by Ruth Kongaika

Created on: November 02, 2009   Last Updated: November 10, 2009

Noni is a great alternative to Western medical care and can be used as a supplement to increase vitality and to treat many different ailments. Morinda citrifolia is the official name of the Noni plant. It contains enzymes, polysaccharides and anthraquinones, all of which have health benefits. Noni is a bitter fruit grown in tropical climates like Tahiti, Cook Islands, Hawaii, and more recently in the Dominican Republic. It grows in variable soil conditions and matures in about 18 months. The Noni fruit is about the size of a potato. It has a waxy lumpy surface which changes to semi transparent going from green to almost white as it ripens.

Before Western Medicine reached the Islands of the Pacific, they used herbs to treat their ailments. Noni, has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes in the Polynesian islands. It is now becoming quite popular in the Western world also. It claims to improve digestion, bolster the immune system, and even help to control diabetes. The green fruit, leaves and the root were traditionally used to treat menstrual cramps, bowel irregularities and urinary tract infections. The FDA has claimed it to be safe to use indicating there are no known side effects.

Some people drink it on a daily basis and claim that it gives them more energy and vigor for life. Besides juice, noni is available in pill form, soft chews, drink powder, tea, cream, oil, spray and gels. One young mother claimed that after several unsuccessful treatments from Western doctors who tried to treat her baby's thrush, only one dose of the noni juice showed obvious improvement in the baby's condition. Also, an elderly man testified of his improved energy from drinking Noni. One woman claimed that Noni was the only thing that helped her migraine headaches. Studies have shown that it has a positive effect on blood lipid profiles, helping to regulate cholesterol levels.

The most convincing testimony comes from former cancer patients who claim that after taking Noni, they went into remission and were relieved of their symptoms. Noni can be beneficial when taken if the processing has been minimal and it is in its purest form. It also is advisable to drink the juice of the Noni soon after it is bottled to ensure the highest concentration of beneficial chemicals. There are many different brands and it also mixed with other beneficial ingredients. International clinical studies and noni research continues to find benefits derived from noni use.

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