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Noni; Morinda citrifolia

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.

Some cultures may eat noni fruit in times of scarcity. Traditional Polynesian healers have apparently used the fruit for many purposes including bowel disorders (constipation and diarrhea), skin inflammation, infection, mouth sores, fever, contusions, and sprains—but it is said that only sick and desperate people will take it, due to its unpleasant odor and bitter taste. The primary indigenous use of this plant, however, appears to be of the leaves, as a topical treatment for wound healing.

Noni has been heavily promoted for an enormous range of 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, there is no real evidence that it is effective for any of these conditions.

Dosage
Commercial products that contain noni juice or a juice concentrate are widely available and heavily promoted. These preparations have either eliminated the odor or altered the taste to make it more palatable. Tablets and capsules of the fruit and of the whole plant are also available.

The usual recommendation is the equivalent of four ounces of noni juice one half-hour before breakfast. For liquid concentrates, the typical recommendation is 2 tablespoons daily, and for powdered extracts, 500 to 1,000 mg daily.

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.

Safety Issues
Although use of noni is not commonly associated with side effects, comprehensive safety studies have not been performed. A small number of 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 at all. Nonetheless, people with liver disease, or who take medications that can harm the liver, or who consume alcohol to excess should not use noni.

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