The Uses of Neem (Azadirachta indica)

Azadirachta indica, commonly known as "Neem", is a species of tree indigenous India, Burma (Mynamar), Bangladesh, Pakistan and Africa. Many Indians refer to Neem as the "Divine Tree" or "Nature's Drugstore" due to it's uses in herbal medicines and natural remedies - it is thought the tree has a cure or treatment for more than forty different diseases and medical conditions. A fairly distinct tree, a standard Neem will achieve a height of 25-30m in a relatively short period of growth. It is extremely important not to confuse the tree with Melia Azedarach (Chinaberry), a tree that produces highly poisonous fruit in which various neurotoxins will garauntee death within a period of 24 hours - a rather unpleasant mistake to make.

Neem is used in a variety of traditional medical practices. In India, twigs taken from the Neem tree are commonly used to scrub teeth - all though seemingly unpleasant, the branches of the Neem tree provide one of the most effective forms of dental care in traditional medicines and are an excellent alternative for modern toothcare products. Achne sufferers can use the leaves of the Neem tree in a course of natural treatment for their skincare complaints - a pure Neem leaf powder mixed with water can be applied to effected areas of skin with cotton buds to quickly clear many skin complaints.

Similarly, the Neem leaves can be used to treat infected eyes. A portion of ten clean Neem leaves is left to boil in a litre of water for precisely ten minutes and left to cool - this turns the water into a herbal infusion that can be used just as any eyewash could. A similar infusion can also be used to treat sore throats - two or three Neem leaves are boiled in three-hundred millilitres of water and left to cool. When sufficiently cooled, another natural product (typically honey) is added to the infusion and gargled in the throat.

If one elects to use Neem as an oil (tutorials for Herbal oil infusions can easily be found on the internet), the Neem oil can be mixed with olive oil (all though some substitue this for coconut oil) and gently massaged into the hair of an individual - this serves to treat dandruff and dispose of headlice if left without washing for one hour. Following the hour, shampoo should be applied and hair rinsed as normal - dandruff and headlice conditions will usually subside within three weeks of a once-weekly treatment course. A pure Neem oil can also be applied to the nose like one would apply nasal drops in order to clear conditions such as sinustis.

Aside from it's medical usages, Neem is also widely utilised to create an effective pest deterant. Rather than killing insects and pests by distrupting the nervous system of the animal, Neem-based pesticides effect the portion of the brain or nervous system responsible for producing hormones that enable insects to move through their lifecycle and drastically reduce their lifespan. Essentially, the pesticide causes the insect to die of old age when it reaches the end of it's current lifecycle. The most effective Neem pesticides can be purchased from professional herbalists or gardeners. Neem pesticides can be made at home but the most commonly utilised ingredient is Neem cake, which must be purchased from a professional.

Alternatively, one can make a Neem leaf extract for pesticidal use. One kilogram of leaves are soaked in water overnight before being ground. Five litres of water is then added to the mixture and once again left to set overnight. Finally, five millilitres of emulsifier are added to the mixture and the completed product is strained to create a leaf extract. The pesticide helps to combat some of the most common garden pests, especially those that feed on the leaves of plants (such as caterpillas). One should always take care to use a pesticide lightly and only where necessary - the potency of Neem spread over a large area could badly damage the local population of insects, which should be avoided as they do play a key role in maintaining local enviornments.