Neem (Azadirachta Indica) is an Ayurvedic medicinal herb, which has been used as traditional medicine for a long time. Neem is known to have more than 130 biochemical compounds, which are used for medicinal and drug purposes. Neem extract is loaded with important benefits like anti-viral, anti-bacterial, pesticidal, insecticidal, and an excellent immune-stimulant. Some of the important benefits of neem are purifying blood, preventing free radicals, beneficial for skin and hairs, counter infections, and boosts the immunity of the body. It is also associated with side effects too.
Top 10 excellent benefits of neem
1. Pimple and acne cure: If you have pimple, acne, or other facial spots, no need to be a worry. Apply the paste of neem on regular basis on these eruptions or dark spots. Let it be there for 15-20 minutes followed by washing it through the water. Besides this, the neem paste along with turmeric is also used for itching, eczema, and ringworms. The use of neem oil over the face helps to make your skin glowing and acts as anti-aging. It also gives relief in case of skin irritation and itching.
2. Neem for hair health: Boil neem leaves into a bucket of water until it becomes green. Make it cool and wash your hair with this neem water. The regular use of it will help for shining hair and removing dandruff too. The rubbing of hair oil over the scalp helps to strengthen the hair follicles thereby prevents hair fall and hair loss. There are many shampoos, which are using neem extract as its constituents because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.
3. Removes redness of eyes: Boil some neem leaves and ensure that the water has become cool. Now, wash your eyes with this neem water twice a day. It is helpful to treat eye redness, irritation, and tiredness.
4. To boost immunity: Neem is used as an immunity booster thereby it helps you to protect from viral and bacterial attacks. Use crush neem leaves with water on a regular basis.
5. Wound healer: Make a paste of neem leaves. Use it on the wound twice or thrice a day. It helps to remove the bacterial infections and simultaneously heal the wound too.
6. Malaria treatment: Neem is used against the repelling of mosquitoes including malarial mosquito. Thus, it has been used for a long time to protect from malaria.
7. Packed with antioxidants: It is found that neem is packed with antioxidants, which fight with free radicals and protect you from various diseases. It is also anti-inflammatory in nature.
8. Anti-microbial properties: This medicinal plant has antimicrobial effects, which work well against various types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
9. Good for eye vision: The chewing of neem leaves on regular basis helps to improve eye vision. If you are suffering from eye irritation and reddish one, wash it regularly with boil neem water after it becomes cool.
10. Enhances digestion: It is said that neem leaves are excellent liver cleanser. Chewing it on regular basis also helps to destroy intestinal germs and make the digestive system smooth thus facilitates better digestion.
10 Medicinal uses of neem oil
Neem is one of the few plants whose entire part is used for medicinal purposes. Neem’s bark, seed, leaves, roots, flower; fruits are used for different health purposes.
1. It is used in dental products viz. mouthwashes, toothpaste, and tooth powders.
2. It is generally used in skin and hair care products.
3. Its an important pest repellant, used against mosquitoes and fleas.
4. Neem flowers are used as a dried or powdered form, and more commonly used in South Indian dishes viz. flower rice, pachadi, rasam, and sometimes sprinkled on top of the dish to make it more delicious.
5. Neem flowers are used to treat anorexia, nausea and intestinal worms.
6. Its flowers are also used as aromatherapy in spa and health centres because of its cooling effect.
7. The alcoholic extract of the neem flowers is used as contraceptive.
8. Neem twigs are used as a toothbrush in many south Asian countries because of its anti-bacterial properties. The use of neem twigs as a brush is also helpful to treat swollen gums, making your teeth white, and prevent plaque formation.
9. Its flowers are used for reducing bile, controlling phlegm, and treating intestinal worms.
10. Its seed oil is used for birth control and to cause abortion.
Side effects of neem oil
Generally, it has no side effects. However, if it is taken for a longer period of time and too in large quantities, then it may show negative impacts.
1. The excess use of it may lead to kidney and liver damage.
2. Neem oil shouldn’t be given strictly to infants and children as it may cause vomiting, diarrhea, blood disorders, seizures, loss of consciousness, and brain disorders.
3. Pregnancy and breast feeding mother should avoid it.
4. If you have the conditions like multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, then it is better to skip the using of neem.
5. In a few pieces of evidence, it has been seen that the use of it may lower the sugar level too low. Therefore the diabetic patient should use it after the consultation with the doctor.
6. Neem has a negative impact on sperm count. If you have a desire for a kid, it is better to avoid it as it leads to infertility.
7. Organ transplant patient shouldn’t use neem.
8. Neem or its product shouldn’t be used at least before two weeks of surgery.
Top 5 facts about neem
1. Neem is packed with more than 130 biochemical compounds, which are used for medicinal purposes.
2. It is the symbol of ‘good health’ in Ayurveda.
3. It is one of the few medicinal plants whose entire parts viz. leaves, flowers, fruits, stem, root, seeds, etc. are used for different health purposes.
4. Neem is known as One tree pharmacy.
5. Neem can be used as natural contraceptive
