Noni, the fruit of the "Morinda Citrifolia" tree, is actually a species of the coffee family. Native to Southeast Asia and Australasia, the Noni fruit has been particularly well revered in Hawaii, where it is a part of many traditional medicinal remedies.
It is believed that approximately 2000 years ago, the ancient people of French Polynesia brought the NONI plant with them as a source of food and medicine when they colonized the islands of the South Pacific.
NONI, commonly known as Indian Mulberry (in India) was considered a sacred plant in Ayurveda and is mentioned in ancient texts as Ashyuka, which is Sanskrit for "longevity." NONI was noted to be a balancing agent, stabilizing the body in perfect health.
During World War II, U.S. soldiers based in the Polynesian Islands were instructed in their field manual that Noni was recognized as a safe food staple to sustain their strength. Today, millions the world over are discovering the health balancing properties of this once- hidden island secret.
The Noni plant is a source of Antioxidants, Vitamin C, and Potassium. Every part of the shrub - from leaves to roots, has been used to treat a variety of ailments.
Many of the medicinal benefits though, are largely attributed to the fact that the Noni plant is a source of phyto-nutrients which has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial compounds, known to boost the immune system as well as repair cellular damage.
In ancient India, ayurvedic texts mention Noni, or ashyuka in Sanskrit, as a remedy to stimulate internal cleansing by treating parasitic infections of the stomach, for asthma, an external remedy to treat joint pains, for skin ailments and as an anti-ageing solution.
Traditional healers in the Pacific Islands have been using Noni, as a general wellness tonic - to cure almost any ailment. Today, Noni is also considered to be a treatment for Cancer and HIV, though the U.S. based Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it requires further scientific evidence before approving the medicinal value of these claims.