Several
years ago, I was researching material for a book on the
medicinal plants of India, and became interested in a
family of plants known as Rubiaceae. Of particular interest
was a plant known in Sanskrit as Ach which was attributed
special properties by ancient physicians. The fruit of
this Ach plant or Morinda Citrifolia has a rich history
in India where it has been used for tens of centuries
in the system of medicine known as Ayurveda. This holistic
medical tradition was established in the north western
part of India by a people called Aryans who were reputed
to be a rather cosmic civilization. Morinda Citrifolia
was especially esteemed by the ancient Aryan physicians
because it protected the skin from becoming dry and cracked
from the sun. My investigation of the published scientific
literature on Morinda Citrifolia yielded more than 100
articles pertaining to this medicinal plant.
