Neem is a popular herb in India. It is known for its various medicinal and health benefits. Azadirachta indica is the botanical name neem. The neem tree is native to India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, etc. Presently it is grown all over the world for its healing properties. Neem possesses different medicinal values and useful for treating various ailments. The antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of neem make it important.
Presently, neem got enormous value in the commercial market. Neem oil is best used in bathing lotions, cosmetics, soaps, and insect repellent.
It is also used for the treatment of bleeding nose, eye problems, intestinal worms, appetite loss, and stomach problems. Neem also used for cardiovascular ailment, skin problems, diabetes, hay fever, liver problems.
History Of Neem
Table of Contents
Neem tree grows in the Indian sub-continent. It has been utilized for more than 4,500 years. The most advanced documents of neem contain seeds, fruits, oil, leaves, bark, and roots for all medicinal properties. The Indian practitioner Charaka and Susruta mention the natural treatment system of Indian.
Neem is one of the fast-growing trees. It has a height of 15-20m that is around 50-65 feet. Neem is an evergreen tree and has shed with leaves. Its branches are widely extended and have a dense crown of oval shape and extend up to 15-20 m.
The neem tree belongs to the mahogany family. It has smooth green-yellow fruits and little white flowers.
Every part of neem proves beneficial for health.
The neem powder, oil, leaf, bark, fruit, and flower provide benefits for following health issues.
- Fever
- Gastrointestinal Disease
- Dermatological Disorders
- Respiratory Disease
- Parasites
- Immune Dysfunction
- Inflammatory Conditions
- Bacterial Infections
- Fungi And Viruses
The components of neem work effectively for viral diseases such as fly, colds caused by herpes-like shingles, and chickenpox. The anti-pain and anti-inflammatory effects prevent psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, acne, and fungi.
It is also beneficial for treating scabies, eczema, and ringworm. A lotion containing neem can heal the condition in 3-4 days and take two weeks in chronic cases.
Reality Coincides Expectation
Many people use different cosmetic products for treating acne and dandruff. Switch with a natural way to know the difference. Neem powder is best for treating hair fall, acne, dandruff, and skin allergies. Neem is valuable for treating all types of skin diseases and problems. The neem is a wonder herb, and it is all parts like oil, bark, the powder also helpful.
It contains strong antibacterial, anti-parasitic, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties that help to prevent diseases. It also consists of vitamin C, which prevents skin problems.
Why Should You Use Neem Powder In Place Of Leaves?
As the neem tree is not available everywhere, it is more valuable to use neem powder, which provides similar benefits. Neem powder is prepared from dried neem leaves and contains similar properties like fresh neem.
How to find neem powder?
You can make neem powder with freshly dried leaves. You can also buy the neem powder online with different bands.
Check here Neem Powder available on Amazon.com.
Benefits of Neem Powder
Neem Powder: Skin Benefits
Clear pigmentation and acne
Neem powder is the best treatment for removing skin pigmentation and acne. Combine one spoon of neem powder with water and apply over affected areas. The antibacterial qualities of neem help to remove the toxic bacteria growth and make your skin condition rejuvenate and fresh.
As a nourishing Neem face pack
Neem powder helps to heal mild skin issues such as irritation, rashes, infections, and burns from its properties of anti-inflammation and anti-bacteria. Combine 2tbsp of neem powder with sandalwood powder and add rose water with some freshwater and make a smooth paste. Apply the neem pack over face and wash after 20 minutes using clean water.
Delays Ageing Signs
When you do not care about your skin, it becomes more prone to aging. Using neem powder helps to prevent aging signs and reduce the effects. Neem helps to regenerate the skin cells and stimulate immune compounds that fight against pathogens in the skin. Try using neem powder weekly, but make sure to do a patch test to know if you are allergic to neem or not.
Treats Skin Infections and Allergies
Choose neem powder instead of choosing expensive cosmetics for skin problems. Combine one teaspoon of neem powder in water and keep it in the fridge for some time. Use this paste on the affected skin part with a cotton ball. It provides anti-analgesic and anti-inflammatory qualities, which calm and heals your disease faster by restricting microbial growth.
Ringworm
Ringworm is not common. It is parasitic contamination of the skin, set apart by ring type, red, layered patches. Sometimes ringworm patches get bothersome and aggravating. Neem powder has been discovered powerful in regarding ringworm as it is a contagious disease, and neem has solid antifungal properties. For treating ringworm, blend neem powder with water. You can include a couple of drops of olive oil if your skin is dry. Apply this mix to the affected parts and wash the following 10-15 minutes with tepid water. Follow this procedure every day for scarcely any days to get observable outcomes.
Neem Powder: Hair Health Benefits
Enhances Hair Growth
At some point in life, everyone experiences hair growing problems. Hair is one of the main parts of human appearance. Everyone desires for shiny and long hair and they try many products. Mix coconut oil with neem powder and apply it on the scalp. Keep it all night and wash in the morning using a mild shampoo. The neem also provides regenerative properties that help to prevent hair fall and promote blood circulation and hair growth.
Treats Baldness
Baldness is another major hair problem that occurred by certain factors such as lifestyle, hormonal change, cosmetic allergies. Neem powder is a natural treatment for baldness without any side effects. Try mixing neem powder with curd and apply over your scalp. It helps to stimulate the scalp cells and promote hair growth.
Head Lice
Lice are a type of parasitic insect, which present in human hair, and they are very contagious. They stay alive on a little amount of human blood, therefore, affect over health. Neem provides healthy qualities to reduce lice growth. Neem also prevents the hatching of lice eggs. You can also combine it with henna powder and make a smooth and thick paste. Apply this paste on your hair and wash after drying. Follow this remedy for 2-3 times every week.
Treats Dandruff
Neem powder also helps to prevent dandruff. You can mix it with amla, shikakai, lemon juice, and water. This pack helps to remove dandruff from your hair. You can follow a neem powder hair remedy once in a week.
Conditions Hair
Neem powder helps to moisturize your dry skin. Similarly, it also conditions frizzy and dry hair. Prepare a paste of neem powder or fresh leaves and combine with honey and water. Apply this mix in your hair and follow your regular wash. It will tress your hair and condition them by preventing dandruff.
You can also mix almond oil or olive oil in neem powder and apply it over the scalp. It removes dandruff and condition hair.
Improves Scalp Health
Another benefit of neem powder is, it helps deep condition your hair and boost scalp health. Make a thick paste of shikakai powder, amla powder, lemon juice, and water. Apply this mix in your hair and leave for 30 minutes. Wash it off after 30 minutes using regular shampoo.
These all ingredients lock the moisture and prevent scalp dryness.
Reduces Joint Pain And Muscle
Neem powder is also useful for treating muscle and joint pains. Blend neem powder in water and drink regularly to get relief from muscle and joint pain. You can also add it with other essential oils and use them over joints and muscles. Neem powder is helpful for arthritis pain.
Cures asthma
Asthma is a disease in which airways get narrow and swell with access mucus. It makes your breathing difficult and induce wheezing, coughing, breath shortness. Asthma condition cannot be cured, but you can control the symptoms. It can be a major issue that causes interferes in daily activities and result in an asthma attack.
How to use Neem Powder?
Neem powder also helpful for asthma. You can mix the neem powder with turmeric paste and add some neem oil with lukewarm water. Consume this mix every day to relieve the condition.
Controls diabetes
Diabetes causes to affect the entire body to function. You can use neem powder for managing diabetes. Dissolve one tsp of neem powder with a glass of water and drink it in the morning on empty stomach. It will manage sugar levels and keep diabetes in the check.
Some studies tell that neem leaves help to play a significant part in reducing blood sugar. The bitter taste of neem lowers the sugar level rise and support in treatment.
Maintains oral health
Neem powder also useful for oral health. Many toothpaste companies use neem in the toothpaste formula, which helps to make teeth and gum health better.
How to use Neem Powder?
Add neem powder with salt and brush teeth with this mix. It will help to make your teeth and gums stronger and prevent dental problems. Neem powder also helps to treat tooth pain.
Treats malaria
Malaria is a dangerous disease that occurred by mosquito bites. It can also cause death in some cases. It can be prevented by removing pathogens and stopping them from entering the home. Neem powder also helpful for treating malaria.
How to use Neem Powder?
Add some neem powder in water and spray it in every corner of your home. The anti-pyretic properties of neem powder help prevent diseases.
Heals rashes and wounds
Neem is an ancient remedy for quickly healing wounds and rashes. Ayurved has top-rated the neem for its healing properties. Combining neem and turmeric work wonder for healing wounds and relieving pain.
Neem contains medicinal properties that fight against bacteria and provide clear skin by treating rashes. It also lowers the pain and redness of the skin. How to use Neem Powder?
Make fresh neem leave past and apply it on rashes. Wash it after 10 minutes with normal water.
Improves blood circulation
Neem powder holds strong power to cleanse your inner as well as the outer body. Regular use of neem provides health benefits for improving blood circulation. It also balances your hormones. You can consume neem in the morning on empty stomach to get the effective results as the neem purifies your inner body. It eliminates the harmful toxins from the blood and cleanses it.
When your regular blood circulation without toxins, it promotes and balance hormones. If you don’t like the bitter taste of neem, then mix it with honey.
Purify Blood
The toxin present in the blood makes it impure and increases the risk of different skin problems. Impure blood often causes acne, rashes, and other health issues. Consuming powder purifies your blood.
How to Use Neem Powder For Blood Purification?
Dissolve the neem powder in milk and drink it every day to purify your blood and increase immunity.
Acts as Deodorant
Neem is also helpful as deodorant without causing dark underarms. Make a deodorant spray of neem powder and essential oils and pour this mix as a deodorant.
Cures Ulcers
Getting peptic or painful ulcers can be more annoying. Excessive acidity causes ulcer formation in your intestines and stomach. Consuming neem powder regulate your pH level and restore the normal function in the stomach.
Cure For Pox
Neem provides natural healing power for smallpox and chickenpox from ages. Make a thick paste of neem powder and use it on marks to recover fast from pox conditions.
Heals Leprosy
Leprosy is a harmful skin illness, and neem powder has been seen as a remedy for it as well. Its inflammation removing properties helps to calm the skin and recuperate quickly. Patients with leprosy try massaging the body with a neem paste regularly to prevent ailments.
Helps Indigestion
Neem provides antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, which aid in digestion by killing the intestinal worms. The rich source of fiber works effectively for treating digestive problems like constipation and gastric.
Often people experience digestive problems due to excess bacteria from foods or unhealthy food. The neem powder can prevent bacterial growth, but it should be consumed adequately. Some composition of neem causes to damage hydrochloric acid present in the stomach lining and reduces the gastric secretions.
Neem also helps to treat stomach ulcers by lowering inflammation. Oral consumption of neem promotes immunity and lower the symptoms of peptic ulcer and duodenal ulcers. Neem also boosts the healing process of gastric lesions.
Aromatherapy
Neem can be an easy and cheap aromatherapy option. You can try neem oil concoction and neem powder. It is very calming therapy, which helps to restore and relax your body to remove microbes.
Neem powder also helps to keep your liver healthy and prevent fungal infections. Therefore, keep the neem powder handy to prevent diseases.
Treats Nail Issues
Neem is a good solution for general nail problems such as discoloring, nail peeling, and brittle nails. Neem oil is most effective for treating the issues. You can massage neem the oil on the finger for better results.
Reproductive Health
Neem is best for promoting sexual health. It is safe and considered effective birth control. According to research, neem works best for reproductive health and promote fertility health in men and women.
Helps to heal leprosy
According to the culture of Egypt, neem helps to heal leprosy. Since the neem is non-mutagenic, it will not cause DNA change and prevent the occurrence of leprosy. Neem liquid or powder helps to treat digestion problems.
Increases immunity
Various Ayurveda experts suggest that everyday intake of neem capsules helps to increase immunity. It lowers the fever of malaria and enhances taste buds. You can even make a tea of neem but in the specific dose and no more than that.
Where to Buy Neem Powder?
You can search for the neem tree in your neighborhood. In India, it grows everywhere. If you do not have a neem tree around, then check-in supermarket or online. You will get different brands of neem powder in online sites. Look for pure neem powder without added ingredients. Check for a product with FDA regulated, GMP, and GMO tested.
Even neem supplements and tablets are said to provide similar benefits. Neem tablets are thought to benefit skin issues, but make sure to consult your doctor. Check the ingredient label to find out added things in the neem powder.
You can also dry the neem leaves in sunlight and make a powder of it at your home.
Neem Powder: Side Effects
Unsafe For Children
The oral consumption of neem can be harmful to children and infants. There will be symptoms of drowsiness, vomiting, coma, brain disorder, and even death.
You can use neem extract shampoo for external use. Make sure to remove it before ten minutes. Serious side effects of oral consumption may occur within an hour.
May Cause Infant Deaths
According to studies, neem could be harmful to infants. Neem doses lower than 5 ml also caused infant death. Animal studies show the toxicity of neem oil at doses of lower than 12-24 mL per kg of body weight.
Even neem consumptions should not continue for longer periods. According to the report of anecdotal, malaria patients who consumed neem leaf tea had kidney failure. The elements found in neem cause symptoms such as Reye’s syndromes in babies when coming in contact with neem oil. Even the smallest dosage can be dangerous for infants.
Not Safe for Pregnancy, Breastfeeding Women
In pregnancy, neem consumption may cause miscarriage. According to animal studies, the neem extracts cause to terminate the pregnancy with no side effects in both monkeys and rodents. Neem consumption is not recommended when you are expecting to conceive.
Autoimmune Diseases
Neem cause to affect the immune system by making it too much active. It results in different autoimmune diseases like sclerosis. Avoid neem consumption in case of having autoimmune diseases.
Diabetes
Some research shows neem cause to lower blood sugar and might decrease the sugar. If you are diabetic and taking neem, then consider monitoring blood sugar levels. It is necessary to check the levels of sugar and a dose of medication.
Infertility
According to some evidence, neem may harm sperm health in some people. It might also lower the chances of fertility. If you are trying for children, skip neem consumption.
During a study of rats, neem flower extract blocked the ovulation partially. Though neem benefits to increase fertility, it may also reduce fertility in some cases.
According to some experts, the farmers use neem in pesticides to stop the multiplication of pests. Similarly, the person exposed to these pesticides may disrupt the sperms healthy.
Even some theories tell that overexposure of neem may affect the immune system and make it hyperactive. It may cause the body to reject the sperm cells and remove them from the conceived embryo.
Organ transplant
Neem may also interfere with the effectiveness of medication while organ transplants. It also reduces blood sugar during surgery. Avoid using neem before two weeks of surgery.
Allergic Reactions
According to the study, neem intake may cause allergic reactions such as mouth inflammation. Though neem is the best remedy for treating rashes and allergies, excessive consumption may trigger allergies. There is more research needed to understand how allergies occur.
Kidney Damage
According to the study, an individual had acute renal failure after intake of Chinese herbal medication. This herbal medication consists of neem as primary ingredients. However, there is no direct link between kidney damage and neem. Still, it is important to take care. Most of the herbal medicine directly affect kidneys and cause renal injuries. Hence, practice caution.
Some studies show that neem consumption damages your liver. Make sure to consult your doctor and have a complete examination of your health before taking neem.
Stomach Irritation
Overabundance internal breath or utilization of neem may cause acid reflux or stomach disturbance. More research is expected to see how this occurs.
Overstimulate Immune System
Neem consumption helps to promote the immune system. However, heavy doses of neem cause to overstimulate the immune system. The overstimulation of neem cause to increase the complications in the body. People with organ transplants also require to avoid neem consumption as it may interact with medications of immunosuppressants during surgeries.
Neema Dosage
ADULTS
Used on the SKIN:
Gingivitis (For a mild gum disease):
A neem leaf gel has been applied to the gums and teeth twice every day for about six months. 15 mL of 2% neem arrangement utilized as a mouthwash for 30 seconds after brushing every day for 3 weeks.
For tooth plaque:
A neem leaf gel has been used to the teeth and gums twice every day for about six weeks. 15 mL of 2% neem utilized as a mouthwash for 30-seconds after brushing every day for 3 weeks. 5 mL of neem liquids utilized as a mouthwash twice every day for 30 days.
Used on SKIN:
For lice:
100 mL of particular neem infusion cleanser (Licensor, Pronovo Laboratories) used to dry hair for 10 minutes at that point washed with warm water one or repeated for the following application.
Neem is a valuable herb throughout the world. It is a well-known herb of Ayurveda medicine. There is extensive research, which tells about the benefits of neem, but the excess consumption may cause side effects especially in children and infants.
Make sure to ask your doctor before consuming neem. Certain hidden ailments may trigger and increase the risk.
Even taking Ayurveda expert advice about dosage can help prevent side effects.