Alternative Medicine

Neem - Natural and Herbal Skin Solution

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“In India, the tree is variously known as “Divine Tree”, “Heal All”, “Nature’s Drugstore”, “Village Pharmacy” and “Panacea for all diseases”. Products made from neem have proven medicinal properties, being antihelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-infertility. It is considered a major component in Ayurveda and is particularly prescribed for skin disease.” Wikipedia.org

Author: Tom Alter

What is Neem?
The Neem tree, or the Indian Margosa tree, is a very common Indian tree which grows in the evergreen dense forests. Its official name is Azadirachta Indica, which literally means ‘free tree of India’. This name was given to the Neem tree by the Persian inhabitants, who were among the first foreign people to learn about the hundreds of curative uses of the tree. The Neem tree is also found in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Japan and in the tropical regions of Australia and Africa.

The most valuable composition of the Neem tree is the Neem oil, which is extracted from various parts of the tree. It is a bitter oil, and is composed of various bitter alkaloids like nimbin, nimbinin and nimbidin. From the flowers of the Neem, a glucoside known as nimbosterin and also a pungent oil known as nimbosterol are obtained. Even the fruits of the Neem contain a bitter constituent known as baka yanin. All parts of the Neem tree - roots, fruits, leaves, flowers and bark - yield the Neem oil, which is a very important constituent in Ayurvedic medicine.

Properties
The following curative properties are ascribed to the Neem tree:

(i) The Neem tree is an air purifier. It can rid the air of harmful microorganisms that cause infections.

(ii) It is a fumigant and a disinfectant.

(iii) The bitter tonic obtained from its root, bark and leaves is used to detoxify the body, which is reduced as ama in Ayurveda. Therefore Neem oil is used in the treatment of flatulence and indigestion.

(iv) Neem is so bitter that even herbivores do not feed on it. That explains why it is used as a nontoxic pesticide. If grown in the farm with other crops, the Neem discharges bitter oils into the ground. This enters the crops and makes them internally fortified. This is a permanent protection for the crops.

(v) Neem acts as an insecticide.

(vi) Neem helps in the removal of catarrhal matter from the bronchial tubes and thus heals respiratory problems.

(vii) Neem is used in the treatment of numerous skin problems.

Uses

Neem is anti bacterial, anti viral, anti parasitic, anti fungal so it treats and prevents an enormous array of health conditions. Here is the big list of Neem uses (in no particular order): Air purifier, treats malarial fever, cholera and smallpox, insecticide and pesticide, heals ulcers and wounds, starts hair growth, stops hair loss, stops premature graying, excellent for teeth and gum disorders, vaginal contraceptive and protects against STDs, reduces blood clotting, regulates heart beat, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, mosquito repellent, cures athletes foot, nail fungus, eczema and psoriasis, boosts immune system, relieves chicken pox itch, may prevent spread of AIDS when used as vaginal lubricant prior to intercourse, cures head lice, treats blood disorders and blood poisoning, reduces cancerous tumors, treats diabetes, skin ulcers, acne, chlamydia, urinary tract infections, candidiasis, removes warts, reduces wrinkles, improves circulation, oxidizes the blood, heals diaper rash and jock itch, prevents colds and speeds recovery from the flu, heals burns and sunburns, hemorrhoids. Wow. Learn more about Neem uses at industryinet.com

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Here is a short list of Neem uses and applications in the treatment of several diseases.

Ear Problems
If you have an earache, then steam fomentation with Neem decoction (prepared by boiling the plant in water) provides relief. Otherwise, Neem leaves can be boiled in a liter of water and the steam obtained is used to foment the ear canal. In case of boils or eruptions in the ear, the juice of Neem leaves can be mixed with pure honey and taken orally. You can also place a few drops of the warmed Neem juice into the ear a few times a day. Warmed Neem oil regularly placed in your ear can also help reduce hearing problems.

Eye Problems
Neem is used for treatment of eye problems such as night blindness and conjunctivitis. In case of night blindness, apply the juice of the Neem to the eyes externally every night. Direct application has better results. This is done by grinding the Neem leaves to a fine powder and then making a paste with water. Strain the juice through a clean cloth and apply the filtered juice with an eye rod. Apply the Neem juice obtained from its leaves directly onto the eyes for conjunctivitis. It will also reduce the pain from your eye infection. Do not forget to apply the juice to the other eye to prevent it from getting infected also.

Childbirth Problems
The juice of Neem leaves can be given women to reduce pain during childbirth. Neem also prevents constipation problems and fevers during pregnancy which may interfere with a normal delivery. Using a warm decoction of the Neem as a vaginal douche helps in quick healing of pregnancy-related wounds and eliminates infections.

Hair Problems
Neem can help with many hair related problems. Apply Neem oil to your scalp, massaging at the hair roots once a day to stimulate hair growth, stop hair loss and eliminate all parasites from the hair such as head lice. Instead of Neem oil, a decoction of the leaves can also be used.

Oral Problems
You can use Neem for several dental and oral problems. Traditionally, most people rub the twigs directly on the teeth daily. This keeps the teeth whiter and prevents gum problems. It also helps in tightening the teeth, relieves toothache, treats halitosis and mouth infections. Many commercial toothpastes and mouthwashes are currently available to use in place of daily twig rubs.

Hemorrhoids
Mix 3 grams of the inner bark of the Neem with double the quantity of raw sugar for hemorrhoids. Take this mixture every morning before eating anything else. If the hemorrhoids are severe and bleeding, then eat three or four Neem fruits directly with water.

Smallpox
Perhaps the most widespread use of Neem is for the treatment of smallpox. The Neem leaves are applied externally on the smallpox eruptions. An ointment for external application of smallpox is prepared in the following manner. 50 grams of the leaves are crushed very finely in 50 grams of pure ghee till is becomes as much consistent as an ointment. Either an ointment made from crushed Neem leaves and Ghee is used or the bark of the Neem is rubbed in water until it forms a paste.

Precautions
Neem does not have any major side-effects on the human body, but it may cause nausea discomfort in some people. If it is taken in a very excessive dose, then there can be moderate to severe problems such as reduced liver metabolism and nervous system problems, including those related with the brain and the spinal cord.

There are many Neem products available to you at your local health store or online. You can purchase commercial Neem toothpastes, shampoos, soap, Neem oil and capsules. You can find many wonderful Neem products at A Much Better Store.

Buy the Book: Neem, A Tree for Solving Global Problems

About the author:
Read more about the benefits of Neem Products in Skin Diseases at http://www.ayurvediccure.com, the World’s Finest Portal on Ayurveda and Herbal
Remedies

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