This particular herb may have attracted your notice multiple times if you have studied the fundamentals of Ayurveda or looked up Ayurvedic items online. One of the most well-known medicinal herbs in Ayurveda for healing is neem.
In addition to being used medicinally, it has enormous advantages for maintaining excellent skin health, cleansing the blood, strengthening gums and teeth, eliminating intestinal worms and bacteria, curing wounds, squelching free radicals, calming the nervous system, enhancing liver health, and boosting immunity.
It is frequently used in India as an oil, cream, paste, and liquid for joint pain, hair, skin, and dental issues. It is a common practise to eat something bitter as a starter at lunch since it is part of an ancient holistic tradition in India to do so in order to stimulate the taste receptors and enhance hunger. Additionally, it is a very effective component for pest management. For cough, cold, fever, nasal blockage, and other typical respiratory conditions, neem is also used in combination with tulsi (Ocimum Tenuiflorum) and ginger (Zingiber Officinale).
Botanical Name: Azadirachta Indica
Other names of Neem
The plant is known as Nimba in Sanskrit. Other names of the plant are Arishtha (Ayurveda), Indian Lilac (English), Kohomba (Sri Lanka), Vembu (Tamil), Niembaum (Germany), Margousier (French), Mindi (Indonesia) Nimtree, Tamarkha (Burmese), Nimmi (Sindi), Margosa (Goa), Veppa (Malay), Dogonyaro (Nigeria),, etc.
More about Neem:
Neem is a deciduous tree that grows quickly. It is a member of the family Meliaceae. It does best in sandy, moist soils. It can stand up to extremely high temperatures. It is unaffected by water quality and may survive on less water. It can reach a height of 15 to 20 meters and loses its leaves in the dry winter months. If the root is flooded by water, it cannot live.
The leaves are exquisite, resembling finely cut feathers, and they are often 8 to 16 inches long.
From January to April, the blooms bloom. The blossoms are white and have an ethereal scent. A group of flowers may be observed spread throughout the monsoon, giving the area a very pleasing appearance.
The fruits look like little peanuts and have incredibly thin skin. They comprise the fruits’ skin is extremely thin and they resemble small peanuts. They have a pulp within that is yellowish-white and bittersweet, which the bats or birds eat. The fruits eventually drop off and are utilised for a variety of things afterwards. The major component that people use the most is the seed that is growing in the fruit’s centre.
In areas prone to dryness, neem is regarded as one of the strongest shade-giving trees.
Ayurvedic properties of Neem:
Rasa: Tikta (bitter) and Kashaya (Astringent)
Guna: Laghu (Light) and Rukshna (dry)
Virya: Shital (cold potency)
Vipaka: Katu (pungent)
Neem, which has a cold potency, nourishes all the dhatus and calms the pitta and kapha doshas. But excessive consumption can vitiate the vata dosha. Neem consumption is to be kept limited for those with a vata constitutionbio-active components of Neem
Neem’s life-sustaining benefits:
Bacterial Resistance
According to studies, the seeds, fruits, and leaves have strong antibacterial characteristics. Neem is a traditional, all-natural method of illness prevention. Various skin diseases, allergies, eczema, septic sores, slow-healing ulcers, scrofula, and ringworm have all been successfully treated with neem formulations.
Antifungal property
Neem is a powerful antibacterial and antifungal plant. Numerous fungal skin illnesses, athlete’s foot, yeast infections, ringworm, and nail infections are treated with several neem products, such as antiseptic liquid, oil, cream, and leave paste.
Neem extract helps to get rid of dandruff and reduces the itching, flaking, and dryness of the scalp. The scalp is nourished with neem paste, which also encourages hair development.
Use a few neem leaves that have been steeped in water overnight to take a morning bath. It guards against skin diseases.
Anti-diabetic
The plant is beneficial for diabetic problems since it has strong anti-hyperglycemic and anti-diabetic effects. Chronic metabolic disease known as Type 2 Diabetes is brought on by the body’s improper release of insulin. Diabetes can be cured with regular use of neem extracts and a balanced diet that contains zero sugar. There is evidence that the leaf or bark extract lowers blood glucose levels without causing significant negative effects. Neem is a gift from nature that can treat diabetes without the use of injections or strong medications.
Beautiful Skin Health
Neem, a natural blood purifier, aids in keeping healthy, bright skin. Sunburn, acne, and pimples can all be treated with neem leaf paste. Neem leaves can also be boiled in water, and once the water has cooled, it can be used as a skin toner. The natural skin toner aids in the reduction of acne, blackheads, pigmentations, scars, and other skin imperfections.
Blood Cleanser
Neem is renowned for being a powerful blood cleanser. It works well on an empty stomach because of its natural bitterness and astringency. Due to its strong antioxidant content, it effectively cleanses the entire body by removing toxins from the blood that reach the deep tissues. Chewing four to five neem leaves in the morning aids in system detoxification.
Healthy Gut
Neem leaves have anti-viral and anti-ulcer properties. Neem leaf extract is quite effective at getting rid of ringworm and intestinal parasites. A paste made from a few neem leaves can be consumed the next morning with lukewarm water and an empty stomach. This helps to maintain a healthy gut and prevents stomach ulcers by promoting the growth of good bacteria in the intestine.
Outstanding Wound Healer
Neem is a powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory herb. Neem paste is a traditional, all-natural method of treating wounds. Neem’s aqueous extract has been found in studies to boost wound healing efficiency and cell regeneration. Neem oil and Haridra (Curcuma Longa) are actually combined to treat serious non-healing wounds.
Reduces Inflammation
Regular use of neem leaves actively protects cancer since they are an effective anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-ulcer, and chemoprotective agent. Tumor, ulcer, and cancer cell proliferation is inhibited by the plant. Additionally, it eases pain and lessens joint inflammation. Purified bark extracts were effective in eliminating a variety of cancer cells, according to a study conducted in Japan.
Neem is referred to be “Sarva Roga Nivarini” (which cures all ailments) in the classic Ayurvedic literature Charaka Samhita. Every home in India uses neem as a domestic herb for multiple purposes. Neem formulations are used in Unani, Homeopathy, and other contemporary medical treatments to cure practically all major ailments.
Robust Gums
Since ancient times, neem twigs have been used in India as toothbrushes. The name of it is Neem Datun. It is manufactured from neem bark, which has an antibacterial property and aids in the treatment of gingival issues.
Toothpaste and tooth powder are made with neem bark. Neem extracts that are introduced to the body by saliva while chewing neem datum aid in the detoxification of the blood. Neem twigs aid in preventing toothaches, cavities, and periodontal illnesses by strengthening gums and eradicating harmful oral germs. Neem twig usage on a regular basis promotes dosha balance and good dental hygiene.