Neem
Azadirachta indica
For centuries, millions have used various
parts of the plant:
Neem twigs for cleaning teeth.
Neem cream healing skin disorders.
Neem leaf juice, taken Neem as a tonic,
Neem leaves in beds, books, grain bins, cupboards, and closets to keep
away insects.
Various parts of the plant for treatment of ailments like fever,
infections and other complaints.
Neem leaf extract substantially increases the state of oxidation in red
blood cells
Neem reduces erosion deforestation and controlling the global warming
process.
Only in recent years, scientists in the
Western countries started believing that this tree could be the source for
providing tremendous benefit.
Today, researchers are saying that Neem
could be called "a wonder tree" and eventually expect it to
benefit everyone on the planet. This tree is expected to usher in a new
era in pest control, provide millions with inexpensive medicines, cut down
the rate of pollution growth, reduce erosion, deforestation and control
the global warming process. This wonder tree has pesticide, germicidal and
medicinal properties, and is capable of solving many problems facing
mankind today. The wood is termite resistant and is used for carpentry as
well as construction work. These trees grow quickly, thrive on marginal
and poor soils, and neutralize soil acidity with its alkaline leaves.
Therefore, an increased commercial
plantations and agroforestry involving Neem can enhance the economical
potential of this tree with positive and large externalities for
pesticides, fertilizers, live stocks, dairying and other value-added
products
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION AND CULTIVATION
Native to east India and Burma, it grows in
much of Southeast Asia and West Africa.
The neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is a
fast growing (up to twenty feet in three years) tropical evergreen related
to mahogany. Outdoors, in locations where temperatures don't drop much
below freezing, it may reach up to 50 feet tall. It will grow where
rainfall is as little as 18 inches per year and thrives in areas that
experience extreme heat of up to 120 degrees F. They are reported to live
for up to 200 years.
The tree is often covered in delicate
flowers in the early summer. It has a semi-sweet, olive-sized fruit. The
seed inside is rich in oil with tremendous medicinal and botanical
properties. The oil is easily obtained by pressing the kernels in a
juicer. It generally begins bearing fruit at three to five years, and can
produce up to 110 lbs. of fruit annually when mature.
Neem is a tropical tree; it must be
protected from hard freezes. In northern climates it may be grown in pots
with the care and appearance of the more-common ficus tree. Neem makes an
ideal indoor plant because it grows well with a minimum of maintenance.
For optimum growth, Neem should be placed near a sunny window during the
winter and moved outside during summer months. However, they will survive
indoors even if they don't receive any natural light at all. Its blooms
are small, white flowers with a very sweet, jasmine-like scent. They are
relatively heavy feeders, responding to organic fertilizers such as fish
emulsion, bone meal and kelp with lush new growth.
Care
Few pests attack the Neem tree and most problems with Neem are directly
related to over watering. Several different types of fungal diseases can
cause die-back, and slugs that thrive in soggy spaces will eat the bottom
leaves of small trees.
Health and Diseases
Ulcers
Resolution of 80% of the cases. Drink one glass three times a day of Neem
leaf extract made by boiling 5g of Neem leaves, 15g of brown olives (for
taste) in 3 liters of water for 20 minutes.
Gout
Elimination of the problem within one week. Drink one glass three times a
day of Neem leaf extract made by boiling 5g of Neem leaves in 2 liters of
water for 20 minutes.
Diabetes
Effective at managing the disease and in some cases healing after some
time. Drink one glass a day of Neem leaf extract made by boiling 10g of Neem
leaves in 2 litters of water for 20 minutes.
Pneumonia
Completely cured in 3 weeks. Drink one glass a day of hot Neem leaf
extract made by boiling 2g of Neem leaves in one cup of water for 20
minutes. Chest related cases. Clears the chest within 3 days. Drink one
glass a day of hot Neem leaf extract made by boiling 2g of Neem leaves in
one cup of water for 20 minutes.
Malaria
Cures the disease completely in one week, very good in persistent cases.
Drink one glass three times a day of Neem leaf extract made by boiling 30g
of Neem leaves in 3 liters of water for 20 minutes.
Malaria is transmitted from an infected
person to a non-infected person by the bites of certain species of
mosquito. The insect bite injects gamete into the blood stream where it
travels to the kidney to mature. Neem can block the development of the
gamete in an infected person. This not only prevents the infected person
from developing malaria but also stops the disease from spreading.
Neem leaf extract substantially increases
the state of oxidation in red blood cells, preventing normal development
of the malaria plasmodia.
Some westerners familiar with Neem often
substitute an occasional Neem leaf tea to drinking quinine on trips to
malaria-infested areas of Africa and India as a preventive measure. Neem
extracts tested by the Malaria Institute were found to repel the mosquito
that causes malaria for up to twelve hours. Neem provides protection from
not only mosquitoes but also from biting flies, sand fleas and ticks.
Because of Neem’s proven effectiveness insect repellents made with Neem
are being used in malaria prone tropical countries.
Heart Disease:
High blood pressure, blood clots, high cholesterol levels and arrhythmic
heart action are major causes of heart attack. Neem leaf extracts have
been shown to reduce clotting, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, slow
rapid heartbeat, and inhibit irregularities of the rhythms of the heart.
There are also reports that some compounds can produce effects similar to
mild sedatives reducing anxiety and other emotional and physical states
that can precipitate heart attacks. This may be a calming effect similar
to that witnessed with other herbal teas or a psychological result of
physiological effects of blood vessel dilation and lower blood pressure.
Hypertension or High
blood pressure:
The antihistamine properties of nimbidin in leaf extracts cause blood
vessels to dilate and may be responsible for reducing blood pressure.
Alcoholic extract of Neem leaf (intravenous) produced a significant and
immediate decrease in blood pressure, which lasted for several hours.
Another Neem leaf extract, sodium nimbidinate, administered to people with
congestive cardiac failure acted successfully as a diuretic.
Cholesterol:
Neem leaf extracts reduced cholesterol levels significantly in recent
studies. Alcoholic extract of Neem leaves reduced serum cholesterol by
about 30% beginning two hours after administration and kept the level low
for an additional four hours until the test ended.
Arrhythmia/rapid heartbeat:
Neem leaf extract exhibited anti-arrhythmic activity, returning to normal
within eight minutes of administration, artificially induced arrhythmia.
Neem extracts can also decrease abnormally high heart rates.
Psoriasis:
Neem oil is probably the best product currently available for treating
psoriasis. It moisturizes and protects the skin while it helps heal the
lesions, scaling and irritation. Experiments and reports from patients
with psoriasis have shown taking Neem leaf orally combined with topical
treatment with Neem extracts and Neem seed oil appear to be at least as
effective as coal tar and cortisone in treating psoriasis.
Eczema:
The broad range of beneficial effects neem has on skin makes it one of the
better treatments for eczema (dermatitis). Though neem oil is preferred
because of the concentration of active compounds, topical applications of
even the weaker leaf extracts have cured acute eczema.
Arthritis:
There have been numerous studies on the ability of extracts of neem leaf
to reduce the inflammation caused by arthritis. The ailments can be
autoimmune disorders, infections, and the result of wear on the joints or
simply inflammation. Generally though it is the inflammation or the pain
associated with it that is treated regardless of the origin. Neem's
antibacterial properties can help kill infectious causes while its
inflammation reducing properties and pain-suppressing properties can
alleviate the symptoms.
Leaf compounds have been shown to be more
potent inhibitors of prostaglandin than aspirin.
Limonoids and catechin in the leaf and seed
may provide additional beneficial effects. Other possible explanations
point to an inhibition of the release of mediators of acute inflammation.
Rheumatism:
The active constituents in neem leaves have outstanding anti-inflammatory
activity, comparable even to the well-known modern drug phenyl butazone
and cortisone. They relieve pain by acting on the prostaglandin mechanism
and significantly reduce acute paw edema.
Diabetes:
Neem leaf is a traditional herb for treating diabetes and has been
scientifically proven effective in treating and preventing diabetes.
Diabetes is an incurable, chronic metabolic disorder that develops when
the pancreas can no longer produce sufficient insulin. Blood sugar levels
rapidly elevate yet the body is unable to use the energy contained in the
sugar leading to weakness and eventually unconsciousness. Diabetes is the
leading cause of blindness in people ages 25 to 74, damages nerves,
kidneys, the heart and blood vessels and may result in the amputation of
limbs.
Oral doses of Neem leaf extracts
significantly reduced insulin requirements for non-insulin dependent
diabetes. Neem oil has also proven effective and has been able to inhibit
increases in blood sugar levels by as much as 45% in test animals.
The Indian government has approved the sale
by pharmaceutical companies of Neem tablets for diabetics. (Some of these
preparations are really nothing more than powdered Neem leaves.)
Cancer:
Researchers in India, Europe and Japan have now found that polysaccharides
and limonoids found in Neem bark, leaves and seed oil reduced tumors and
cancers and showed effectiveness against lymphocytic leukemia. In several
patents issued in Japan hot water Neem bark extracts showed remarkable
effectiveness against several types of tumors. Several of the extracts
were equal to or better than the standard anti- cancer agent against solid
tumors. Another researcher used an extract of Neem leaves to prevent the
adhesion of cancer cells to other cells in the body. Without the ability
to stick to other cells, cancers cannot spread through the body and are
more easily destroyed by the body's own immune system or by other
treatments. In general, Neem is known for its ability to affect cancers.
Injections of Neem extract around tumors showed remarkable reduction in
size in just a few weeks.
Skin Cancer
A number of reports have been made by patients that skin cancers have
disappeared after several months of daily application of a Neem-based
cream.
Digestive Disorders
Neem is regularly taken to correct problems with the stomach and bowels.
Neem promotes a healthy digestive system by protecting the stomach, aiding
in elimination and removing toxins and harmful bacteria.
Heartburn
and Indigestion:
They are effective because some Neem extracts reduce the concentration of
hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Other compounds with apparent
prostaglandin inhibition capabilities may also play a part in reducing
gastric secretions. At the onset of indigestion traditional Ayurvedic
practice is to drink a strong Neem tea made with five Neem leaves along
with 1/4 teaspoon each of ginger and baking soda. The mixture is said to
protect the stomach and reduce the discomfort.
Peptic
and Duodenal Ulcers:
Neem is a generally accepted in the Ayurvedic medical tradition as a
therapy for ulcers and gastric discomfort. People throughout the Indian
subcontinent take Neem leaves for relief of stomach problems of any sort.
Scientific validation of these practices is consistent in studies of the
effectiveness of Neem and Neem extracts for gastric relief.
Compounds in Neem have been proven to have
anti-ulcerative effects. Oral doses of Neem leaf extracts gave significant
protection against peptic ulcers, duodenal ulcers and enhanced the healing
process of gastric lesions. Nimbidin from seed extracts taken orally
prevented duodenal lesions and peptic ulcers. They provided significant
reductions in acid output and peptic activity of gastric fluids. The
effects were most pronounced when doses were low (20 to 40 mg/kg) and
increased dosages actually reduced the effectiveness of Neem’s
anti-ulcerative effects. Neem seed extracts also showed significant
healing effects from this compound for existing lesions. Similar compounds
have been found in leaf extracts in lesser concentrations.
Gastritis
Neem extracts reduce the concentration of acid in the stomach and have
anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can provide relief
from the effects of gastritis.
Nervous Disorders:
One hour after taking aqueous leaf extracts -- or Neem tea -- weak
excitation and increased activity are seen, while decreased activity and
lower muscular tone occur after five hours. Nimbidin has a mild
suppressive effect on the central nervous system. Neem leaf extracts
produce lower activity, respiratory rate and muscle tone passivity as well
as dose-dependent hypothermia. The active compounds may be limonoids,
because most seem to be able to pass the blood-brain barrier.
Stress:
One of the most recent discoveries for Neem revealed that extracts of Neem
leaves have been able to reduce anxiety and stress when ingested in small
quantities. In an experiment to see what, if any, effect Neem leaf extract
had on anxiety and stress fresh Neem leaves were crushed and the liquid
squeezed out to obtain a leaf extract. The extract was then given orally
to test animals that were placed in two different standard stress tests
and the behavior noted. As controls and for comparison three main sets of
animals were used. One group received salt water to act as a base control,
another group received diazepam (Valium) and another set received the Neem
leaf extract. To determine if Neem leaf extract worked differently at
different amounts the Neem extract group was subdivided into sets that
received ever-larger doses.
The amazing part of the experiment isn't
that Neem can reduce anxiety. That is something that had been reported
many times before scientific experimentation finally quantified it. The
explanation for Neem’s anti-anxiety effect may rest with its ability to
increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. The amazing part is that
Neem extracts will only work in small doses. This unique quality of Neem
could make Neem extract a safer alternative than drugs currently used for
stress that compound their effects with higher doses up to a point where
they can become dangerous.
Wound healing
Neem is a healing herb that is famous for its wound healing properties.
Cuts, scrapes and poison oak and ivy can be salved with Neem oil lotions..
Other Uses
Natural Insect Repellent:
Neem has been used since antiquity as an insect repellent for both people
and food crops.
One compound (salannin) found in Neem
leaves, seeds and seed oil is a safer but more effective insect repellent
than the widely used chemical ingredient called DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)
currently found in most commercial repellents.
For those seeking a safe alternative to
potentially dangerous synthetic repellents Neem offers an attractive
alternative for the following reasons:
Neem oil is an excellent skin moisturizer
while DEET is not recommended for repeated application to the skin, around
the face or on the hands of small children.
Neem oil is a natural vegetable oil while
DEET is not recommended to be sprayed on furniture, plastics, watch
crystals, leather and painted surfaces including automobiles.
DEET may actually dissolve all synthetic
fabrics but nylon.
Neem oil has been used safely for centuries
while DEET is a synthetic chemical that has only been used for a short
time and may pose future unknown health risks.
Agriculture
As scientists scour rainforests in dangerous and inaccessible areas of the
world in search of useful plants, the neem tree grows inconspicuously in
the front yards of homes and on college campuses throughout south Asia and
Africa.
Neem's "soft" pesticide is
improving the lives of farmers throughout the tropical range of the neem
tree. Substituting crude neem extracts for expensive chemical controls
saves both money and lives.
In developing countries, it is estimated
500,000 people are poisoned and up to 20,000 die annually from using
agricultural chemicals.
Seedlings and educational programs give
farmers the means and methods for easily making a cheap, safe and
effective product that protects their crops from over 200 different insect
pests, including the desert locust.
Farmers in Mexico and Haiti and shepherds
in Australia have begun switching to simple Neem-based sprays from the
usual synthetic chemical pest controls. This has allowed the farmers to
export mangos and other fruit to the United States without the chemical
residues that often stopped their shipments at inspection stations.
Neem-based sprays have similarly allowed the shepherds in Australia to
produce a pesticide-free wool that is being sold to European buyers for a
considerable premium over the standard wool impregnated with chemical
pesticides.
Food Storage:
Throughout the tropics much of the food harvested is lost during storage.
More affluent farmers can and do spray their stored food crops with
chemical pesticides to prevent worms, beetles and other infestations. Neem
offers the impoverished farmers and even affluent farmers wanting to
replace pesticides a natural and inexpensive alternative. A light coating
of Neem oil protects stored food crops for up to twenty months from all
types of infestations with no deterioration or loss of palatability.
Soil Amendment - Neem Cake:
After the oil has been pressed from the seed kernels, the remaining
material is called "Neem cake." This material has been used for
many centuries throughout India as a soil amendment. Experience has taught
farmers there that working the leftover Neem cake into the soil of a
garden produces larger, healthier plants that have few problems with
insect pests.
Several studies were done to find out why
plants grew better in soils mixed with neem cake. The studies discovered
that Neem cake was richer in plant nutrients than manure, killed damaging
nematodes, promoted larger populations of earthworms, helped keep nitrogen
in the soil available for the plants, and provided significant protection
from insects. This combination of effects provides an almost ideal growing
condition for the plants.
Plant pest
By killing nematodes in the soil, a major plant pest is eliminated.
Nematodes suck the juices from the roots of plants to the point where they
are unable to supply sufficient nutrients to the plant. The plants looks
sickly, fail to grow and may eventually die despite sufficient food, water
and care. On the other hand, by promoting larger populations of
earthworms, Neem cake helps keep the soil loose so that the roots can more
easily absorb water and nutrients. Earthworms also enrich the soil by
creating readily absorbable nutrients as it feeds on decaying plant
material. Neem cake also reduces the nitrification rate of the soil by
suppressing nitrifying bacteria such as nitrosomonas and nitrobacter
bacteria. This reduces the need for applications of external nutrients.
Some studies have shown that mixing Neem cake with regularly scheduled
applications of manure can almost double crop yield over manure alone.
Disposable toothbrush
Neem twigs are used daily by millions in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan as
disposable toothbrushes. Neem toothpastes and powders are reputed as
effective dentrifice products. Extracts of Neem bark are used in some
toothpastes and mouthwashes singly or in combination with other herbal
extracts. The inhibiting effect of aqueous Neem extract upon bacterial
properties influencing plaque formation has recently been confirmed.
Worm killers
Cattle leaf supplements containing Neem leaf powder are worm killers.
Creams containing Neem oil is used for animal wound addressing and also
act as fly and mosquito repellents. In Kenya, rural farming households
have found in Neem an inexpensive way to protect the native chicken from
the dreaded New Castle virus disease. Neem seed powder or cake mixed in
water and provided for drinking or chicken force fed with Neem cake during
epidemic survived, while other died.
Soap
The most common use of Neem oil is for soap
production for economical reasons.
If properly used for soap production to
harness its general hygiene properties, the resulted product proved to be
of great health use. Such medicated soaps with Neem odor are proved to
have very effective anti-germ properties.
Beauty aid
Neem is also becoming a popular beauty aid. Few companies are using Neem
oil and leaves for production of cosmetics like facial creams, nail
polishes, nail oils, shampoos and conditioners etc.
Food
Because of the fear of toxic residues in food products associated with the
use of chemical pesticides, there is a growing importance of plant origin,
which does not leave any residue. Though many plant chemicals have been
reported to be suitable for this, Neem is the only plant from which the
bio-pesticides are commercially manufactured, found effective,
eco-friendly and acceptable to the farmers. Neem pesticides are now
increasingly used in India on crops like cotton, vegetables, fruit trees,
coffee, tea, rice and pigeon pea.
In conclusion
Increased commercial plantations and
agro-forestry involving Neem can enhance the economical potential of this
tree with positive and large externalities for pesticides, fertilizers,
livestock, dairying and other value-added products
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