- Region
- Oceania
- Origin
- Southeast Asia and Australasia; spread across the Pacific by Polynesian voyagers
- Traditions
- Jamu in Indonesia, Lāʻau lapaʻau in Hawaiʻi
Oceania · Food · № 50
Morinda citrifolia
Food · Oceania
Noni
Morinda citrifolia
Traditionally used for colds, infections, fever, and stomach complaints. There is no good evidence of treatment effects.
Safety notes
Cases of liver damage have been reported after weeks of noni juice or tea. It may be unsafe with medicines that raise potassium, lower blood pressure, or affect the liver.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Healing traditions of Oceania: Liver damage has been reported after prolonged use of juice or tea.
Preparation
The fruit was eaten raw or cooked; today it is mostly sold as juice, powder, or tea.
Use in traditions
Roots, stems, bark, leaves, flowers, and fruit were all used medicinally. The pungent fruit was a famine food and on some islands even a staple.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Healing traditions of Oceania
Attributed effects
In lāʻau lapaʻau root, bark, leaf and fruit were used, among others for wounds, skin complaints and stomach ache; the leaf was laid on sores.
Preparation and amount
Leaf externally; the fruit as food or juice. No dosage is given here.
Caution: Liver damage has been reported after prolonged use of juice or tea.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)Powder and kitchen