Noni, the fruit of the "Morinda Citrifolia" tree, is actually a species of the coffee family. Native to Southeast Asia and Australia, 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 have 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 and for asthma, as well as 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 for centuries, 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.