For thousands of years humans have sought to fortify their health and cure various ills with herbal remedies. The search for a true panacea or cure-all has been undertaken by virtually every civilization. While hundreds of substances have been tried and tested, few have withstood modern scientific scrutiny. Perhaps no other botanical better meets the true definition of a panacea than Neem, a tropical evergreen primarily native to India and a Ayurveda herbal product. The word Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit words ayus "life" and veda "science". Literally translated, Ayurveda is the science of Life.In India the Neem tree is a cornerstone of Ayurveda one of the world's oldest medical system that has been used for nearly 5000 years. It is also called the "Village Pharmacy", and Neem was known as sarva roga nivarin or "healer of all ailments," this legendary medicinal tree has grown with the human settlement all over the country as part of Ayurvedic medicine and has been an integral part of the Indian way of life and is inextricably linked to the history of the Indian civilization.The mythology of Neem underlies the long history of Ayurveda's use of Neem against numerous diseases and conditions. Where the modern system of medicine emphasizes fighting pathogens inside the body, the ancient Indian system of Ayurvedic medicine prescribed particular healing herbs that also helped the body develop a strong resistance to disease-causing agents. Neem is considered a major element in preventing and healing diseases among Ayurvedic practitioners. Every part of this fascinating tree has been used, from ancient to modern times, to treat hundreds of different maladies. While it is still revered in India for its superior healing properties, recent investigation has dramatically increased worldwide interest in Neem and many products are now manufactured using this miraculous herb. More than any other Indian herb, Neem proved useful in helping the body resist diseases and restore the proper balance to the body's systems. The large number of conditions and treatments using Neem are the result of eons of work by Indian herbalists and healers. They have been supported by modern scientific studies which continue to provide evidence of the effectiveness of Neem in preventing and treating illness and disease.
What is so different about the Neem Tree ?
The Neem tree or margosa is a botanical cousin of mahagony and belongs to the family Maliaceae. It's botanical name is Azadirachta Indica which literally means "the free tree of India." Native to Indo-Burma region, Neem is distributed throughout South and Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. In addition Neem is found in several other countries spread over continents and has become now a global tree. It was introduced to Africa earlier this century brought from India. Now is planted extensively in the tropical regions of Africa, particularly in the regions along the Sahara's southern fringe.*
Indentured labourers from India carried Neem with them as part of the Indian heritage to many countries to which they migrated such as Fiji, Mauritius and the Caribbean. The tree is now also well established in the Middle East and South America. Recently Neem has been introduced into Saudi Arabia, Yemen, China (Hainan Island) and Philippines. Small plantings of Neem are also found in USA (South Florida and Hawaii), Brazil and Australia. This presence is, however, scattered and exploratory.
Basic Scientific Facts
Neem is an attractive broad-leaved evergreen, fast growing tree with can grow up to 30m tall and 2 ½ m girth. Its trunk straight is 30-80cm in diameter. It spreading branches form a rounded crown of deep-green leaves and honey-scented flowers as much as 20m across. Neem grows on almost all type of soils, but does particularly well on black cotton soils and deep well-drained soil with good sub-soil water. It even thrives well on dry, infertile soils. It performs better than most other multipurpose tree species where soils are sterile, stony and shallow. The tree also grows well on some acid soils. In fact, the fallen Neem leaves, which are slightly alkaline, change the acidic soils into neutral. Neem performs better than many fast growing species in the arid regions. It tolerates high temperatures and low rainfall. It remains in leaf throughout the year except during extreme drought, when it may shed its leaves for a short time. This versatility is valuable for poorly endowed regions.*
It thrives well in extremely hot conditions, even when maximum shade temperature is as high as 50 degrees centigrade. It tolerates up to 0 degree centigrade, however, it will not withstand freezing temperatures or extended sold spells. It performs well in areas where annual rainfall is in the range of 400 mm to 1200 mm. It grows successfully even in areas where the annual rainfall is as low as 250 mm. It, however, cannot withstand poorly drained soils. Neem does best where drainage is good and subsoil water is fairly high. It quickly dies if the site becomes waterlogged. Excessive moisture has negative effect on its growth. Interestingly, Neem does well at elevations from sea level to 1000 m. This then is a tree for almost all the regions of India, particularly for areas which are not too hospitable for most other plant species.
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Neem grows slowly during the first year of planting. Young Neem saplings cannot tolerate intensive or excessive cold conditions. It is very sensitive to frost, especially in the seeding and sapling stages. If the seedlings are damaged by frost, they do not recover.
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After establishment, the saplings start growing fast. A Neem tree normally bearing fruit after 3 to 5 years and becomes fully productive in 10 years. It may live for more than two hundred years! Thus both from the angle of gestation and durability it is ideally suited for quick and lasting return. Everything from the Neem tree has medicinal value, leaves, bark, fruit, oil, extract, seed, crush, cake, pest management, agriculture, eco & environmental friendly.
Neem was so much part of Indian life that most people were not even conscious of how many ways Neem impacted their lives. Long revered for its many healing properties, Neem came close to providing a cradle-to-grave health care program and was a part of almost every aspect of life in many parts of the Indian subcontinent up to and including the modern area. But it has really only been since the dramatic interest in Neem by people of United States and Europe that they have come to realize the value and significance of Neem. Although Neem is one of the most ancient and most widely used herbs on earth, intense scientific investigations of the properties of Neem are only now being undertaken. These studies quickly verifying the efficacy of its traditional uses and are finding even more uses for Neem. This illustrates again that the traditional wisdom can guide the efforts of modern science in discovering remedies for human ailments.
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A key advantage to using Neem, as opposed to some medical treatment and other herbs, is it compliance with the first tenant of the Hippocratic Oath taken by all physicians: "First, do no harm." Over thousands of years, Neem has been used by hundreds of millions of people and no hazard have been documented for normal dosages. Neem offers its users the ability to take action against diseases with the safe and time-proven herb. Indian mythology has several stories that relate how Neem became a sacred tree blessed with the ability to heal all diseases. The most common story tells the time Indra, the king of the Celestials, was returning from heaven with a golden pot filled with Ambrosia he had taken form the demons. Some of the precious Ambrosia spilled from the pot and landed on the Neem trees thereby making the Neem trees blessed with miraculous healing properties for all eternity.
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While legendary herbs such as ginseng are far better known, comprehensive research has proven that Neem has a far wider array of uses than any other herb. The first recorded use of Neem is attributed to ancient Indian culture. They added the plant to dozens of health and beauty aids some 5000 years ago. The centuries-old healing system known as Ayurvedic medicine has utilized these timeless Neem formulations as mainstays of the Ayurvedic pharmacy. Medicinal attributes of Neem were extolled in the oldest Sanskrit writings. Its usefulness as a natural non-toxic insecticide among other fascinating properties, further increases its phenomenal applications.
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Some Westerners are familiar with Neem as culinary spice, while others have purchased Neem-based toothpaste sold in health food stores. Now products containing Neem such as creams, lotions, tinctures, extracts, shampoo, soaps, oil and capsules are becoming more common. While Western medical doctors have considered Neem to be nothing more than a "native folklore", many are now giving Neem serious consideration as a potent and safe ingredient for us in diverse health treatments. The lack of negative side effects certainly enhances Neem's appeal to doctors, particularly Naturopathic doctors and doctors of Natural Medicine and consumer alike. Ongoing scientific research is validating what Ayurvedic practitioners have known for millennia; that Neem is a dynamic and useful plant which can solve dozens of health problems, while enhancing overall well-being.
The bark, seeds, leaves, fruit, extracts and oils of the Neem tree contain pharmacological constituents which offer some impressive therapeutic qualities, including the following :
- Anti-viral: capable of destroying viruses
- Anti-fungal: able to destroy fungi
- Anti-microbial: able to inhibit or destroy the growth of disease-causing organisms
- Anti-bacterial: able to destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria
- Anti-pyretic: able to lower body temperature or prevent or alleviate fever
- Anti-inflammatory: able to reduce inflammation
- Anti-tumour: able to reduce the risk of tumour growth
- Analgesic: able to relieve pain
- Alterative: able to cure or restore health
- Anti-thelmintic: capable of expelling or destroying parasitic worms
- Anti-emetic: able to prevent or stop nausea or vomiting
- Immune system booster and stimulator
- Anti-arthritic: effective in treatment of arthritis
- Anti-gastric: able to prevent or destroy ulcers
- Anti-carcinogenic: reduces the occurrence of cancers
- Anti-anxiety: capable of preventing depression
- Anti-oxidant: preventing atherosclerosis, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, keeps free radical (cancer cells) under control
- Anti-fertility: prevents unwanted pregnancy
- Anti-histamine: agent that serves to inhibit the release or action of histamine and serves to reduce or neutralize the effects of histamine in a allergic response
- Anti-feedant: a substance that deters or inhibits feeding by an insect but does not kill it
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While it is revered in India for its superior healing properties, recent investigations have dramatically increased worldwide interest in Neem. There are over 500 research reports from scientists in Universities from Bangalore to Baltimore which have explored Neem's effect on a astonishing number of health disorders, preventing and treating illness and disease successfully. More than any other Indian herb, Neem proved useful in helping the body resist diseases and restore the proper balance to the body's system. The large number of conditions and treatments using Neem are the result of aeons of work by Indian Ayurvedic doctors, herbalists and healers.
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Numerous active compounds have been isolated from the Neem plant. Some of the most studied include gedunin, sodium nimbinate, salannin, nimbin, azadirachtin, ninbidiol, quercetin and nimbidin. Neem leaves contain fibre, carbohydrates and at least ten amino acid proteins. They also contain calcium and other nourishing minerals. Analysis also reveals the presence of carotenoids, nutritive compounds being hailed for their ability to ward off many types of cancer. Neem oil is especially high in important fatty acids, and contains all of these vital nutrients in significant quantities. Researcher believe the high fatty acid content of the oil may be why Neem is so effective for treating many skin ailments. Neem has a very powerful skin rejuvenating qualities and absorbs quickly into the skin. The uses of Neem to cure human ailments, boost immunity and fortify human health are almost endless. Neem is one of the most powerful known blood purifiers and detoxifiers. Hundreds of specific health maladies respond favourable to the proper application of Neem. This does not include the countless uses of Neem as a natural insect repellent or as a component in beauty aids. Some of he more common current uses for Neem products are :
Skin Conditions
Neem has an almost magical effect on chronic skin conditions that often fail to respond with classical treatments. Acne, psoriasis, eczema, itching, rosacea, shingles, ringworm, athlet's foot, herpes, fungal infections, cold sores, dandruff, dry skin, hemorrhoids, rash, skin ulcers, rheumatism, sprains, pain, warts, wrinkles are among the conditions that clear up consistently when a high quality organic chemical-free, zero harm Neem product is utilized. Synthetic chemicals used to treat these conditions can produce negative side effects such as rashes, allergic reactions and redness of the skin. Studies are currently underway to try and understand the skin rejuvenating properties of Neem. It relieves the itching and pain of psoriasis while reducing the scale and redness of the patchy lesions.
Hair and Nails
When high quality, wild-crafted Neem extract and in some cases cold pressed Neem oil from the kernels of the olive shaped fruit is added to health and beauty preparations, it provides many benefits. Problem scalp conditions including dandruff and psoriasis, scaling and even hair loss respond to treatment with Neem shampoo, conditioners, creams, tinctures and capsules. Listless, damaged and overly oily hair appears to "come alive" when treated regularly with this most amazing plant. Nails, which have turned yellow or brittle due to the presence of yeast or fungi, often return to their normal condition when Neem is applied.Teeth and Gums
It is estimated that over 90% of the US adult population has some type of gum disease. Infection, tooth decay, bleeding and sore gums have been treated very successfully through the daily application of Neem mouth rinse or Neem leaf extract added to water or using Neem toothpaste. German and American researchers have proven that Neem extract prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease. Some people report a total reversal of gum degeneration and gum bleeding after using Neem for only a few weeks or months. In India most people are using the twigs from the branches of the Neem tree and you can notice that these people have very healthy looking gums and white teeth.
Fungi, Parasites and Viruses
Neem has been successfully proven under stringent laboratory conditions to destroy harmful fungi, parasites and viruses. Even though its exact action on these "body predators" is not yet known, it does an excellent job of destroying them. Unlike its chemical counterparts, Neem does not kill beneficial intestinal flora nor produce the negative side effects. Athlete's foot, thrush, candida infestations and herpes viruses are easily cleared up and prevented when Neem is used. Neem has been proven successful in treating stomach ulcers. Its antihistamine and antibacterial compounds appear to reduce inflammation and destroy the bacteria now believed responsible for the common ailments.
Major Health Problems
Professionally administered Neem solutions are being studied for their beneficial effects on AIDS, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other medical conditions.AIDS
The immune modulating polysaccharide compounds found in Neem are being researched as a way to stop this most debilitating illness. The polysaccharides may be responsible for increasing antibody production, while other elements in Neem appear to stimulate immune function by enhancing cellular mediated response. This dual action helps the body ward off the numerous infections so commonplace with AIDS. Neem leaf extracts, tincture and capsules are typically utilized when treating this condition. The National Institutes of Health reports encouraging results from in vitro tests for Neem as an antiviral agent against the AIDS virus.Cancer
Neem has been tested on many types of cancers, including skin cancers, using Neem-based creams against lymphocytic cancer and using the Neem tincture or capsules internally. The polysaccharides and limonoids have reduced cancerous tumours in a number of scientific studies.Diabetes
Neem has been found to reduce insulin requirements for diabetics by up to 50% for nonkeytonic, insulin fast and insulin-sensitive diabetes without altering blood glucose levels. This success has resulted in the Indian government approving the sale of Neem capsules and tablets through pharmacies and clinics. These preparations are essentially pure, powered Neem leaves.Heart Disease
Neem has been scientifically tested for its ability to reduce blood pressure, blood clots, has delayed the coagulation of blood, heart irregularities (palpitation) inclusive calmed erratic heartbeats, helps reduce elevated heart rates and high cholesterol levels. The antihistamine effect helps reduce elevated blood pressure. A recent study showed that Neem lowered high cholesterol levels when either Neem leaf extract or capsules were taken for a month.Chronic Fatique
This is suspected of being caused by both viral and fungal infections. Neem attacks both, and reportedly helps fight this incredibly debilitating syndrome.Minor Skin Abrasions: cream or leaf extract applied topically. The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial attributes of Neem are delightfully soothing.
Natural, Non-Toxic Insect Repellent
Neem repels all types of annoying pests without being toxic to pets or humans. Studies have shown that one Neem compound is a more effective insect repellent than the widely used synthetic chemical known as DEET (N,N,-diethyl-m toluamide), a suspected carcinogen with long periods of use.Insecticide
Neem extract have been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for us on food crops. It is non-toxic to birds, animals, beneficial to insects or man and protects crops from over 200 of the most costly pests.Sunburns
Prevents sunburns from UV rays.
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