Mengkudu a terribly smelly fruit suddenly has become very well sought after. Not only that, not long after the discovery that it has health benefits, many local pharmaceutical companies started packaging mengkudu capsules for sale.
Also known as noni or Morinda citrifolia, its juice and noni-related health supplements have created a buzz in Malaysia in recent years. Actually, the plant is nothing new to rural Malays and Ibans who have long discovered its medicinal values.
The Malays in particular, commonly use noni or mengkudu to treat variety of ailment. They eat the leaves, young shoots and fruit of the "healing herbs" which they use to make local salads like rojak or kerabu.
Noni leaves are commonly used by women after childbirth to treat flatulence and "return" the womb to its original position. The leaves are also used to wrap minced fish to be steamed. It is a delicacy especially during the fasting month in Sarawak.
The essence of the flower is used to treat eye inflammation, while a decoction of the bark is used for dysentery and malarial fever.
The fruit is blended together with the seeds and the juice extract is used as a remedy for a host of ailments, including hypertension, diabetes and rheumatism. The fruit and seeds are consumed by women in confinement.
A cousin who is a dietitian in a local hospital believes in the healing powers of noni. According to her, she blends the fruit for its offensive smell. She add honey to the concoction recommends it for sore throat and high blood pressure."
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