Noni Plant

NONI PLANT (morinda citrifola)

The Noni plant commonly known as the great Morinda, Indian mulberry, Nunaakai (Tamil Nadu, India), dog dumpling (Barbados), Mengkudu (Indonesia and Malaysia), Apatot (Philippines), Kumudu (Bali), pace (Java), beach mulberry, cheese fruit, or Noni (Hawaii), is a fruit native to Southeast Asia and Australasia.

It is green at first, then turns yellow as it ripeness, giving off a pungent odour. Weaver ants are attracted to it, which protects the plant from plant-parasitic insects.

It is most commonly sold in There are different types, such as unsweetened, sweetened, diluted with grape or other berry juices, or even Noni powder mixed with water or juice.

The best kind would be unsweetened, with pulp. Additives such as sweeteners and preservatives will cancel out the effects it has on your body, making it redundant; the pulp contains the most nutrients. Noni has a bad reputation for being a spam product, from ads saying it is a cure-all.

This is not true, and most of the products on the market are indeed hurting more than helping.

Nevertheless, Noni may be what you are looking for to help alleviate pain or boost your immune system. Here are the 10 most important benefits this fruit has in detail.

Most important benefits

1. Analgesic – Noni has the nicknames of “The Tree For Headaches” or “The Painkiller Tree”. Studies have shown that noni reduced pain comparable to the drugs tramadol and hydrocortisone, making it effective for arthritic and other joint pains.

2. Immune system booster – Noni activates macrophages and strengthens the immune system, which then produces more lymphocytes. It also contains antibacterial agents that fight infectious bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

3. Antidepressant/sedative – Noni stimulates serotonin and melatonin, two very important hormones. Serotonin affects mood, emotions, and sleep; an imbalance in levels of serotonin may contribute to depression. Melatonin regulates the Circadian rhythm, which helps you sleep; keeping this regular will help you get a good night’s rest, also improving your mood.

4. Skincare/hair – Noni’s properties are useful on skin and scalp conditions, such as eczema and ringworm; also rubbed on the scalp for lustrous hair; and will keep your skin young. Just rub some juice on the affected skin/scalp, leave it on for 15 minutes, and rinse off. Ingestion of juice may help your nails to grow stronger.

5. Anti-tumor/anti-cancer – Noni stimulates the production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a beneficial substance, one that is at the base of many of noni’s benefits. In this case, it reduces tumour growth and helps your body fight against the cancerous replication of cells. It also contains an immunomodulatory polysaccharide-rich substance known as noni-ppt that further fights cancer. The immune-boosting properties I mentioned in the above section are also a great help. One more thing that’s important is the amount of phytochemicals in noni that fight cancer. Phytochemicals are found in vegetables and herbs and, if eaten regularly will build up preventive amounts. In the case of cancer already present, noni and other plants with high amounts will slow, stop, or totally reverse the cancer process.

6. Hypertension – Noni is high in phytonutrients, selenium, and vitamin C, which fights free radical damage on blood vessel walls; scopoletin, a compound that may lower blood pressure; it is alkaline, which keeps bodily fluids from becoming too acidic, therefore hurting free radicals. It also has proxeronine, which is needed for the body to produce xeronine. Xeronine helps coordinate the cells to work harmoniously, lowering stress and blood pressure. Also has the amino acid, tryptophan. When tryptophan enters the bloodstream and goes to cells, it helps produce other substances that are important, such as even more serotonin, which is great for lowering blood pressure by way of its relaxing effect.

7. Cholesterol – Noni prevents the absorption of LDL cholesterol, thus reducing plaque in arteries, keeping you healthy and alive longer.

8. Memory – Noni, as mentioned before, prevents absorption of cholesterol by way of its large amount of phytosterols. This directly helps your brain stay healthier, and plaque does not build up in arteries feeding the brain, keeping it properly oxygenated.

9. Irritable Bowel Syndrome/constipation – Noni is high in soluble fibre, which helps ease the strain on your intestines and softens the stool. Also has the necessary vitamins and minerals to keep your intestines healthy.

10. Antibacterial/antifungal/antiviral – Noni has properties to fight infections comparable to that of prescription drugs. It contains anthraquinones, scopoletin, and terpenes, among others all work together to fight diseases.

How to Use the Noni Plant and Fruits

Different parts of the noni plant have been used for various purposes, such as:

• Fruit: The fruit of the noni plant is yellow-greenish-white in colour and large, with a pebbled surface. The ripe fruit has a characteristic cheese-like, bad odour. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is often used to make juice, tea, or other beverages. It is also used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments
• Leaves: The leaves of the noni plant are used to make a dye for fabric and as a famine food. They are also heated over a fire (to bring out the oils) and then used as a wrap to put on skin that is bruised, inflamed, or in need of any healing.
• Bark: The bark of the noni plant contains a red pigment and the roots are a yellow pigment used in dying kapa. It has also been used to treat bacterial infections, cough, diarrhoea in infants, and stomach ailments.
• Flowers: The flowers of the noni plant are used for sore or irritated eyes, styes, conjunctivitis, ocular inflammation, and coughs.
• Roots: The roots of the noni plant are used for oral ulcerations, fevers, and cancerous swellings

The side effects of noni-plant

While Noni has many potential health benefits, it also has some side effects that you should be aware of. Here are some of the side effects of consuming noni:

1. Liver toxicity: Several cases of liver toxicity have been reported in people who had consumed noni. It is unclear whether noni caused the liver problems.
2. High potassium levels: Noni contains large amounts of potassium. Drinking noni fruit juice might increase potassium levels in the blood, which can be dangerous for people with kidney problems or those taking medications that increase potassium levels..
3. Digestive discomfort: Noni leaves may cause mild digestive discomfort in some individuals, particularly when consumed in large quantities or on an empty stomach. This can include symptoms such as stomachache, nausea, diarrhoea, or constipation

Please note that while noni has many potential health benefits, it should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment. If you have any health concerns, please consult your doctor.