Herbs of India - Part 4

Neem : (Botanical name - Azadirachta indica)

Neem is a medium sized to large tree characterized by its short, straight bole, furrowed, dark brown to gray bark, and dense rounded crown of pinnate leaves. The Neem seeds, Barks, Leafs, are the sources of various Neem extracts. Neem has been in use for centuries in the Indian Agriculture as Best Natural Bio Pesticide and organic fertilizer with pest repellent property. The Indian Medicinal field has also been using Neem for various types of diseases to be cured. Neem is also used in manufacturing Natural Herbal Cosmetics. Neem comprises of 40 different active compounds called Tetranortriperpernoids, or more specifically liminoids. These liminoids create hormonal disruptions and prevents the insect from Feeding, Breeding or Metamorphosing.

Herbal Neem Usage: A wide multitude of diseases or conditions can be successfully treated with various elements of Neem.

Herbal Neem Cures Cancer: Throughout Southeast Asia Neem has been used successfully by herbalists for hundreds of years to reduce tumors. Researchers are now supporting these uses. Neem has been tested on many types of cancers, such as skin cancers, using Neem-based creams and lymphocytic cancer, using the herb internally. In India, Europe and Japan scientists have found that polysaccharides and liminoids in Neem bark, leaves and seed oil reduced tumors and cancers and were effective against lymphocytic leukemia.

Herbal Neem Cures Dental Care: People in both India and Africa have used Neem twigs as tooth brushes for centuries. Neem twigs contain antiseptic ingredients necessary for dental hygiene. Neem powder is also used to brush teeth and massage gums. In Germany many researchers have shown that Neem extracts prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Herbal Neem Cures Diabetes: Because Neem is a tonic and a revitalizer, it works effectively in the treatment of diabetes, as well. More than a disease that requires change of diet, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people ages twenty-five and seventy-four; it also damages nerves, kidneys, hear and blood vessels; it may even result in the loss of limbs. Incurable, it can be treated in a variety of ways. One recommendation is to take one tablespoon (5ml) of Neem leaf juice daily on an empty stomach each morning for three months. An alternative is to chew or take in powder form ten (10) Neem leaves daily in the morning. Some studies have shown that oral application of Neem leaf extracts reduced a patient’s insulin requirements by between 30 and 50 percent for nonkeytonic, insulin fast and insulin-sensitive diabetes.

Herbal Neem Cures Heart Disease: Major causes of a heart attack include blood clots, high cholesterol, arrhythmic heart action and high blood pressure. Neem has been helpful in these conditions too. Its leaf extracts have reduced clotting, lowered blood pressure and bad cholesterol, slowed rapid or abnormally high heartbeat and inhibited irregular heart rhythms. Some compounds may produce effects similar to mild sedatives, which reduce anxiety and other emotional or physical states that may prompt a heart attack. The antihistamine effects of the nimbidin in its leaves cause blood vessels to dilate. This may be why the leaves help reduce blood pressure.

Herbal Neem Helps For Birth Control: Neem has been shown to be a powerful, relatively inexpensive birth control agent for both men and women. In the first century B.C., Charaka, the Indian physician, gave a detailed method for using Neem for contraception. Cotton soaked in Neem oil was kept in the vagina for fifteen minutes before intercourse. This killed the sperm.

Neem’s contraceptive uses for women are even more varied. Even the leaves are said to be effective. Many women in Madagascar chew a handful of Neem leaves every day, which according to their statements prevents pregnancies. In the case of unwanted pregnancies, Neem is said to be capable of inducing a miscarriage. Neem oil based vaginal creams and suppositories are extremely popular in India. Nonirritating and easy to use, they are almost 100 percent effective. When tested against human sperm, Neem extract (sodium nimbidinate) at 1,000mg was able to kill all sperm in five minutes and required only 30 minutes at a lower, 250 mg level. It is suggested that these creams and suppositories also prevent vaginal and sexually transmitted diseases. Oddly, Neem oil has also been taken internally by ascetics who wish to diminish their sexual desire.

Herbal Neem For Prevention Of Malaria: Malaria is quite common in India and throughout the tropics. Neem has been shown to be effective in a number of ways against this deadly disease. Both water and alcohol based Neem leaf extracts have been confirmed as effective. It has been shown to block the development of the gamete in an infected person. Neem leaf extract greatly increases the state of oxidationin red blood cells, which prevents normal development of the malaria virus. Irodin A, an active ingredient in the leaves, is toxic to resistant strains of malaris; 100 percent of the malaria gamete are dead within seventy-two hours with a 1 to 20,000 ratio of active ingredients. Other experiments have used alcoholic extracts of Neem leaf, which performed almost as well. Gedunin and quercetin, compounds found in the leaves, are also effective against malaria. Several studies show that Neem extracts are effective even against the more virulent strains of the malaria parasite. Some scientists believe that stimulation of the immune system is a major factor in Neem’s effectiveness against malaria. Even though Neem may be effective against the parasites that carry malaria, it has not been shown to prevent the malaria infection once it’s in the body.

Herbal Neem Cures Rheumatism: Neem leaves have anti-inflammatory activity, similar to that in drugs such as phenyl butazone and cortisone. They can relieve pain and reduce acute pain edema. For rheumatism, tropical applications of a warmed Neem cream that contains Neem oil and perhaps a mild Neem tea will help lessen pain.

Herbal Neem Cures Stress : Relatively new scientific findings indicate that Neem may even be useful for reducing anxiety and stress. An experiment was done on test animals and has been proved the fact that it reduces stress.