Neem is a remarkable healing substance obtained from the Neem tree, Azadirachta indica. Indigenous to India, neem has been used in Ayurvedic medicine since earliest times, dating back to the Sanskrit medical texts that prescribe it for many usages.
A member of the Meliodeae family of plants, neem’s fruits, seeds, oil, leaves, roots and bark are all used in medicine. In India, the twigs are used to clean teeth, and the extract is used as a bug repellant. It is useful for so many ailments that it is referred to as “the village pharmacy.”
The tree is thought to have originated in the dry forested areas of Southeast Asia but has now spread from the Australia to Southern California. Nearly 18 million trees are thought to grow in India alone. The trees flower from January to May when bees are attracted who make neem honey. Fruits appear on the trees after three years and the tree continues to fruit for its lifespan—up to 200 years. One tree can produce 50 kilograms of fruit a year. The taproot of the tree is twice the size of the tree itself—a good indicator of the vitality of this amazing tree. There are many active chemicals in the neem plants, including terpenoids, azadirachins and twenty compounds of sulphur.
- Antiseptic and Anti-fungal: Neem has been used for numerous skin ailments from eczema to boils to ulcers. It can also be used to treat ringworm. The National Research Council’s Ad Hoc Panel of the Board on Science and Technology for International Development recommends neem oil as a general antiseptic. Research has proven its effectiveness in treating fungi, such as those causing athlete’s foot, warts, nail fungus, thrush and gut infections. For this reason, neem twigs are used as toothbrushes in India.
- Antiviral: Used as an antiviral in India, it has been used to treat smallpox, chicken pox and other viral diseases. Modern research has shown neem to offer viral protection, if not cure. Research is underway to test neem’s action of hepatitis and herpes. Neem contains a chemical called gedunin that is being studied for effectiveness in treating malaria. Extracts of the neem plant have been shown to stop the oxidation of red blood cells. One of the chemicals present in neem, Irodin A, is toxic to malaria. China uses neem in treating malaria and neem oil treated mosquito nets are available.
- Arthritis: As an anti-inflammatory, neem heals joint inflammation. Research has shown that neem acts on the prostaglandin mechanism to reduce swelling. It’s suggested that the phenolic compounds, or the quercetin in the plant are the active chemicals in this process.
- Diabetes: Neem has been shown to reduce insulin in the blood. The Indian Government allows the sale of neem for this purpose. Dosage as small as one tablespoon a day can reduce insulin levels by 50%.
- Treatment for AIDS: The National Institutes of Health reported positive results from a 1993 study using neem to kill the AIDS virus in a lab. The suggested pathway is via neem’s immune modulating polysaccharide compounds that may cause increased antibody production. Further research is underway.
- Cholesterol Reduction: Studies with neem show its ability to lower cholesterol levels. Taken in an alcohol extract, participants experienced a 30% lowering of cholesterol in the blood for four hours. Ingesting the extract for one month showed significant drop in cholesterol levels.
Neem, the Village Pharmacy
Research continues on the numerous antibacterial and virus-reducing abilities of this remarkable tree. Neem has proven effective in treating everything from cancer to rheumatism to diabetes. Its bark and leaves and oil heal the skin, the blood, reduce insulin and cholesterol, act as a natural stress reducer, as well as a toothbrush. Neem has even been used as birth control in India. Research continues to bring news of the varied healing benefits of this plant.
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