Neem is an incredible plant that has been used for centuries in India and other parts of the world as a natural remedy for various ailments. From skin conditions to digestive issues to infections, it has served as a reliable source of relief. In this post, we’ll explore the many benefits and why it’s such a powerful natural remedy. We’ll also look at how you can incorporate it into your daily life and reap the rewards of its healing properties. By the end of this post, you’ll understand why neem is an important part of traditional medicine and how you can use it to your advantage.
Neem Leaves Nutritional Value and Calories Chart
Leaves are a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They contain high levels of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron, and dietary fiber. They are also rich in essential fatty acids and proteins, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Neem leaves are also a great source of carotene, which helps to protect against diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Additionally, leaves contain flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants that help to protect the body from free radical damage. Nutritional value per 100 g neem leaves:
- Biotin: Not available
- Calcium: 220 mg
- Carbohydrates (Carbs): 20.7 g
- Chloride: Not available
- Cholesterol: Not available
- Choline: Not available
- Chromium: Not available
- Copper: 0.2 mg
- Dietary Fiber: 16.6 g
- Energy (Calories): 91 kcal
- Fat: 0.9 g
- Iodine: Not available
- Iron: 4.4 mg
- Magnesium: 77 mg
- Manganese: 1.4 mg
- Molybdenum: Not available
- Pantothenic Acid: Not available
- Phosphorus: 66 mg
- Potassium: 668 mg
- Protein: 3.2 g
- Saturated fat: 0.2 g
- Selenium: Not available
- Sodium: 7 mg
- Sugars: 1.7 g
- Vitamin A: 790 IU
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 0.6 mg
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): Not available
- Vitamin B6: 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B9 (Folate / Folic Acid): 157 mcg
- Vitamin B12: Not available
- Vitamin C: 4.3 mg
- Vitamin D: Not available
- Vitamin E: 0.3 mg
- Vitamin K: 59 mcg
- Water: 80.3 g
- Zinc: 0.7 mg
Neem in India
India’s ancient and modern all-healer, known since prehistoric times and still effective today. A large evergreen tree, neem is a veritable pharmacy in its own right, as well as a natural insecticide. The seed, seed oil, leaf, and bark are used medicinally, and have have been used in conditions as diverse as scabies and psoriasis, malaria, diabetes, and anxiety. Planted in villages and towns throughout India, neem often acts as a community medicinal resource and is one of the most valued herbs in Ayurvedic medicine.
- Scientific Binomial: Azadirachta Indica
- Common English: Nimtree / Indian Lilac / Margosa tree
- Ayurvedic: Nimba / Nimbaka / Arishta / Arishtaphala / Pichumarda / Pichumanda / Pichumandaka / Tiktaka / Sutiktak / Paaribhadra
- Unani: Aazaad-Darakht-e-Hindi
- Sanskrit: Nimba
- Hindi / Urdu: Neem
- Bengali: Neem
- Marathi: Nimbay / Limboni
- Telugu: Vepa
- Tamil: Vemmu / Veppu / Veppan / Arulundi / Veppai / Sengumaru
- Gujarati
- Kannada: Turakabevu
- Malayalam: Ariyaveppu
- Oriya
- Punjabi / Sindhi
- Assamese
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Manipuri
- Dogri
- Bhojpuri
Home Remedies
According to Indian classical Ayurveda, considered as a pharmacy in its own right, every part of the plant was used medicinally. The stem bark was given internally as a blood purifier and antiperiodic. All the five parts (root, bark, leaf, flower and fruit), mixed with clarified butter, were used for fumigation to disinfect the atmosphere.
- Skin Care: Apply neem oil directly to the skin to heal and soothe patches of inflamed, red, and itchy skin. For hives, rash, urticaria, dermatitis, or eczema, apply this herb oil on the skin.
- Boils: The oil may also be applied as a poultice to boils, helping to draw out toxins. It may be safely applied to irritated or inflamed skin such as in eczema and psoriasis, and can be used to treat head lice, scabies, and fungal problems such as ringworm. In the treatment of boils, at the site of the boil, apply a paste of neem powder or some neem oil. To make the paste, simply mix a little neem powder with warm water.
- Rheumatism: The oil obtained from the bark is used medicinally as anthelmintic and emetic. It is applied externally for rheumatism. The decoction is considered to be cathartic and febrifuge. Also used in hysteria.
- Mumps: The leaves are also useful in the treatment of mumps. The leaves of this tree and turmeric should be made into a paste and applied externally over the affected parts. It will bring good results.
- Cooling Effect: For a cooling remedy consider the use of neem. In homeopathy, the tincture of the neem bark is used in intermittent fever, afternoon fever, rheumatic pains, constipation, diarrhea, congested spleen.
- Allergy: To reduce or avoid the effect of environmental allergens, apply herbalised neem leaves oil to the exposed part of the body. Leaves cooked in a base of sesame or another oil is called herbalized oil. Pure neem extract will be too strong. If you find that even this herbalized neem oil is too strong and creates an itching or burning sensation, mix it half and half with coconut oil.
- Insect bite: For bites and stings, at the site of the bite, you can also apply neem oil or a neem paste.
- Poisonous Venoms: The tree is an antidote to most poisonous insect venoms. To make a paste, take a little margosa powder and mix it with a little water. Apply it to the skin and leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse it o. Do not use pure neem extract; instead use an herbalized oil made by boiling leaves in a sesame oil base. This is generally available in natural food stores or Indian groceries.
- Athlete’s Foot: Neem is an extremely powerful herb on its own, but it can safely be used regularly in a diluted form, such as neem oil soap. In case of athlete’s foot, wash feet with neem soap. Then dry thoroughly with a hair drier or soft towel, and apply some neem oil (about 1/4 teaspoon) mixed with about 10 drops of tea tree oil. Apply that mixture topically to the affected area with a cotton swab.
- Lice: An ointment to destroy lice is made from the pulp and is also used for scald head and other skin diseases.
- Halitosis: To treat bad breath use an Ayurvedic toothpaste containing neem herbal formula.
- Gum Care: Applying some tea tree oil mixed half and half with neem oil to the gums and gently massaging will help prevent receding gums. Be sure to spit out the residue rather than swallowing.
- Canker Sores: For canker sores, mix 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel with a pinch of neem powder and apply directly to the canker sore.
- Dandruff: While treating dandruff, to improve circulation to the scalp, massage for a few minutes daily with neem oil. If a fungal infection of the skin is causing the dandruff, the neem oil, which has disinfectant properties, will help heal this also.
- Vaginitis: To overcome vaginitis, try treatment through neem water. The patient should be given an enema with lukewarm neem water to cleanse the bowels and prevent the constipation which increases the toxemic condition, inflammation and infection in the genital organs.
- Vaginal Discharge: For general cleansing and elimination of purulent vaginal discharge, neem water vaginal douche at 35C – 40 C followed by cold douche will be highly beneficial. When there is a thick white discharge, washing the part with decoction made with margosa leaves and chebulic myrobalan fruits will greatly help. In case of severe pruritus, it is advisable to wash the vulva with neem leaves decoction and apply green light charged coconut oil. Treatments like neem water vaginal douches help kill bacteria and fungus.
Side Effects and Precautions
Neem has contraceptive activity and should be avoided by women who are trying to conceive. Do not take during pregnancy, while breast-feeding, or during fertility treatment. In children, use topically only. Neem is considered safe and has a long history of use. However, long term internal use may result in anemia, weakness, appetite loss, and weight loss. It should not be used for infants, the older people, or infirmed. Keep to recommended dosage. Long term high dose use is not advisable.