Morinda citrifolia is assumed to have
originated in Southeast Asia and was distributed throughout the
Pacific islands by natural and man-made means. It is believed that
approximately 2000 years ago, ancient peoples of French Polynesia brought the
noni plant with them as a source of food and medicine when they colonized the
islands of the South Pacific. Written documentation about the use of
noni as food dates back to the late 1700s when Captain James Cook observed
that the fruit was consumed in Tahiti. Subsequent publications indicate
that noni fruit was commonly eaten in Fiji, Roratonga, Samoa, Australia, and
India. In addition, the roots and bark of the noni plant were scraped
and pounded to form a yellow or red dye used to color tapa cloths and clothing.
Traditional uses of the noni plant are varied and
virtually every part of the plant is used as some form of medicine.
Healers used noni leaves as a bandage or poultice for wounds. Young, green
fruits were crushed and the extracted juice was used as a remedy for lesions or
sores in the mouth. Root or stem bark was typically used to treat
inflammation or infections. Other conditions treated with noni include fevers,
skin disease, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal upset, menstrual or urinary
problems, diabetes, and venereal diseases. Research into the traditional
uses of noni indicate that it was the second most popular plant used in herbal
remedies with approximately 40 known and recorded formulations. Noni is
included in the traditional pharmacopoeias of Native Hawaiians, other Pacific
Islanders, and Asian populations.
Table 1: Traditional Uses of Noni
| Plant Part Used |
Traditional
Medicinal Uses |
| Leaves |
Relieves cough,
nausea, colic (Malaysia), tuberculosis, sprains,
deep bruising, rheumatism, bone fractures, dislocations, hypertension,
stomach ache, diabetes, loss of appetite, urinary tract ailments, abdominal
swelling, hernias, vitamin A deficiency |
| Fruit |
Lumbago, asthma,
dysentery (Indochina), head lice (Hawaii), wound poultice, broken bones, sores or scabs, sore
throat, peeling and cracking of toes and feet, cuts, wounds, abscesses,
mouth and gum infections, toothaches, appetite and brain stimulant food,
boils, carbuncles, tuberculosis, sprains, deep bruises, rheumatism, stomach
ulcers, hypertension |
| Fruit juice |
Regulate menstrual
flow, urinary tract problems, arthritis |
| Stem |
Jaundice,
hypertension |
| Seed |
Scalp
insecticide, insect repellant |
| Flowers |
Sties |
| Leaves, flowers,
fruit, bark |
Eye conditions, skin
wounds, abscesses, gum and throat disease, respiratory ailments,
constipation, fever, laxative |
Table
2: Modern Uses of Noni
|
ADD/ADHD, addictions, allergies, arthritis, asthma, brain problems,
burns, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chemical sensitivity, chronic
fatigue, diabetes, digestive problems, endometriosis, fibromyalgia,
gout, hypertension, immune deficiency, infection, inflammation, jet lag,
multiple sclerosis, muscle and joint pain, polio, rheumatism, severed
fingers, sinus, veterinary medicine. |
|
