Noni: Nature's Medicine

by D.M. Murdock

The Pacific Islands plant commonly known as "noni" has been the subject of much interest in the field of nutrition, health and longevity. Known in the scientific community by its Latin name Morinda citrifolia, noni is found under many names throughout the Pacific and elsewhere such as Africa, Australia, Asia, India, Malaysia and Vietnam. Noni's names include bumbo, cheesefruit, Grand Morinda, Indian mulberry, kura, lada, mengkudo, nono, nhau, Painkiller Tree, Polynesian bush fruit and 'ura.

A bitter and generally inedible plant, noni is beneficial through the use of its extracts, including infusions from its leaves, as well as juice and other substances. Modern Fijians, Tahitians, Australians and Samoans are known to use noni both raw and cooked. Noni has been claimed to be a tonic for practically every illness and disease known to mankind. It is further claimed that noni contributes to a long, healthy life, by reducing the overall aging of the human body. Cited as evidence - considered anecdotal by the scientific community - are the healthy and youthful Polynesians who utilize noni. Noni is thus held up as a virtual "cure" for aging, with citations of foreign communities such as French colonies who consume it becoming healthier and more youthful.

Does noni really produce these effects? Is the youthful natural state of the Polynesians, known for their thick and smooth skin, as well as ageless hair, attributable to noni? It is difficult to say whether or not noni has this extraordinary effect on human health and longevity, as the noni used has only been available in its present form for a few years and has not been held up to enough rigorous scientific testing.

Noni in traditional medicine

Many topical uses of noni probably date back at least 2,000 years, while internal noni consumption as juice or food may be only more recent. One study showing traditional use both externally and internally was done by Dr. Will McClatchey, Associate Professor of Botany at the University of Hawaii, who states that "it is likely that Pacific Islanders have had access to and experience using M. citrifolia for thousands of years." Dr. McClatchey further says:

"M. citrifolia is arguably the most important medicinal in Polynesia, based upon the number of indications reported and the breadth of usage across cultures.... Ancient Polynesians used M. citrifolia as one of their primary medicinal plants."1

Dr. McClatchey's study entitled "From Polynesian Healers to Health Food Stores: Changing Perspectives of Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae)" was published in 2002 in Integrative Cancer Therapies and revealed that many important uses of noni are traditionally supported in modern times at least. These traditional uses involved mainly unripe noni fruits, although a few used ripe fruits for poultices. Dr. McClatchey's study determined the following indications for the internal and external use of noni roots, bark, and green and ripe fruit by a variety of healers on the islands of Hawaii and Rotuma, the latter chosen for its isolation and lack of influence by outside factors:

• acne (green or ripe fruit topically)
• arthritis
• bacterial and fungal infection
• bad breath/halitosis
• bleeding from bone puncture (green leaf juice applied topically)
• blood purification (fruit mixture combined with water taken internally)
• boils (green or ripe fruit topically)
• bone fractures or dislocations (leaves wrapped and tied topically)
• burns (leaves applied topically)
• constipation (green fruit mixed with sugar cane taken internally)
• cuts badly infected (root and bark juice applied topically)
• diabetes (juice diluted with water)
• fever (leaves applied topically)
• foot and toe skin peeling (ripe fruit applied topically)
• headaches (leaves applied topically)
• heart trouble (juice diluted with water)
• hypertension/high blood pressure (juice diluted with water taken internally)
• intoxication from awa/kava (juice mixed with water taken internally)
• insecticide (fruit juice applied to hair)
• inflammation
• lactation promotion (heated leaves topically)
• menstrual cramps
• mouth ulcers and sores (green fruit juice applied topically)
• "neonatal inability to breath immediately after birth" (leaves wrapped around umbilical cord)
• postnatal health of mother (leaves applied topically)
• pregnancy termination
• purgative
• skin disease (heated leaves applied topically)
• stonefish spine poisoning (root or leaves applied topically)
• "toothache indigestion"
• tuberculosis (fruit mixture taken internally)
• ulcers
• wounds (green or ripe fruit topically)

Dr. McClatchey quotes a modern traditional Hawaiian healer, Papa Kalua Kaiahua, as saying, "I have used noni to help people with cancer, kidney problems, diabetes, and tumors... To me, noni is the most important of the herbs used in medicine." In his study of noni's potential anti-cancer properties, Dr. Conrad Hornick cited Krauss's Plants in Hawaiian Culture and stated, "The juice of Morinda (noni) has been used by the Samoan, Tahitian and Hawaiian peoples in the treatment of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney and bladder disorders, while the fruit, leaves and bark are are often applied as a poultice to sores, cuts and boils."2

Noni today

In recent years in other parts of the world but evidently based in large part on traditional healing methods, extracts and poultices from the noni bark, flowers, fruit, leaves and seeds have been used internally and externally for the following indications:

• abrasions
• acne
• ADD/ADHD
• allergies
• Alzheimer's disease
• anxiety
• arthritis
• asthma
• atherosclerosis
• athlete's foot
• bladder infections
• bruises
• burns
• cancer
• candida
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• circulatory problems
• cold sores
• colds
• conjunctivitis
• constipation
• coughs
• cuts
• depression
• diabetes
• diarrhea
• digestive disorders
• drug addiction
• dysentery
• emotional trauma
• Epstein-Barr syndrome
• eye problems
• fever
• fibromyalgia
• flus
• food poisoning
• fractures
• gingivitis/gum inflammation
• headaches
• heart disease
• hemorrhoids
• hepatitis
• herpes
• hypertension/high blood pressure
• hypoglycemia
• immune system deficiency
• indigestion
• infections
• jaundice
• joint pain
• kidney disease
• low blood pressure
• lung problems
• lupus
• malaria
• menstrual pain and problems
• mental illness
• migraine
• mouth sores
• mucus membrane swelling
• multiple sclerosis
• muscle weakness
• nasal congestion
• obesity/overweight
• pain
• panic disorder
• parasites
• pleurisy
• rashes
• respiratory problems
• ringworm
• scalp and hair disorders
• seizures
• skin problems
• senility
• sexual problems, abcesses and boils
• sinusitis
• sleep disorders
• smoking
• sore throat
• stings
• stomach ailments
• stress
• stroke
• trauma
• thrush
• tuberculosis
• tumors
• ulcers
• wounds

When taking it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, noni users may feel a noticeable pickup in energy and overall well-being. Users have claimed noni can help reduce hangovers and speed the recovery from illness or surgery. Some people may experience noni's well known laxative effect. Oral noni consumption has been claimed to have a regulatory effect on menstruation in some people. Noni has also been subjected to at least one study concerning its ability to treat arteriosclerosis and cholesterol metabolism.3 Noni appears to have antibacterial, antibiotic, antimicrobial and antiparasitical4 properties, and contains at least one potent antioxidant.5 Concerning noni's potential anti-cancer properties, the American Cancer Society states:

"Although animal and laboratory studies have shown some positive effects, human studies are just getting started. Research is also going on to isolate various compounds found in the noni plant so that further testing can be done to find out if they may be useful in humans."6

A scientist studying noni's purported anti-cancer effects remarked, "In the State of Hawaii, there are abundant claims of benefit from cancer patients' use of the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia (Noni)."7 In one of the numerous studies being done on noni's possible anti-cancer properties,8 the most widely cited of which is by Hirazumi,9 scientists in Hawaii have suggested a "polysaccharide-rich substance" is in part responsible.10 A study published in 2003 by a team led by Dr. Conrad Hornick of the Department of Physiology at Louisiana State University revealed that noni juice possesses properties that both inhibit the growth of and destroy breast cancer cells.11 A thorough study of noni's anti-cancer possibilities was commissioned by the National Institutes of Health to be started in 2002 by Dr. Brian Issell; as of early 2006, it had not been published.

The noni available to the public in most places is usually pasteurized, which generally has the effect of reducing its nutritional benefits. The processed noni may contain less of the important nutrients and chemical elements of its unprocessed counterpart. Noni contains measurable amounts of vitamins A and C, potassium, various amino acids, caproic and caprylic acids and several other beneficial substances, but, it is reported, no more than other healthful juices such as orange and pineapple juices.

One purported substance in noni is "proxeronine," a precursor to "xeronine," a chemical named by Dr. Ralph Heinicke, who holds a PhD in biochemistry, and claimed by him to improve health and increase longevity by allowing the body to repair itself more quickly and reducing the need for sleep. Xeronine is claimed to be so important that, without it, "life would cease." Per Heinicke's research, "Disease, stress, anger, trauma and injury can lower xeronine levels in the body, thus creating a xeronine deficit." According to several studies, there is apparently no measurable "xeronine" itself in noni juice, and Dr. McClatchey calls "outrageous" Reinicke's original paper on the subject, published in the Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden Bulletin. It is nonetheless noteworthy that Dr. Heinicke had 36 years of laboratory experience researching plant and fruit enzymes for Dole Pineapple Company, the Pineapple Research Institute and the University of Hawaii. A respectable scientist, Dr. Heinicke celebrated his 90th birthday in 2005. 

One large, MLM company asserts that the best noni is grown in French Polynesia, specifically Tahiti, claiming that this product is "20% richer in the vital nutrients and components than noni grown elsewhere." Tahitian noni is generally more expensive than Hawaiian, but the latter is likely to be healthful as well, regardless of cost. Because noni is so bitter, some noni products have added juices such as blueberry and pineapple, which in themselves possess healthful qualities. It is may not be necessary for the noni to be certified organic, as the growing methods and type of product may preclude the use of pesticides in the first place. Organic noni products tend to be very expensive.

Side effects of noni consumption

Some of these products being sold worldwide, it is purported, do not contain the high percentage of noni juice that claim. On that basis, these products will not be effective in helping improve health. Drinking too much noni may cause hepatitis and liver damage due to "herb toxicity."12 Scientists who studied the "hepatotoxicity" of noni, however, stated, "No overt toxicity has been reported to date."13 The recommended daily dosage is no more than 30 milliliters, equivalent to two tablespoons or one ounce. Some noni products apparently use the artificial sweetener chlorocarbons marketed under the name "Splenda," which natural health advocates feel is not beneficial to health but toxic.14 Other noni products use no sweetener or other fruit juices.

As is the case in the marketplace in general, let the buyer beware. Regarding noni use today, Dr. McClatchey remarks, "Marketing strategies...follow a bait-and-switch approach, leading with claims that the plant is used by Polynesians, followed by claims that are inconsistent with traditional usage patterns." Nevertheless, it may not be wise to dismiss noni altogether because of some bad products and deceptive marketing. In other words, there is no need to throw away the baby with the bathwater. As is also the case with so many foods - such as eggs, widely vilified for decades but now considered (again) to be health-bestowing and highly nutritious - studies of noni's traditional use for centuries may exonerate the plant from similar erroneous conclusions.

Noni consumption can be expensive. There are many ways to benefit from these various strategies, methods and products, while remaining within a budget, however. One of these ways is to use substances such as noni in small doses of one or two ounces a day. Although some may find it tedious, using precise measurements in the case of nutritional supplementation is beneficial not only to your physical but also to your financial well-being!

Sources:

Elkins, Rita, M.H., Noni: Prize Herb of the South Pacific, Woodland Publishing, Pleasant Grove, UT, 1996
McClatchey, Will, PhD, "From Polynesian Healers to Health Food Stores: Changing Perspectives of Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae)" Integrative Cancer Therapies 1(2); 2002