver damage have been reported, advising caution for individuals with liver conditions or those consuming alcohol. Overall, while noni presents various proposed therapeutic uses, further investigation is crucial to substantiate its efficacy and safety for broader applications.
Noni's therapeutic uses
DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: None
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune support, pain relief, anti-cancer, many other proposed uses
Overview
Morinda citrifolia, also known as noni or Indian mulberry, is a small evergreen shrub or tree of the plant family Rubiaceae. Native to the Pacific Islands, Polynesia, Asia, and Australia, it grows up to 10 feet high. The leaves are 8 or more inches long, dark green, oval-shaped, and shiny, with deep veins. The flower heads are about an inch long and bear many small white flowers. These heads grow to become mature fruit, 3 to 4 inches in diameter, with a warty, pitted surface. Noni fruit starts green, turns yellow with ripening, and has a foul odor, especially as it ripens to whiteness and falls to the ground.
Some cultures may eat noni fruit in times of scarcity (the unripened fruit is less noxious). Traditional Polynesian healers use the fruit for many conditions, such as bowel disorders (constipation and diarrhea), skin inflammation, infection, mouth sores, fever, contusions, and sprains. However, only sick and desperate people will take it because of its unpleasant odor and bitter taste. However, the primary indigenous use of this plant appears to be of the leaves as a topical treatment for wound healing.
In Chinese medicine, the root of M. officinalis is also a standard medication (bai ji tian or pa chi tien) used for the digestive system, kidneys, heart, and liver. Other traditional uses for the plant include making a red dye from the bark and a yellow dye from the root.
Therapeutic Dosages
Commercial products containing noni juice or juice concentrate are widely available and heavily promoted. To make these preparations more palatable, the odor has been eliminated or the taste altered. Tablets and capsules of the fruit and the whole plant are also available.
The usual recommendation is the equivalent of 4 ounces of noni juice thirty minutes before breakfast. The typical recommendation is 2 tablespoons daily for liquid concentrates or 500 to 1,000 milligrams (mg) daily for powdered extracts.
According to noni promoters, it should be taken on an empty stomach and not together with coffee, tobacco, or alcohol. However, there is no scientific evidence for this recommendation.
Therapeutic Uses
Noni has been heavily promoted for many uses, including abrasions, arthritis, atherosclerosis, bladder infections, boils, bowel disorders, burns, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, circulatory weakness, colds, cold sores, congestion, constipation, diabetes, drug addiction, eye inflammations, fever, fractures, gastric ulcers, gingivitis, headaches, heart disease, hypertension, improved digestion, immune weakness, indigestion, intestinal parasites, kidney disease, malaria, menstrual cramps, menstrual irregularities, mouth sores, respiratory disorders, ringworm, sinusitis, skin inflammation, sprains, stroke, thrush, and wounds. However, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of noni have only started to be undertaken in the twenty-first century, and these trials have been small and produced mixed results.
One such study investigated the safety of noni and found supplementation produced no adverse side effects. Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study could not determine a benefit in women taking noni for overactive bladder. Additional studies of this type were undertaken to investigate noni's role in benefiting exercise performance, arthritis, and blood pressure. Again, the results were mixed, and the studies were small.
Several animal studies have evaluated the effects of extracts derived from noni. The results suggest noni may have anticancer, immune-enhancing, and pain-relieving properties. However, most of these studies used unrealistically high doses that would be difficult to get from taking the juice itself. Still, proposed therapeutic uses for noni continue to include as an antioxidant protecting the body from free radicals and preventing chronic health conditions; as a pain reliever for conditions such as arthritis, headaches, and menstrual cramps; and for a wide range of additional health conditions.
Safety Issues
Noni is not commonly associated with adverse side effects. Some case reports hint that, in rare cases, use of noni might cause severe liver damage, potentially leading to a need for liver transplant. The risk is believed to be very low, however, if it exists. Nonetheless, people who have liver disease, who take medications that can harm the liver, or who consume alcohol to excess should not use noni. Maximum safe doses in young children and pregnant or nursing women remain unclear.
Bibliography
Chin, Kim. "What is Noni Juice and What Are the Benefits?" Medical News Today, 29 July 2021, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/noni-juice. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
Millonig, G., S. Stadlmann, and W. Vogel. "Herbal Hepatotoxicity: Acute Hepatitis Caused by a Noni Preparation (Morinda citrifolia)." European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, vol. 17, no. 4, 2005, pp. 445-447.
Stadlbauer, V., et al. "Hepatotoxicity of NONI Juice: Report of Two Cases." World Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 11, 2005, pp. 4758-4760.
West, Brett J., et al. "A Double-Blind Clinical Safety Study of Noni Fruit Juice." Pacific Health Dialog, vol. 15, no. 2, 2009, pp. 21-32.