Although successful in relieving multiple sclerosis symptoms in about only half of the cases, noni juice may be one alternative for helping sufferers of this debilitating disease.

Dr. Neil Solomon reports that noni juice was found to be successful in 51% of 17 patients surveyed in lessening the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.  While the number of people suffering from multiple sclerosis was small, Solomon surveyed 15,000 people for some 15 conditions. 

Because of the size of the number of people surveyed with multiple sclerosis, this should not be considered a reliable statistic.  However, it does suggest another alternative for multiple sclerosis sufferers.

According to Solomon, the average amount of noni consumed by the 51 percent who reported positive results was 3.5 ounces per day.

Solomon, a former John Hopkins professor and medical columnist and commentator, indicated that noni seems to "rejuvenate sick cells throughout the body."  Since multiple sclerosis attacks at the cell level of the nervous system, it may be that noni's success in promoting a healthy nervous system leads to the reported success in relieving some of the negative effects of MS. 

Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, said Solomon.  The disease begins with the destruction of the nerves throughout the brain spinal cord.  Diagnosis of the disease occurs between 20 and 40 years old, beginning with such things as difficulty in walking, abnormal sensations such as numbness or pins and needles, eye pain and loss of vision, slurred speech, tremors and loss of coordination. 

The natural history of MS is for people to show improvement then get worse and the cycle repeats, said Solomon.  Symptoms can become more severe over time and eventually lead to paralysis and blindness.

The cause of MS is uncertain; however, it may be an auto immune disorder, meaning the disease-fighting system of the body mistakes normal tissue as foreign.

Genetics appear to play a part in a person's susceptibility to the disease.  In the United States, a person has a 1 in 1,000 chance of developing MS, while those numbers change to 1 in 100 in a person has a close relation already diagnosed with the disease. About 350,000 Americans have multiple sclerosis.

Harvard researcher Alberto Ascherio (Associated Press, Dec. 26, 2001) suggests that a common virus which causes mononucleosis may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. 

He found that women whose blood contained significant levels of antibodies of the Epstein-Barr virus were four times more likely to develop multiple sclerosis. Exposure to the virus may occur during childhood and remain until adulthood.  The virus also is linked to other diseases such other nerve disorders and cancer.

Although the virus may increase the risk of multiple sclerosis, it is likely not the cause. 

Information about noni and quotes from Dr. Neil Solomon are excerpted from this book, Tahitian Noni Juice: How much, how often, for what, published by Direct Source (Vineyard, Utah, 2000).  This book is available from Fisher House On-line for US$5 plus shipping and handling. To make a secure transaction through PayPal click on the MasterCard/Visa logo below. 

Send your comments and experiences with noni to editor@livingbetter.org.

Copyright December 2001