Noni
Morinda citrifolia
Fruits. Pacific & Southeast Asia and Caribbean.
Also called Indian mulberry, Nonu, Cheese fruit
Spanish: Noni
Liver and potassium warningsA tropical fruit from Polynesia, sold as juice and used in folk medicine, with weak evidence and liver safety reports.
Did you know? Noni fruit smells strongly of cheese because it contains butyric acid, the same compound that gives rancid butter its smell.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Pain & headaches. Traditional use for pain. Human trials are few and small.Traditional proof
- Colds, flu & immunity. Lab studies show possible immune effects. Human trials are missing.Traditional proof
- Cleansing & detox. Sold as a detox juice. No good evidence supports this claim.Not supported
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Polynesian peoples ate noni as food and used its leaves, bark and fruit as folk remedies for pain, infection and general health.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Analgesic, Antioxidant, Immune balancer. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Taken as juice, capsules or powder. Juice is often high in sugar, and people with kidney disease should avoid large amounts.
Juice, powder and capsule.
Where to get it
Grows on small trees across tropical Polynesia and in parts of Asia, Australia, the Caribbean and Hawaii. Sold as juice, powder and capsules, often as large bottles of concentrated juice.
Be careful
Liver injury has been reported in case reports, but the cause is not fully proven. The juice is high in potassium, so people with kidney disease, or those taking potassium-raising drugs, can reach unsafe potassium levels. Not for pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Avoid if: kidney disease; liver disease; pregnancy; breastfeeding.
Mixing with other things
- Use cautionBlood pressure medicine (lisinopril, amlodipine, losartan)
Potassium-rich juice may raise potassium when combined with blood pressure medicines that affect potassium. The risk is mostly theoretical.
- Use cautionWater pills (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide)
Potassium-sparing diuretics plus noni juice could raise potassium too far. The risk is mostly theoretical.
The honest take
Noni has a long history as a food and folk remedy, but almost all the evidence is lab or animal work. Case reports link some noni juices to liver injury, though the cause is not proven. Its high potassium is a real concern for people with kidney problems.