Neem: healing properties and how to use it

What is neem and what is it used for?

He neem (Azadirachta indica), also known as neem or margosait is an exotic tree native to southeast asiaespecially from India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, like the melia or acederaque (melia acederaque). Both belong to the Meliaceae family and can be found in many city parks and gardens.

The neem tree is considered sacred in hindu religion and Ayurveda medicine has been using it since ancient times to alleviate a good number of diseases, especially as detoxifying and insecticideand for the treatment of leprosy, the psoriasis and even tuberculosis.

It’s a broad-crowned tree and rarely exceeds 30 meters in height. Has the compound leaveswith lanceolate leaflets, and white and very fragrant flowersarranged in dense panicles. Its fruits are like olivesfleshy, with a greenish skin that turns yellow when ripe and a yellowish, fibrous and sweet pulp with several seeds –from 2 to 4– inside.

The seeds are used for medicinal purposes.. In the plantations, up to four thousand seeds are obtained per kilo of fruit. Of them, by first cold or hot pressure -or with solvents-, an oil is obtainedwhich is the form in which neem is commonly found in herbalists and health food stores. ecological cosmetics.

neem medicinal properties

neem oilsomewhat acrid and golden yellow in color, is used in India for lighting and soap making, as well as for its great therapeutic qualities.

The seeds are also used as insecticide –in decoction– and in shampoos. They contain essential oil and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

appliestopical only, and stands out for its antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial virtues. It is also anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and healing.

Herbalists prescribe the oilTo combat skin fungus (such as athlete’s foot), herpes simplex, and head lice in this case in the form of shampoo or lotion. It is also recommended to reduce inflammation of the insect bites and for the treatment of juvenile acne, rashes, eczema, boils, hives, erysipelas (bacterial skin infection) and other mycoses, such as jock itch, onychomycosis (affecting the nails) or yeast infections.The leaves are used as an infusion in insecticidal lotions.An extract is obtained from the bark and leaves. used in India in gastrointestinal disorders and gastric ulcers, nausea and vomiting.

How is it used

Always in topical useare used the seedsraw and crushed, and Oil that is extracted from them; and the leaves and bark.

In the herbalists the neem oil It is found pure or refined, but also as an ingredient in toothpastes, shampoos, gels, soaps, creams and ointments, ecological insecticides, etc.

Homemade fungicide with neem

This decoction, applied to the skin, can improve fungal infectionssuch as athlete’s foot and juvenile acne.

How is it prepared: Boil two tablespoons of neem bark for 5 minutes, let it rest for another 10 and strain.

Once the decoction is cold (at room temperature), it can be used to make a foot bath for athlete’s foot (two to three baths a day) or soak cotton or a compress and apply on acne skin (twice daily)

Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist at “Manantial de Salud”