Neem, a tree found in Asia, has various medicinal uses. Indians have used it for thousands of years, referring to it as the “Village Pharmacy.” Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties make it useful for treating skin problems, scabies, and head lice. It is also used as a pesticide.
Neem comes from a tree, Azadirachta indica, that grows in parts of Asia, such as India and Pakistan. People can use parts of the neem tree, such as its leaves and bark, for medicinal purposes. The fruit and flowers of the tree are also beneficial to people. Neem uses also include pesticides and cleaners.
People living in India have known about the many uses of neem for thousands of years. The Vedas, ancient Sanskrit texts, explain how to use each part of the tree for medicinal purposes. Due to the many uses of neem, Indians commonly refer to the tree as the “Village Pharmacy.” They use its leaves to brush their teeth and as a treatment for arthritis, fever and parasites.
Another common use for neem is treating skin problems, such as eczema and acne. Washing the face with a mild neem soap can help clear up a person’s acne, as neem has some antibacterial properties. Neem leaf paste can be used to treat specific blemishes. Applying neem oil to the skin can help prevent eczema flare-ups by keeping the skin properly hydrated. Other neem uses for eczema include soothing irritation and inflammation if a person is experiencing a flare-up.
Two compounds found in neem, nimbin and nimbidin, give it its anti-inflammatory properties. Nimbin also fights bacteria and fungi, while nimbidin can work as a pain reliever and help fight pain. The tree contains many other chemicals such as salannin, azadirachtin, and quercetin that can act as insect repellents, pesticides, and fungicides.
Neem’s anti-insect properties make it a suitable treatment for scabies and head lice in humans. Traditional neem uses for scabies involve pounding the leaves of the tree into a paste and spreading the paste all over the body. An easier way to use neem to treat scabies is to add a few tablespoons of the oil to a warm bath and soak in the tub for about 20 minutes. A person can also treat scabies locally by applying neem lotion on the affected part of their skin.
Lice can be killed by neem. A person can wash their hair with a shampoo that contains neem extract to kill lice. A more effective way to kill lice and their eggs may be to apply neem oil directly to the scalp and let it sit for several minutes, then rinse. Since neem is effective in killing insects, it is also used as a pesticide in the garden.
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