Noni - The History of an Ancient Medicinal Plant

"A wise man ought to realize that health is his most valuable possession." Hippocrates 

Nature has hidden within its plants, a precious a gift for humanity. It is the gift of health, vitality and rejuvenation. Throughout ancient times, the wisdom of healing has been found through nature and the extraordinary bounty of healing plants. 

All traditional cultures everywhere in the world and for eons of time have honored and revered the sacredness of nature and her aboundance. Through their connection to the natural world, the healing secrets of the indigenous plants were revealed. 

Returning to nature and to the plant kingdom is now  recognized as a profound path to wellness. Without your health, you cannot fully live a life of happiness and joy.  Without vitality you cannot achieve all that you desire.  Without true nourishment, your cells cannot thrive. 

Noni - An Ancient Plant for a Modern World

The Noni plant has quite an illustrious history. Its origins stretch way back into the distant past. It is believed that its medicinal properties were first recognized as far back as 3000 years ago in the subtropical part of ancient India. The Indian system of healing, known as Ayurveda which translates to Science of Life, considered Noni to be a sacred plant. The Noni plant was recognized to possess a profound attribute which was able to stabilize the body and bestow perfect health. 

As ancient explorers ventured to new lands, they always brought the Noni plant with them on their travels. These explorers recognized that Noni was an extraordinary medicinal plant that they never wanted to be without. Noni has traveled far and wide over the millennia. You can now find Noni growing throughout tropical climates of Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa and the Caribbean. 

But Noni is most well known for its cultivation in the South Pacific Islands where it has become an integral part of the Polynesian culture. The Noni plant is believed to have first arrived in the South Pacific Islands 2,000 years ago from its origins in India. The ancient ocean-going people of that time made their voyages in outrigger canoes traveling from island to island establishing new villages in what is now known as French Polynesia. Noni was always brought with them on their ocean adventures. 

Imagine the ancient Polynesian seafarers traveling thousands of miles in uncharted seas on the vast South Pacific ocean in search of new islands to settle. Without maps, compasses, or navigation tools, theses courageous explorers were guided only by their ancient knowledge of the stars, following the path of migrating sea birds and their adventurous spirit.

The sea-traveling Polynesians made their long ocean journeys in gigantic, double-hulled canoes that carried their essential items necessary to sustain life for long periods of time at sea as well as for life in their new lands.  Each canoe carried 12 to 15 people along with their water, food, seeds,   plants, tools, livestock including pigs, chickens and dogs.

These giant canoes were made with floating gardens which allowed the seafarers to grow  heir food as they sailed.  Some of their most precious cargo included live plants, famously known as canoe plants. These plants were considered essential to meet their needs for food, fiber, building materials, and medicine.

Of all the canoe plants, the Polynesians revered the Noni plant most of all.  It had so many important uses: meat was wrapped and then cooked in its leaves, the leaves were also made into a tea to treat malaria, reduce fever, or act as a pain reliever. A Noni poultice was applied for tuberculosis, sprains, deep bruising, rheumatism, fever, stings from stonefish, bone fractures, and dislocations. The stem was used in canoe parts, paddles, axe and adze handles. Stems were also used as digging sticks, firewood, and made into a red pigment used to dye clothing. Seeds were used as a scalp insecticide and insect repellent and  flowers were infused for sties.

With all of to its uses, it is no wonder the Polynesians honored Noni as the “The Queen” of all their canoe plants. 

Around 400 A.D. the Polynesian people made a landmark journey to the Hawaiian Islands. The Polynesian chief, Hawaii Loa, took the revered Noni plants as one of the original 27 “canoe plants” on this 2,400-mile oceanic adventure from Tahiti to the islands of Hawaii. 

Although there are six varieties of Noni trees that produce fruit, there is only one type that is recognized as medicinal. This Noni species, known as Morinda citrifolia, was the specific variety of Noni that the Polynesians introduced to Hawaii. 

Noni- A Plant with 100 Names

The Noni tree is known by many names in cultures throughout the world. Among some 100 names for the fruit across different regions are the more common English names of great morinda, Indian mulberry, beach mulberry and cheese fruit. The name that we are now most familiar with, Noni, actually came from the Hawaiian language.

Over the centuries, Noni fruit became the primary food choice for people in Fiji, Rarotonga and Samoa, where the people consumed Noni both raw and cooked.  It must be said that the Noni fruit has a distinct aroma which can be unpleasant for some. Therefore, some cultures only ate it in times of famine while other cultures included it as a staple food in their diet. 

What is it about the Noni plant that  has made it so valued by so many cultures? As it turns out, Noni is extremely versatile. Its seeds, bark, leaves and roots were either eaten or used in other medicinal ways. Parts of the plant were also used in construction and as dyes. 

The Noni fruit also served as an important source of nutrition.  The research into Noni  nutritional profile has discovered that the Noni fruit contains more than 165 compounds which are beneficial for the health of the human body. No wonder this plant was so revered and valued  by the traditional healers for thousands of years as a means to prevent and cure a wide variety of illnesses. 

The Noni fruit even played a heroic role during World War II. It has been documented that the American soldiers who were fighting in the South Pacific were at serious risk fo starvation because they were running short of food supplies. The indigenous peoples came to their rescue by showing the soldiers that the Noni fruit was a great food source. Noni helped to nourish the soldiers as well as sustain their strength for combat.  As a result, this humble fruit was truly a hero that helped to save the lives of many American soldiers! 

Fast Forward to the Power of Adaptogens 

Fast forward to our 21st world.   Noni still reigns as a queen amongst medicinal plants. In fact, our modern world needs Noni more than ever!  Our fast-paced life style, has made stress a household word.  Ongoing stress is acknowledged as a primary cause of weakened immunity as well as  a contribution factor for so many chronic illnesses. 

What you need during times of stress (and lets face it, most of us live with stress on a daily basis) is the help of a powerful adaptogen! In case that you haven’t heard of the word “ adaptogen” before, it is the term used for  specific plants that are able to restore, harmonize and balance your body’s systems when dealing with stressful times. This includes daily frustrations, ongoing physical or emotions stress, toxic exposures or even demanding physical exercise.

In the world of adaptogenic plants, Noni is one of the most powerful and scientifically proven adaptogens.  In fact, Noni has a long and honoured history by cultures throughout the world and throughout the centuries as a medicinal plant that bestows endurance, resilience and healing.  

So, let’s  look at  some of the stress-related health issues that Noni has been proven to help. As an adaptogen, Noni can assist with balancing blood sugar, relieve constipation, circulation, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, resolve ulcers, enhance indigestion, improve immunity,  help chronic fatigue and  improve asthma. 

It’s also great to know that Noni is a great relaxer! It not only encourages the nervous system to calm down but helps to improve sleep. Noni is known for its ability to release  your own  “natural high” endorphins, the natural inner chemistry that creates a profound sense of well being!

We all want a sharp memory and an alert brain.  But, did you know that stress is one of the leading causes of cognitive impairment?  Not to worry!  Noni to the rescue once again!  Studies have shown that the regular consumption of Noni offers protection to your brain as well as  helps to  fight against cognitive decline.

Stress plays havoc with one other critical aspect of your health — digestion. As far back as 2500 years ago, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, said, “All disease begins in the gut!"  We now know just how profound gut health is to our overall wellbeing. As it turns out, the gut is responsible for much more than just digestion. In recent years, growing evidence has shown that the gut is responsible for up to 80 percent of your immune system function and even impacts your risk for obesity and chronic disease. 

Beside its critical role in digestion, gut bacteria produce hundreds of neurochemicals that the brain uses to regulate basic physiological processes as well as mental processes such as learning, memory and mood. For example, gut bacteria manufacture about 95 percent of the body's supply of serotonin, which influences both mood and GI activity.  In addition, the research into serotonin has found that  it plays a major role in maintaining your overall health. Serotonin affects a wide range of mental and physical responses in the body including the regulation of  emotions, cognition, pain, and sensory motor function. 

Once again, nature has imbued Noni with the ability to strengthen and heal your digestive system, improving nutrient absorption, stimulating the release of digestive enzymes,  insuring regularity, and cleansing the colon.  Noni juice also has an extremely high ability to bind with the neurotransmitter called serotonin.  This proved that Noni is a safe and effective way to naturally increase mood-enhancing serotonin levels. This is certainly great news for everyone seeking the greatest health and wellbeing!

The ongoing research into Noni’s many amazing healing benefits continues to reveal that Noni enhances your wellness in so many ways.  As an adaptogen, Noni can insure optimal regulation of all your body systems. As the guardian of your digestive system,  Noni enhances absorption of nutrients, optimizes immunity and increases serotonin levels for an overall sense of wellbeing. 

Our modern world is returning once again to recognize as well as appreciate the profound healing power that Nature offers us.  With the help of modern science, Noni is now being appreciated for its many medicinal benefits.  It is now readily available to all of us  to have as a daily nutritional supplement.

If you are seeking greater health, optimal wellness and vitality,  Noni juice, without a doubt,  should be part of your daily nutritional routine.  You really can’t surpass nature as the supreme healer!  We now understand why the Polynesian seafarers considered Noni to be the “The Queen” of healing plants.

Of course, the indigenous cultures have known about Noni’s amazing healing and nutritional benefits for thousands of years!  Thank goodness that there is now a growing awareness and appreciation that Noni is truly a powerful healing elixir.  Noni is the supreme adaptogen to help restore balance to a stressed out world.  As at the saying goes, “We are going back to the future!"