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Ginger Ginger, common name for members of the Zingiberaceae, a family of tropical and subtropical perennial herbs, chiefly of Indomalaysia. The aromatic oils of many are used in making condiments, perfumes, and medicines, especially stimulants and preparations to ease stomach distress. Ginger (Zingiber officinale), cultivated since ancient times in many countries, no longer grows wild. Commercial ginger is made from the root, either preserved by candying or dried for medicines and spice. Zedoary (Curcuma zedoaria), turmeric C. longa), and the seeds of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) are similarly used, the latter two often combined with ginger to make one kind of curry. Turmeric root yields a yellow dye, and a compound derived from it, curcumin, is used to promote bile secretion by the liver. C. angustifolia is an East Indian arrowroot. Ginger is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Liliopsida, order Zingiberales, family Zingiberaceae.
Noni Noni (Morinda citrifolia) grows widely in lowland areas on most Pacific islands and in parts of Asia and Central America. Noni might be a relatively recent discovery for Western medicine, but it has a long history of use in Polynesian culture. Widely recognised through the Pacific for its healthful attributes, Noni traditionally was taken not only for a variety of medical problems but also as a general tonic and restorative. Early Hawaiians used the root and bark of the noni tree to make fine red and yellow dyes much favoured in the decoration of tapa. Its large glossy leaves were crushed and used to treat bruises, boils, sores and abrasions. An infusion made from the bark of the stem was considered excellent treatment for cuts, while the juice of the roots was commonly used for skin eruptions. Green unripe fruit was mixed with salt and applied as a soothing salve to headaches, concussions and broken bones. The fruit of the Noni was also mixed with the young leaves of the Ohia Lehua and the bark of the root of the uhaloa together with oxalis leaves and a piece of Hawaiian suger cane for sweetening. This concoction when mashed and boiled was considered a most effective tonic for young and old. The juice of the noni fruit mixed with fresh water was sometimes drunk after a bowl of 'awa (kava) to alleviate intoxicating effects. Recent research and scientific trials by both American and European researchers support many of these traditional beliefs and uses and provide strong evidence for the effectiveness of Noni in treating a variety of ailments. Noni has been shown to contain beneficial amounts of caprylic acids, vitamin c, alkaloids and proxeronine, a precursor to xeronine. Xeronine, which is also found in ginseng and bromalaine, is a small alkaloid with potent pharmacological properties that can trigger a very wide range of physiological responses. For those of you who would like more in-depth information we would recommend that you apply yourselves to the following: The Pharmacologically Active Ingredient Of Noni by R. M. Heinicke of the University Of Hawaii; a second study carried out by Annie Hirazume of the University of Hawaii and a paper published by the French scientist Chafique Younos in 1990.
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