Noni Juice

Noni is a small tree found in the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Australia, and India. The scientific name of noni is Morinda citrifolia. The tree is also known as the Indian Mulberry tree. Noni tree is known to be medicinal. Today, noni leaves, fruit, flowers, stems, bark, and roots are used to make medicine for a long list of ailments. Noni juice comes from the bitter-tasting and foul-smelling noni fruit. The juice is claimed to be a treatment for a wide range of conditions, including arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, pain, diarrhea, cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and bad breath.

Is noni juice really effective in the treatment of diseases?

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States issued multiple warnings to noni manufacturers about health claims that are not backed up by fact. The effectiveness of noni in the treatment of diseases and ailments has not been proven. The claims for the efficacy or effectiveness of noni are claims that are based on testimonies of users of noni (more particularly the noni juice drinkers) and noni sellers. Research is underway and this is being conducted by the above-mentioned United States agency.

Is noni juice safe to drink?

Noni juice is generally safe to drink, but it has been linked to a few cases of liver damage (hepatotoxic substance). Simple advice: Don’t take it regularly or don’t take too much of it.

What is noni juice consists of?

Noni juice is made up mostly of potassium that may help in the repair of damaged cells. The content is however not much compared to bananas or pineapple.

My clinical opinion

There are times when we encounter food supplements or “medicinal juices” that can treat almost every ailment. If that’s the case, it is a good indication that the claims are not true. Too good to be true! Many of these treat-all supplements, just go into a certain period of “hype.” In our colloquial tagalog language: “Uso lang.” “konsuwelo de bobo”

At least a research is underway. This research is about the efficacy of noni juice to people with advanced stages of cancer. In some studies, it has been found out that noni has antioxidant properties. But these properties are not, in so many ways, any more than any type of fruit that is more palatable, and perhaps sweet-tasting. There’s no scientific claim that noni juice is an effective treatment for high cholesterol.