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Noni

What is noni?

Noni is a small evergreen tree that grows in the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Australia and India. Historically, noni was used to make red or yellow dye for clothing. Noni was also used as a medicine to apply to the skin. Today, the fruit, leaves, flowers, stems, bark and roots are still used to make medicine for a long list of ailments. However, the effectiveness of noni for these applications has not yet been scientifically proven. A study of freeze-dried noni fruit is currently being conducted at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, but the results were not available at the time of publication of this article. Noni is used orally for colic, cramps, coughs, diabetes, painful urination, fever, liver disease, constipation, vaginal discharge during pregnancy, malarial fever, nausea and to stimulate menstrual flow. It is also used for chicken pox, enlargement of the spleen, swelling, asthma, arthritis and other bone and joint problems, cancer, cataracts, colds, depression, digestive problems and stomach ulcers. Other uses include high blood pressure, infections, kidney disease, migraine headaches, premenstrual syndrome, stroke, pain and promoting calming.

The noni fruit is used for arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, muscle pain, menstrual problems, headaches, heart disease, AIDS, cancer, stomach ulcers, sprains, depression, senility, poor digestion, arteriosclerosis, circulatory disorders and drug addiction. The leaves are used in medicine for rheumatic pains, swelling of the joints, stomach pains, dysentery and filariasis. The bark has been used to make a preparation used as an obstetric aid. Noni is sometimes applied to the skin. It is used as a moisturizer and to reduce signs of aging. The leaves are wrapped around the affected joints to treat arthritis, placed on the forehead for headaches and applied directly to the affected areas for burns, sores and injuries. A mixture of leaves and fruit is applied to abscesses and preparations of the root are used for stonefish and stingray injuries and as a chickenpox ointment. In addition to its medicinal uses, the fruit, leaves, roots, bark and seeds of the noni tree are also used in the production of food. The taste and smell of noni fruit and noni juice are described as unpleasant.

How effective is noni?

There is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of noni for colic, seizures, coughs, diabetes, urinary tract problems, menstrual problems, fever, liver problems, constipation, vaginal discharge, nausea, chicken pox, enlarged spleen, kidney problems, swelling, asthma, bone and joint problems, cancer, eye cataracts, colds, depression, digestive problems, stomach ulcers, heart problems, high blood pressure, infections, migraines, strokes, pain and other illnesses, as well as reducing signs of ageing. Further scientific research is required for this.

How does noni work?

Noni contains many substances including potassium, some of which may help repair damaged cells in the body, activate the immune system and have other activities.

Are there any safety concerns?

Noni is believed to be safe and harmless when used in the amounts used in food. However, there are concerns that noni may not be safe and harmless when used in medicinal quantities. Noni tea and juice can cause liver damage in some people. There have been several reports of people developing liver damage after drinking noni tea or juice for several weeks. However, it is not known with certainty whether noni was the cause.

Precautions and warnings

  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Noni should not be used during pregnancy. Historically, noni was used as an abortifacient. It is still best not to use noni while breastfeeding for safety reasons, as not enough is known about the safety of noni while breastfeeding.
  • Kidney problems: Noni contains large amounts of potassium. This can be a particular problem for people with kidney disease. There is a report of kidney disease developing after consuming noni juice due to high levels of potassium in the blood. For this reason, noni should not be used if you suffer from kidney problems.
  • Liver disorders: Noni has been linked to several cases of liver damage. You should avoid noni if you suffer from liver disease.

Interactions with medications

Care should be taken when combining noni with the following medications:

High blood pressure medications (ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)).

Some medications for high blood pressure can increase potassium levels in the blood. Consuming noni juice in combination with these high blood pressure medications could increase blood potassium levels too much.

Medications that can damage the liver

Noni can damage the liver. The use of noni in combination with medications that can also damage the liver can increase the risk of liver damage. For this reason, you should avoid noni if you are taking medication that can damage the liver.

Dehydrating agents (potassium-sparing diuretics)

Noni contains large amounts of potassium. Some diuretics from the group of potassium-sparing diuretics can also increase potassium levels in the body. Taking noni in combination with these diuretics could increase the potassium levels in the body too much.

Are there any interactions with medicinal herbs or supplements?

Medicinal herbs and supplements that can damage the liver

There are concerns that noni may cause liver damage in some people. Using noni in combination with other medicinal herbs or supplements that can damage the liver could increase the risk of liver damage. Such products include androstenedione, cresobush, comfrey, DHEA, Fo-Ti, wild forget-me-not, kava, niacin, fleabane oil, red yeast and others.

Are there any interactions with food?

There are no known interactions with food.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of noni depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. There is currently insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for noni. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

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