Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, has a wide range of medicinal properties.
The neem plant including its leaves, flowers, seeds, fruit, roots, dried branches and bark have established medicinal benefits.
Neem is widely used in many Ayurvedic medicinal preparations and revered not only for its deep action but also the complete lack of side-effects.
The first recorded forms of Ayurveda as medical texts evolved from the Vedas. Ayurveda is the system of medicine that evolved in India with a rationale logical foundation and it has survived as a distinct entity from remote antiquity to the present day.
The only time not to use is if you’re pregnant or want to be. It’s also a natural contraceptive.
Panacea for All Diseases
The uses of Neem as a medicine dates back to 4500 years, where the benefits of Neem’s fruits, seeds, oil, leaves, roots and bark have been mentioned in the earliest Sanskrit medical writings. Each of these has been used in the Indian Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine since Neem provides an answer to many lethal diseases.
Resembling an olive, the fleshy fruit of the Neem tree encloses a few elongated seeds (kernels) having a brown seed coat. In India most of the Neem oil is used in Neem soap, but there are also Neem shampoos, lotions, creams etc.
The highest concentrations of the active ingredients are found in the neem seed and neem oil, however the active ingredients are also found in fewer amounts in the bark and the leaves.
Uses and Benefits of Neem Tree Benefits of Neem Leaves
An easily available resource, Neem leaves are evergreen, available throughout the year. Neem leaves enhance biological functions by strengthening the immune system.
Uses of Neem Bark
The bark contains a higher concentration of active ingredients than the leaves, and is especially high in ingredients with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action.
Uses of Neem Flowers
Neem flowers, when dried and powdered, also have many uses. Flowers can be ingested in any form or be applied to the skin as a paste.
Uses of Neem Seeds and Fruits
The fruits and seeds are the main source for extracting oil. Neem oil is non-culinary vegetable oil produced by pressing the seeds and fruit of the Neem plant. Neem seed oil is also an ingredient in many skin care products.
Chemical Properties
Neem has rightly been called Sarvaroghari. Modern scientists have isolated more than 140 compounds from various parts of the Neem tree that have been evaluated for curative powers. Claimed to be a ‘Village dispensary’ the following properties found in Neem, make it one of the best herbal medicines.
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Salts
- Chloriphyle
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Iron
- Thiamine
- Riboflasium
- Nicocin
- vitamin C
- carotene
- oxalic acid.
| Nimbin | anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-histamine, anti-fungal |
| Nimbidin: | anti-bacterial, anti-ulcer, analgesic, anti-arrhythmic, anti-fungal |
| Ninbidol | anti-tubercular, anti-protozoan, anti-pyretic |
| Gedunin | vasodilator, anti-malarial, anti-fungal |
| Sodium nimbinate | diuretic, spermicide, anti-arthritic |
| Quercetin | anti-protozoal |
| Salannin | insect repellent |
| Azadirachtin | insect repellent, anti-feedant, anti-hormonal |
Other chemicals that form its therapeutic value are:
- Limonoids
- Terpenoids and steroids
- Tetranortarpenoids
- Fatty acid derivatives like margosinone and margosinolone
- Coumarins like scopoletin, dihydrosocoumarins
- Hydrocarbons like docosane, pentacosane, hetacosane, octacosane etc.
- Sulphur compounds
- Phenolics
- Flavonoglycosides
- Tannins
Caution
Although Neem is a very powerful herb, it is advisable not to take Neem internally for prolonged periods without consulting a qualified herbalist.
