Ola Noni 100% Pure Hawaiian Noni

History of Noni - The Miracle Fruit

Over 2,000 years ago, the first Polynesian settlers set out in their canoes. With little space inside the boats, they could only bring the barest essentials to settle new villages. They brought 27 plants, enough to begin producing food, materials, and medicine once they arrived. Of the few medicinal plants they brought, Noni was easily the most important.

In fact, among these 27 “Canoe Plants,” Noni was called the “Queen of the Canoe Plants.” This is because the early Polynesian settlers were already familiar with Noni’s broad medicinal applications, and used every part of the plant to make tonics, salves, and balms. If someone burnt himself on the fire, a preparation of Noni would soothe the burn. If someone developed a persistent cough, Noni was given. If someone cut herself, a Noni preparation would be applied to help the wound to heal faster.

Hawaiians used Noni in almost every possible medical application, for internal diseases, flesh wounds, and even psychological disorders. And for generations, the Hawaiian people lived and thrived in their new home. When Europeans first landed on the Hawaiian islands, they found a civilization of tall, strong, healthy people.

However, Polynesians are not alone in their traditional use of Noni. There are traditional uses of the fruit and other plant parts anywhere Noni grows naturally. The Noni plant, named Morinda citrifolia, is native throughout portions of Southeast Asia and Australia, extending up into parts of India and China. Morinda citrifolia ranges in size between a small bush to a tree-like plant 20 to 30 feet tall. The ripe fruit look almost like lumpy peeled potatoes, and some people eat the green fruit cooked like potatoes in curry.

Another important traditional application of Noni comes from Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medicine of India. Ayurvedic medicine lists Noni as an important medicine which can correct imbalances in the body. Both Ayurvedic and Chinese traditions list an impressive set of health benefits from Noni. Neither tradition, however, relies as heavily on Noni for as many conditions as do the Hawaiians.

Noni is actually the Hawaiian name for Morinda citrifolia. In Sanskrit it was called Ashyuka, which means “longevity.” In other parts of Asia, it is known as Nhau, while other Polynesian traditions call it Nonu or Nono. Because of its distinctive strong smell, Australians refer to it as “cheese fruit.” Today, the common name for the plant and its fruit is Noni, possibly because the Hawaiian tradition is where we find the richest history of Noni use. Hawaii is also where the most important Noni research is ongoing today. The University of Hawaii has conducted several important studies and continues to research Noni’s nutritional properties, focusing in particular on its potential role in cancer treatment.

For years, missionaries reported the Hawaiian use of this strange, stinky fruit to treat almost any problem. In 1972, an article by Maria Stewart reported Hawaiian Noni use in The Bulletin. Shortly after that, Dr. Ralph Heinicke discovered and named the polysaccharide Xeronine, which he promotes as Noni’s active ingredient.

Research continues, though, and several of Noni’s nutrients, numbering over 140, are not yet well-understood by science. As research continues, scientists will continue to unlock this plant’s secrets. Meanwhile, the commercial Noni industry has built up to a 600 million dollar industry, and is poised to soon top one billion dollars in annual sales. As Noni’s popularity continues to grow, so too does our understanding of its diverse medical potential.