Neem: the Magic of Mother Nature

Neem is an herb that has been a great assert to human species since thousands of centuries. Neem is extremely useful to humans and this is the reason it is being worshiped in India and is considered as the place where Gods resides. It is said that no evil sprits dares to come near a neem tree and this is the reason neem is a part of every Indian house.

Neem has huge tree that attains a height of 40 to 50 feet. Leaves are small and of green color. Bark is brown in color with cracks on it. Its trunk is light brown to yellow in color from inside. The leaves are bitter to taste. Fruit is small and round in shape.

Age old science ayurveda has mentioned numerous benefits of neem. Each and every part of neem tree is being used and it has lots of health benefits. Below are the some of the benefits that neem possesses.

· Antiseptic and anti-microbial – it is the best agent to suppress any kind of infection that occurs in our body. The powerful action of neem does not let growth of any microbial as well as parasite to grow. This property of neem was known to ayurvedist in India thousands of years back. They used it extensively to provide cure to people so as to treat them from infections that was the major cause of death in those times. The compound knows as azadirachtin is the agent that provides the anti microbial as well as antiseptic properties to neem. Various researches conducted on neem has proved that azadirachtin is the compound that inhibits the growth to microbial and other organisms, even the insects. For this reason, neem is planted in every house in India as no insects propagate on it and no insects like mosquitoes roam around this tree. This act as a protection shield that save people from disease like malaria and filariasis. Some other compounds like salanin, meliantriol and nimbin also adds to the properties of the neem. It is also used in agricultural field for protecting the vegetation from pests.

· Arthritis – neem has a good power to act as anti-inflammatory agent and also relives from pain caused in the joints. It helps in reducing the swelling from the joint and also decreases the pain threshold that is caused in arthritis. It is preferred over other anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents like aspirin or ibuprofen as it does not cast any side effects of abdominal disturbances in our body. It has been proved scientifically that neem has an excellent effect in reducing the inflammation and decreasing the pain without having nay adverse effect on our gastrointestinal tract. As per the researches, the polysaccharides present in neem nurtures this property of reducing the inflammation in the joints.

· Oral care – neem has been extensively used in India to maintain the healthy oral cavity. It keeps our teeth and gums healthy and strong. Since prehistoric times neem twig (datun) has been used extensively to clean teeth and also preventing any kind of infection in oral cavity. It has now been scientifically proved that neem is helpful in preventing tooth decay and bleeding from gums.

· Diabetes – neem leaves are bitter in taste. This property of neem provides it to act as an anti-diabetic agent. It helps in stimulating pancreases to stimulate insulin production and also helps in proper absorption of nutrient and sugar in the body.

· Heart diseases – neem is very helpful in treating the heart related problems and also improve the circulation of blood in the body. The extracts of the neem leaves is highly recommended in reducing blood clotting, blood pressure, hyperlipidemia and heart ailments. Neem is also helpful in treating arrhythmia and angina.

· Skin related problems – neem is the best agent that is very useful in treating any kind of skin related problems. The main reason for occurrence of any skin ailments as per modern sciences is the infection. Neem, as stated earlier also is very beneficial and effective in suppressing any kind of infection n the body. As per ayurvedic view pint skin related ailments are caused due to aggravation of pitta dosha in the body. Neem is helpful in decreasing the pitta in the body, there by fading the skin problems. Neem can be used for oral use also as well as for local application on the skin problem.