One of the latest superfoods to hit the health supplement market is the Noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia). Although few allergic reactions to Noni have been reported, it is advisable to ingest small amounts (one tablespoon of the juice) to start with, as a test for adverse reactions. Noni should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, as there is insufficient evidence of its safety during pregnancy or for infants.

General side effects of Noni

Reported side effects from the use of Noni include bad breath, headaches, bloating, gas, foul smelling urine, indigestion and cough. Of the individuals who reported non-allergic side effects, most noted that the adverse effects generally subsided within 72 hours after decreasing the dosage of Noni. In some regions of the world Noni is used as a laxative. Therefore, some people using higher concentrations of Noni juice may experience diarrhea.

Adverse effects of Noni

Just like with many other medicinal herbal products, consuming an excessive amount of Noni can be harmful. Take care not to use more than the recommend doses. Seek the advice of a doctor if using Noni over an extended period of time.

The most severe side effects of Noni can include difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, heavy periods in women, joint aches, diarrhea, itching and rash, tiredness, pimples and boils.

Despite being approved as a Novel Food by the European Commission in 2003, liver toxicology issues have been reported in a minority of users. However, a recent study found no link between adverse effects on liver and consumption of Noni juice, but cautioned that clinical data are essentially lacking.

Diabetic patients should be cautious when drinking Noni juice. In common with other fruit, the Noni fruit is high in sugar and can increase blood glucose levels.

Allergic side effects of Noni

A small percentage of people taking Noni have allergic side effects such as belching and gas, nausea and vomiting, but these effects disappear within a period of 24 hours. Some of the more serious side effects of Noni occur in individuals whose bodies are hypersensitive to Noni.

Some reports indicate that Noni juice consumption can trigger coughing and difficulty breathing. If you experience excessive coughing after consuming Noni juice, you are encouraged to consult your physician.

In regards to headaches, gas, bad breath, joint pain, foul smelling urine, and heavy periods, researchers say these side effects tend to occur with individuals whose bodies are intolerant to Noni juice as a health supplement. People who experience these negative side effects should consult with their doctors before continuing to take Noni juice.

Reducing the Side Effects to Noni Juice

It is advisable to increase the amount of water drunk while consuming Noni juice. It is believed that the addition of freshly squeezed lemon juice in Noni juice can reduce some of the negative side effects.

Noni interaction with prescription drugs

The use of Noni with potassium-sparing drugs is not recommended, due to the high potassium content in the herb. Noni juice may increase the risk of hyperkalemia (higher than normal blood potassium levels) in patients with kidney problems by elevating potassium levels in the body. Noni can cause discoloration of the urine and may interfere with diagnostic urine tests.

Preparations of Noni

Noni comes in several forms that include: bottled fruit juice; capsules containing dried fruit, leaves, roots, or combinations thereof; tablets; teas; essential oil; and topical sprays. Noni is best taken on an empty stomach, and can be consumed daily. Organically grown sources of the supplement are recommended.

Recommended dosages of Noni

Manufacturers’ recommended doses for Noni capsules, tablets, and teas should be adhered to. It is recommended that Noni not be taken with food, as digestive juices may render one of its active ingredients ineffective. Between one quarter of an ounce and one ounce of the juice is a recommended daily dosage for adults. Up to ten ounces of the juice may be taken for therapeutic use of Noni. In capsule form, it is estimated that 1,200 mg equals roughly one ounce of Noni juice.

Powdered Noni requires special preparation. Eight grams of powder should be added to 4 cups of boiling water until the liquid is reduced to two cups. Each cup is one dose.Keep cold until consumed.

St. John’s Wort, known as Hypericum perforatum, is primarily used as an antidepressant. If taking St. John’s Wort, tyramine-containing foods (e.g. aged cheese, cured or aged meats and wines) should be avoided. It is also dvisable to check with a medical practitioner before taking any other medications with St John’s Wort, since it has potentially harmful interactions with antidepressants, birth control pills, blood thinners, heart medications and dextromethorphan (contained in various cold remedies). Few studies have evaluated ithe herbs effectiveness for promoting weight loss. St. John’s Wort and ephedra are the two primary ingredients in herbal phen-fen. The use of St. John’s Wort in combination with ephedera for weight loss is potentially dangerous.

How does St. John’s Wort work?

The mechanism of action of St. John’s Wort is not clearly understood. Some references suggest that it may act like a SSRI (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor) while others suggest that it acts like a MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor).

St. Johns Wort dosage

St. John’s wort is available in capsules, tablets, tinctures, teas, and oil-based skin lotions. Chopped or powdered forms of the dried herb are also available. St. John’s Wort products should be standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin. The usual dose for mild depression and mood disorders is 500–1,050 mg of St. John’s wort extract, three times per day, with meals [1,2,3]. To treat inflammation, as in wounds, burns or hemorrhoids, an oil-based preparation of St. John’s Wort can be applied topically. Length of use should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

St. Johns Wort side effects

Even though St. John’s Wort is a natural remedy, caution is recommended in taking this herb. It is advisable to consult a doctor in the first instance. St. John’s Wort is not recommended for children, or for women who are pregnant or lactating.

St John’s Wort may cause dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, dry mouth, increased sun sensitivity and hair loss. It may also limit the effectiveness of certain medications including: antidepressant medicines; birth control pills; cyclosporine; digoxin; indinavir and other medicines used to control HIV infection; irinotecan and other anticancer medicines; and warfarin and other anticoagulants.

St. John’s Wort, taken alone, has a relatively low incidence of side effects compared to prescription antidepressants. An adverse events profile of St. John’s Wort found that, of 14 controlled clinical trials, 7 reported no side effects, 2 had no information, and 5 reported a total of seven mild reactions [4]. Additionally, in 7 trials comparing St. John’s Wort with other antidepressants, the adverse reaction rate for St. John’s Wort was consistently lower than that of the antidepressant drugs with which it was compared.
Patients with a history of manic-depressive illness (bipolar disorder) or a less severe condition known as hypomania, should avoid the use of St. John’s Wort as it may trigger a manic episode [5,6,7,8].

Drug interactions with St John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort stimulates an enzyme called cytochrome P450 3A4 that metabolizes at least 50% of the drugs on the market [9]. As a consequence, St. John’s Wort could potentially interfere with the action of a large number of medications. St. John’s Wort should not be taken by patients on digoxin because the herb may decrease levels of the medication and reduce its effectiveness. St. John’s Wort may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitor drugs, which are used for depression. St. John’s Wort may reduce the effects of the cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin.

Certain side effects of antidepressants, such as nausea, dizziness, and confusion, may be amplified when St. John’s Wort is taken in conjunction with these drugs. Other drug interactions have been documented. ‘Adverse interactions have been reported between St John’s Wort and two drugs: indinavir, a protease inhibitor used to treat HIV and cyclosporine, a drug used to reduce the risk of organ transplant rejection. Potentially dangerous changes in drug effects can occur when medications such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps) and warfarin (Coumadin) are taken with hypericum extracts. Hypericum extracts can decrease the blood levels of antiretroviral medications that are used in the treatment of HIV infection, thus making these drugs less effective. Recent data show that the plasma levels of the protease inhibitor indinavir (Crixivan) were reduced by more than 50% by hypericum (St. John’s Wort) products.’ – National Institute of Mental Health.

Active constituents of St John’s Wort

The major compounds in St. John’s Wort include hypericin, pseudohypericin, other dianthrones, flavonoids, hyperforin, xanthones and tannins,. Hyperforin is believed to be the major constituent responsible for antidepressant activity, and has been shown to inhibit the uptake of 5-HTP, dopamine, noradrenaline, GABA and glutamate. Hypericin extract contains at least 10 groups of constituents that may contribute to the pharmacological activity of the herb. Hypericin is a napthodianthrone derivative that enters the bloodstream and is not broken down in the liver.