Noni Morinda citrifolia is believed to have originated in the Tongan Islands and is renowned for being able to thrive in even the harshest environments.  The kahunas or traditional medicine people of the South Pacific use this plant for a wide variety of health problems, including pain relief, sinus infections, arthritis, digestive disorders, colds, flu, headaches, and menstrual problems.  Noni root compounds have also shown natural sedative properties as well as the ability to lower blood pressure.  Recent studies suggest that its anti-cancer activity should be considered.

        Originally introduced as a juice product made from the fruit, analysis has shown that the leaf of the Morinda citrifolia plant may be more potent than the fruit.  Dr. Ralph Heinicke, a premier researcher of noni, believes that noni helps in the normalization of abnormally functioning cells by delivering to the body the essential biochemical compound proxeronine, which the cells then assemble into the alkaloid xeronine.  One of the primary functions of xeronine is to regulate the shape and integrity of specific proteins.  Because proteins have so many varied roles within cell processes, the normalization of these proteins with noni supplementation could initiate a very wide variety of body responses and treat many disease conditions.

        In Hawaiian traditional medicine noni fruit was crushed and mixed with other plants and herbs as a poultice for bruises and sprains. The noni leaves were used to treat wounds. A digestive aid was made by combining crushed noni fruit with cane juice.

        There is also evidence that noni fruit has been consumed as a remedy to stabilize blood sugar in individuals with adult diabetes.

        The active ingredients in noni come from concentrations of anthraquinoies�one most prominent being damnacanthal, which has a purgative effect�which most likely accounts for its use as a cleanser.

        In one placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted by Scott Gerson, M.D. at the Sinai School of Medicine in New York, NY, high-blood pressure patients were randomly selected and did not know that they were taking noni.  They stayed on the same diet and did the same amount of exercise as before they started taking noni.  Each patient acted as his/her own control.  After taking noni, eight of the nine patients showed a decrease in blood pressure.

        Positive results also were reported with regard to bacterial infections, pain, and inflammatory ailments, including arthritis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and allergies.

Reference: Neil Solomon, M.D., Ph.D.,  Noni: Nature�s Amazing Healer.

Brain Longevity, a book by Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., identifies serotonin as the brain�s major �contentment chemical.�  If you don�t have enough of it, you�re almost certain to feel a nagging sense of emotional malaise.

        Before turning toward medications like Prozac, it may be worthwhile to investigate natural alternatives, including Serotain, a blend of griffonia (Griffonia simplicifolia) extract and other natural ingredients containing natural 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).

        There are three major benefits to be gained from the 5-HTP found in Serotain, according to 5-HTP: Nature�s Serotonin Solution by Ray Sahelian, M.D.: 1) Increase weight loss by decreasing appetite and decreasing carbohydrate intake; 2) As a mood elevator and for treating the symptoms of clinical depression; and 3) To help gently induce sleep�not only by its conversion to serotonin�but also by its subsequent conversion to melatonin, the body�s sleep hormone.

        Griffonia simplicifolia and 5-HTP provide brain cells with the necessary materials to make more serotonin.  This is done without the serious side effects of antidepressant drugs such as Prozac and Zoloft.  These drugs increase serotonin levels indirectly by blocking its inactivation.  The result may be cellular deficiency.  Serotain, on the other hand, appears to inhibit serotonin reuptake but without causing a cellular deficiency.

        5-HTP has been used in Europe for over 20 years by millions of people with no reported toxicity or side effects for weight loss and depression.

Reference: Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.,  Brain Longevity.

The October 1999 U.S. Food and Drug Administration announcement that eating 25 grams of soy protein per day lowers the risk of coronary heart disease may soon rank soy foods right up there with broccoli.  In addition to containing the cancer fighting plant estrogens called isoflavones, soybeans are valued for their high protein content, which accounts for nearly 35% of their overall compo�sition.  Soy protein prompted the health claim because it lowers chol�est�erol and the risk of heart disease.

        R.M. Bakhit and colleagues at the University of Illinois fed men with mildly high cholesterol a low-fat diet including a daily muffin containing 25 grams of protein and 20 grams of dietary fiber.  The muffins were one of four combinations: soy protein and soybean fiber; soy protein and cellulose; casein, a milk protein, and soybean fiber; or casein and cellulose.  After two weeks of eating a straight low-fat diet, the subjects tested each different protein/fiber muffin combin�ation for four weeks at a time.  At the end of every dietary treatment, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein were measured.

        Bakhit and his team found that the muffins containing any casein did not have a significant effect on cholesterol.  In contrast, the two muffins containing isolated soybean protein significantly lowered total cholesterol levels in subjects whose initial concentrations were high.  The results clearly suggest that a daily intake of 25 grams of soy protein can help prevent heart disease by lowering total cholesterol.  Similar results were also observed by K.K. Carroll and colleagues at the University of Western Ontario.

        Considering the volume of clinical data that supports the findings of these two studies, as well as the fact that the FDA has now issued soy protein one of its rare heart health claims, there is no question that incorporating the nutrient into a low-fat diet can have beneficial effects.  Besides lowering their risk of certain cancers, we also can look to soy foods as a means of preventing osteoporosis. 

        Moreover, soybean-related compound ipriflavone has been shown to reduce bone loss in people suffering from osteoporosis.

        With heart health, cancer prevention, and bone retention being soy�s big claims to fame, the benefits of this bean appear to be endless.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is reported by 95% of women in their childbearing years.  Although most of these women experience only mild symptoms, there is a small percentage of women who suffer from severe, life-disruptive symptoms.

        Recently, a review of placebo-controlled trials involving vitamin B6 was undertaken by British researchers.  Nine trials that met the strict criteria of this review and a total of 940 women were involved.

        The researchers determined that �B6 was significantly better than placebo in relieving overall premenstrual symptoms and in relieving depression associated with premenstrual syndrome.�  Interest�ingly, the response was not dose-dependent.  This means that more is not necessarily better�after a certain intake level, no more benefits are garnered.  Consequently, there is no reason to use more than 100 mg daily for PMS relief, according to this review.

        One concern about vitamin B6 supplementation has been the risk of nerve damage at higher intakes.  Although this risk is thought to exist when more than 200 mg of vitamin B6 is taken daily, this review of 940 women (taking 50-500 mg per day) reported only one case of neurological side effects.

Reference: Wyatt K.M., Jones P.W., et al.  Efficacy of vitamin B-6 in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: Systematic Review.  BMJ 1999; 318:1375-81.