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Australian-based distributor Tony Mastop receives positive feedback regarding noni and has found the juice beneficial personally. A massage therapist suffering from back pain, he began taking noni for anti-inflammatory and analgesic reasons. He initially had positive results but after switching juices, the pain returned. "Not all noni is the same," explains Tony. "The potency varies, and for back pain relief I needed the stronger stuff." However, for those who retain iron in their bodies, less potent noni could be the safer option, as stronger juice may adversely affect their health. Parkinson's disease symptoms may also be eased with the aid of noni juice. The grandfather of a friend, Eloise Brock, takes noni and finds it gives him considerable relief. However, he does not take it consistently. "He really is a lot better when he takes the noni,” says Eloise. "Nan would like him to stay on it all the time, as she notices how much his quality of lif improves while taking noni juice." Unfortunately, the high cost of noni juice can make it prohibitively expensive for some people. Tahiti native Gnit Fa takes noni juice every day at around 6.30 am and finds it very beneficial, still experiencing positive effects by the evening. "When I take other vitamins (European or Chinese), I don't feel as good. With noni I feel more energetic; even my muscles feel more energetic." However, not all the family has had positive results; some have attributed their rotten teeth and diarrhoea to taking noni. Gnit Fa says there is talk of a new noni manufacturing plant opening in Tahiti, which will produce noni juice, soaps and other products made from noni. Some people have reported no real benefit from noni, and com- panies marketing the product suggest it should be taken for a min- imum of three months—as "[s]ome people notice results in just a few days and other people don't see a change until several months later" (http://www.Noniland.com). state is largely unknown". Powdered juice is the other alternative and reportedly it has a good flavour. However, as it is made from dehydrated noni, the same concerns are relevant as for tablets or capsules. (INCC) Noni juice is accepted as either a food or food supplement in many countries, including Australia and the USA, although the US Food and Drug Administration recommends pasteurisation in order to kill any harmful bacteria grown during harvesting or bot- tling. However, pasteurisation has been known to kill enzymes, and certain enzymes in noni are thought by some to be the active ingredient with health-promoting benefits. On 5 June 2003, the European Union authorised noni juice to be placed on the market as a "novel food", which the EU defines as "foods and food ingredients that have not been used for human consumption to a significant degree within the EU before 15 May 1997". To reach this status, safety assessments must be undertak- en and the ruling allows noni juice to be used in pasteurised fruit drinks in the European Union. (Midday Express, 10 June 2003) AN ALTERNATIVE FUTURE The Hawaiian Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism refers to noni in its September 2002 report regarding strategies for Hawaii's economy. Alternative medicine is acknowledged as being widely used by Americans, and noni is referred to as "an outstanding example of this new reliance on alternative therapies". Furthermore, a new Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) at the University of Hawaii aims to "become a leader in medical educa- tion and research, integrating western and alternative medicine practices". The report states that promising preliminary results regarding the medicinal properties of noni have already come out of the new CAM department. Though noni may not suit everybody, many people report significant benefit from their daily dose of the juice. Scientific studies regarding Morinda citrifolia are promising, particularly in relation to noni's usefulness in inhibiting certain types of cancer. Many in the industry acknowledge that more scientific studies are needed to show what those using noni traditionally have known for centuries—that noni has significant health benefits and medicinal properties. oo NONI PRODUCTS AND FOOD STATUS There are various forms of noni available. The 100% juice is extracted by placing ripe fruit over large screens; the liquid then drips through into tubs underneath (International Noni Communication Council). Traditional noni juice in Hawaii is drip- extracted, then fermented and aged, and is unadulterated; non- traditional juice is freshly squeezed, filtered and not fermented (CTAHR). When bottled, the juice is dark brown in colour and "can be dif- ficult to palate because of noni's inherit strong taste". Puréed noni is also available and may be more palatable as it often contains flavouring juices. However, this means it is less potent. Noni tablets and capsules are available but because there is "a lack of scientific research on dried or dehydrated noni, its efficacy in this About the Author: Jenny Hawke has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and is on staff at the NEXUS head office in Australia. Her arti- cles, "Uncovering the Facts on Toxic Carpet" and "The Bittersweet Story of the Stevia Herb", were published in NEXUS 9/06 and 10/02 respectively. References http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/ Products", http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/ + Armstrong W.P., "Economic Plant Photographs commodities/noni/botany.asp, last updated 28 commodities/noni/Harvesting_Processing/ #15", Wayne's Word, Newsletter of Natural October 2002 . fruit_juices.asp, downloaded 8 August 2003 History Trivia pooneee au Agneultire am Human Department v Business, Economie . > sources, , University of Hawai'i at evelopment ‘ourism, State of Hawaii, ee on -edwecophi> him, Manoa, The Noni Website, "Noni's Natural September 2002, "A New Millenium Growth * Brock E., personal conversation, 12 August 2003 REWIND, Strategy for Hawaii's Economy: ‘At the Cutting * Byrne D. 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Ho and K Csiszar, juice’ (juice of the fruit of Morinda citrifoliaL.) aS Resources (CTAHR), University of Hawai'i at a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No yfanoa, The Noni Website, Harvesting and tive anti-tumor activity against breast and colon 258/97 of the European P; arliament and of the Processing, "Noni Harvesting and Yields: carcinoma cell lines", Building Bridges with Council, Official Journal of the European Union, Questions and Answers", Traditional Knowledge Summit Meeting, present- "Extracts of Morinda citrifolia (noni) exhibit selec- http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/dat/2003/I_144/ http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/ ed May 30, 2001, abstract available at 1144200306 12en00120012.pdf commodities/noni/Harvesting_Processing/ http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/ * Chong V.., personal correspondence including harvesting_yields.asp, downloaded 8 August 2003 _traditionalknowledge/ events/sessions/presenta/ Gnit Fa, 7 August 2003 * College of Tropical Agriculture and Human abstracts/Fong+.htm * College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), University of Hawai'i at * Heinicke R.M. (2002), "The Pharmacologically Resources (CTAHR), University of Hawai'i at Manoa, The Noni Website, Harvesting and Manoa, The Noni Website, "Botany", Processing, “Noni Processing: Juice and Juice Continued on page 74 22 = NEXUS www.nexusmagazine.com OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2003