Medicinal benefits of Neem
Azadirachta indica ,Neem (Hindi) is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil.
All parts of the tree are said to have medicinal properties (seeds, leaves, flowers and bark) and are used for preparing many different medical preparations.
Azadirachtin : One of the first active ingredients isolated from neem, Azadirachtin has proved to be the trees main agent for battling insects. It appears to cause some 90% of the effect on most pests.
Fungicides : Neem has proved effective against certain fungi that infect the human body. Such fungi are an increasing problems & have been difficult to control by synthetic fungicides.
Antibacterials : In trials neem oil has suppressed several species of pathogenic bacteria including Staphylococcus & Salmonella spp.
Antiviral agents : In India, there is much interesting, but anecdotal information attributing antiviral activity of Neem. Its efficacy particularly against pox viruses is strongly believed, even among those of advanced medical training. Small pox, chicken pox have traditionally been treated with a paste of neem leaves – usually rubbed directly on to the infected skin.
Dermatological Insects : In India, villagers apply neem oil to the hair to kill head lice, reportedly with great success. Neem seed oil and leaf extracts may be the wonder cure for psoriasis. It relieves the itching and pain while reducing the scale and redness of the patchy lesions.
Dental Treatments : In India, millions of people use twigs as "tooth brushes" every day. Dentists have endorsed this ancient practice, finding it effective in preventing periodontal disease.
Malaria : Practitioners of the Indian Ayurvedic Medicine system have been preparing neem in oral doses for malarial patients for centuries. Neem's antimalarial activity was reported in Ayurveda books as far back as 2000 BC (by Charaka) & 1500 BC (by Sushruta).
Pain Relief & Fever Reduction : Neem may also be a ready source of low cost analgesic (pain relieving), or antipyretic (fever reducing) compounds. In trials, positive results have been obtained for significant analgesic, antipyretic & anti-inflammatory effects.
Contraceptive Agents : Indian scientists from the Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS) have applied for patents on chemicals isolated from the neem oil which have proved to be promising contraceptive agents which are DK-1 & DNM-5. A third active agent coded as DNM-7 acts as an abortifacient causing abortion if administered orally after implantation has already occurred. A Neem oil formulation called "Sensal" is now sold in India for contraceptive purposes.
Veterinary Medicine : Ancient practice & initial testing of neem derivatives against various livestock pests indicated that this is an area of particular promise for the future. Insects of veterinary importance are obvious targets for neem products.
Cosmetics : Neem is perceived in India as a beauty aid. Powdered leaves are a major component of at least one widely used facial cream. Purified neem oil is also used in nail polish & other cosmetics.
Lubricants : Neem oil is non drying and it resists degradation better than most vegetable oils. In rural India, it is commonly used to grease cart wheels.
Fertilizers : Neem has demonstrated considerable potential as a fertilizer. Neem cake is widely used to fertilize cash crops particularly sugarcane & vegetables. Ploughed into the soil, it protects plant roots from nematodes & white ants, probably due to its contents of the residual limonoids. In Karnataka, people grow the tree mainly for its green leaves & twigs, which they puddle into flooded rice fields before the rice seedlings are transplanted.
Resin : An exudate can be tapped from the trunk by woundings the bark. This high protein material is not a substitute for polysaccharide gum, such as gum arabic. It may however, have a potential as a food additive, and it is widely used in South Asia as "Neem glue".
Bark : Neem bark contains 14% tannins, an amount similar to that in conventional tannin yieldings tree (such as Acacia decurrens). Moreover, it yields a strong, coarse fibre commonly woven into ropes in the villages of India.
Honey : In parts of Asia neem honey commands premium prices & people promote apiculture / apiary by planting neem trees.
Neem fruits : The fruits are recommended for urinary diseases, piles, intestinal worms, leprosy etc. The dry fruits are bruised in water & employed to treat cutaneous diseases.
Soap : India's supply of neem oil is now used mostly by soap manufacturers. Although much of it goes to small scale speciality soaps, large scale producers also use it, mainly because it is cheap. Generally, the crude oil is used to produce coarse laundry soaps.
Neem Leaf Tea : Several companies have started processing neem leaves for Tea production and selling as neem leaf Tea. Although it tastes bitter, in the long run it may catch up with the masses especially to the health conscious people.
Neem leaves are an effective solution for acne problem. There are a number of ways to use neem leaves for treating acne.Check out few of them here:
In India, the plant is variously known as "Sacred Tree," "Heal All," "Nature's Drugstore," "Village Pharmacy" and "Panacea for all diseases". Products made from neem trees have been used in India for over two millennia for their medicinal properties: neem products are believed to be anthelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, contraceptive and sedative.Neem products are also used in selectively controlling pests in plants. It is considered a major component in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine and is particularly prescribed for skin disease
Neem Leaves in Treatment of Acne
-The best and the most effective way of treating acne is using fresh neem leaves paste on acne prone area. One can make neem leaves paste at home and apply it all over the face for a period of half-an-hour. Later rinse it off with water. Following this curative beauty regime religiously can help effectively in getting rid of acne.
-Neem tree leave extracts are now-a-days available in form of neem supplements as well. Hence, people who find it difficult to chew bitter neem leaves can pop in these supplements which help in purifying blood from within and clear the skin. One capsule, three times a day upto 40 days can help clear acne from the very core.
-Neem leaves soap can be used as a cure against acne. Carrying the inherent properties of neem, neem leaves soap too happens to be anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antiparasitic which makes it perfect for treating acne. For best results, the neem soap lather has to be put on the problem spots for a while and then washed off with water. Regular use of neem leaves soap can render effective results on acne prone skin.
-Acne and pimples can also be cured with the use of neem leaves water. Put some fresh neem leaves in water and boil it. Once the boiled neem leaves water has cooled down, pour it into a sprayer and spray it on to the affected areas. It would surely help treating acne to a great extent.
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