GREAT MORINDA ~ MENGKUDU

     Morinda Citrifolia ~ Indian Mulbery ~ Mengkudu

                                                               Morinda Tree
    
Morinda ~ The plant grows well on sandy or rocky shores. Apart
fron saline conditions , the plant also can withstand drought and grows
in secondary soils. Thus the plant can be seen in clearings, volcanic
terrain, lava - strewn coasts and on limestone outcrops,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    

Morinda ~ Morinda ~ Morinda ~ Mengkudu ~ Mengkudu ~ Mengkudu

MORINDA ~ USES AS FOOD

  Morinda ~ Mengkudu


     The fruits are edible , but don't have a nice taste or smell. In
fact , some people consider the ripe fruits to smell like vomit.

                                                  Morinda Fruits
      
      Nevertheless , the fruits were eaten as a famine food in a region,
and in some Pacific Islands , are even a staple food of choise (Rara
tonga, Samoa , Fijii ) where they eaten raw or cooked. Elswhere
the fruit is eaten raw with salt (Indocina, Australian Aborigines) ;
or cooked as a curry(Masak Lemak Cili Api) in Malaysia. The
fruits may also be fed to pig livestock. The young leaves can also
be eaten as a vegetable and contain protein (4 - 6 %). Seeds may
be roasted and eaten.

MORINDA ~ Other Uses

Morinda ~ Mengkudu

                                                           Morinda Tree


 The bark of the Great Morinda produces a reddish purple and brown
dye in making Batik and the tree was widely grown for this purpose
in Java. In Hawaii , a yellowish dye was also extracted from the roots
and also used to dye cloth. The tree was also purposely planted to
provide support for pepper vines and shade tree for coffee bushes and
also as a wind - break in Surinam.

MORINDA ~ Traditional Medical Uses

     Morinda ~ Mengkudu

                                                      Noni ~ fruit ~ Morinda ~ Citrifolia


              Various parts are used to contain fever and as a tonic
(Chinese, Japan, Hawaii); leaves , flowers , fruits , bark to treat
eye problema , skin wounds , and abscesses , gum and throat
problems , respiratory ailments , constipation , fever (Pacific
Islands , Hawaii) ; to treat stomach pain and after delivery
(Marshall Islands). Heated leaves applied to the chest relieve
coughs , nausea , colic (Malaysia) ; juice of the leaves is taken
 for arthristis (Philippines) ; The fruit is take for lumbago ,
asthma , and dysentery (Indocina) ; pounded unripe fruit
is mixed with salt and applied to cuts and broken bones .

                                                                Morinda ~ Riped Fruit      

        Morinda riped fruit is used to draw out pus from an infected boil
( Hawaii ) ; juices of over riped fruits are taken to regulate menstrual
flow , ease urinary problems (Malay) ; fruits used to make a shampoo
(Malay, Hawaii) and to treat head lice (Hawaii). Other Exotic diseases
treated with the plant include Diabetes (widespread) and venereal
diseases.

MORINDA ~ Role In The Habitat

    Morinda ~ Mengkudu

                                               Morinda Citrifolia


          Like other mangrove and shore plants , the
Great Morinda helps to stabilise the shore and
provide shade under which other less hardy
plants can establish themselves . Their fruits
appear to attract the weaver ants (kerengga)
which also often make their remarkable rets
out of the living leaves of the plant. In
residence , these ants may protect the plant
from insect predators.

GENTIAN

         Pretty Deep Blue Flowers

          

    

   Gentains have been used by humans since ancient times
as herbal remedies and taste very bitter , used against
Malaria , snake bites , as digestives also included in
perfumes, weight - loss products , skin care products ,
and homeopathic remedies. In the Alps of Europe
one gentian species is the symbolic flower together
with the Edelweiss , and it is found on many souvenirs
and art works . Gentian are also considered special
in the Japanese and Pacific Culture.

Gentian,,,,Essence

   Gentian essence is for people who are pessimistic and depressive , and
see only the gloomy side of life. The Gentian type's depression and
despair always stem from a known cause. This essence belongs to the
pessimistic type of person ; it is one of the most negative and energetic
masses possible.
His mottoes are : "There is no good without bad"
                            "No pain , no pain."
                            "Life is grim suffering."
               People of this type live the self-fulfilling prophecy ;
they beckon the negative energies with statements such as
"It's not working,"...."It's not succeeding,".... and wherever
they are , this is what happens.
     Gentian helps this type during the treatment of illness
as well by encouraging recovery.
Physical symptoms :   The most common one is
constipation. Gentian can be taken to alleviate it.
    This essence helps people to see the "half
full glass" and to form a more optimistic
view of the world.

                                                      Gentian Trumpet Shaped Flowers

                                                        Gentiana Verna Blue Flower