Neem is an herb that has been a great support to the human species for thousands of centuries. Neem is extremely useful to humans and this is the reason why it is worshiped in India and is considered as the place where the gods reside. It is said that no evil spirit dares to approach a neem tree and this is the reason why neem is a part of every Indian home.
Neem has a huge tree that reaches a height of 40 to 50 feet. The leaves are small and green. The bark is brown with cracks. Its trunk is light brown to yellow inside. The leaves are bitter to taste. The fruit is small and round in shape.
The ancient science of Ayurveda has mentioned numerous benefits of neem. Each and every part of the neem tree is being used and has many health benefits. Below are some of the benefits that neem possesses.
· Antiseptic and antimicrobial – It is the best agent to suppress any type of infection that occurs in our body. The powerful action of neem does not allow the growth of any microbes or parasites. This property of neem was known to Ayurvedists in India thousands of years ago. They used it extensively to cure people for infections that were the leading cause of death at the time. The compound known as azadirachtin is the agent that provides the antimicrobial and antiseptic properties of neem. Several investigations carried out on neem have shown that azadirachtin is the compound that inhibits the growth of microbes and other organisms, including insects. For this reason, neem is planted in every house in India as no insects spread in it and no insects like mosquitoes roam this tree. This acts as a protection shield that saves people from diseases such as malaria and filariasis. Some other compounds like salanin, meliantriol and nimbin also add to the properties of neem. It is also used in the agricultural field to protect vegetation from pests.
· arthritis- neem has a good power to act as an anti-inflammatory agent and also relieves the pain caused in the joints. It helps reduce joint swelling and also lowers the pain threshold caused by arthritis. It is preferred over other anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents like aspirin or ibuprofen as it does not produce any side effect of abdominal disorders in our body. It has been scientifically proven that neem has an excellent effect in reducing inflammation and reducing pain without having any adverse effect on our gastrointestinal tract. According to research, the polysaccharides present in neem nurture this property of reducing inflammation in the joints.
· Oral care – Neem has been widely used in India to keep the oral cavity healthy. It keeps our teeth and gums healthy and strong. Since prehistoric times, neem twig (datun) has been widely used to clean teeth and also to prevent any kind of infection in the oral cavity. Neem has now been scientifically proven to be helpful in preventing tooth decay and bleeding gums.
· Diabetes – neem leaves have a bitter taste. This property of neem allows it to act as an antidiabetic agent. It helps stimulate the pancreas to stimulate insulin production and also helps in the proper absorption of nutrients and sugar in the body.
· Heart diseases – Neem is very helpful in treating heart related problems and also improves blood circulation in the body. Neem leaf extracts are highly recommended for reducing blood clotting, blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and heart disease. Neem is also helpful in treating arrhythmia and angina.
· Skin related problems – neem is the best agent that is very helpful in treating any kind of skin related problems. The main reason for the appearance of skin diseases according to modern sciences is infection. Neem as said above is also very beneficial and effective in suppressing any kind of infection in the body. According to Ayurvedic point of view, skin related ailments are caused by aggravation of pitta dosha in the body. Neem is helpful in lowering pitta in the body, by banishing skin problems. Neem can be used for both oral use and local application on the skin problem.