Neem

Have you heard of Neem? Many have never heard of this amazing plant, let me open the door for you on the many ways this plant is good for you and your pets and it’s many practical uses for everyday life.

The Neem tree, also known as ‘Margosa’ and ‘The Free Tree of India’ is a cousin to Mahogany and can grow to 30m tall with honey scented flowers as large as 20m across! It is evergreen and chemical investigations by Indian Pharmaceuticals first began in 1919. The Vedas called Neem ‘sarva roga nivarini,’ which means ‘one that cures all ailments and ills’.

The word NEEM is derived from Sanskrit Nimba which means ‘bestower of good health’. It has also been known as Ravisambha – sun ray like effects in providing health. The Neem tree has been venerated through the ages in the Indian countryside as it provided hope in any situation, and faith in the miraculous healing powers of this amazing tree led patients with incurable diseases to adopt neem as way life. They lived in the shade of the tree, drank infusion of various part (Leaf, bark, etc) as advised by Ayurvedic tradition. They used young twigs for oral hygiene first thing in the morning, ate tender leaves as salad or cooked leaves with vegetable as food. Neem gums were used as lozenges for dryness of throat and to allay thirst. In summer, sweet, ripe fruit were sucked for their sweetish pulp. All this together, probably strengthened their immune system to meet any challenge! Its medicinal properties are documented in the ancient Sanskrit texts – puranas and it is estimated that Neem is present, in one form or another, in 75% of Ayurvedic formulations.

Neem Oil is generally recommended for skin diseases while neem leaves are used for beauty purposes.
The Neem leaf extracts have a powerful antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral and anti-bacterial effect. Unlike synthetic chemicals that often produce side effects such as allergic reactions, rashes etc. Neem is gentle and does not create any complications.
Unlike Neem seed oil, Neem leaves have a pleasant odour. An extract from neem leaves can be prepared as an alcoholic tincture or as tea. The alcohol extract has a dark green colour and is effective for several weeks. It can be used in anti ageing nourishing formulas, mouthwashes, facewashes, shower gels, soothing gels, shampoos, face masks, skin toners etc

Environmentally, Neem has a reputation as a natural air purifier, exhaling out oxygen and keeping the oxygen level in the atmosphere balanced. Neem’s ability to withstand extreme heat and water pollution is well known. It also helps to improve fertility of the soil and to rehabilitate degraded wastelands.
The Neem tree can also play a vital role in controlling soil erosion, salination and preventing floods. But Neem is far more than a tough tree that grows vigorously in difficult sites. Among its many benefits, the one that is most unusual and immediately practical is the control of farm and household pests. Some entomologists now believe that Neem has such remarkable powers for controlling insects that it will usher in a new era in safe, natural pesticides.

If you are discovering Neem for the first time, here are some quick amazing Neem facts :
* The tree is known to cure more than ONE HUNDRED diseases.
* Neem is both a pest control material and as well as a fertilizer, making it an invaluable farm companion.
* Neem is an intelligent pest repeller – it affects only harmful pests and does not affect useful species in the farm!
* Neem has a four-pronged repellant action and complex molecular structure which ensures that pests don’t become immune to it.
* It gives more oxygen than other trees, making it a champion pollution fighter.
* The tree is known to halt spreading deserts.
* It’s leaf and it’s extract are a natural substance that don’t simply mask symptoms but encourage your body to heal itself.
* Its completely safe and causes no harm or side-effects. It has been used as a health and beauty aid in India for more than 5000 years!
* It was considered a divine tree by ancient Indians.

A world conference is held every three years to discuss the research and discoveries modern science is making, on this single tree. And there is lots to show and tell!