Today’s focus is Neem or Margosa – a very common tree in India.
It has played a key role in Ayurvedic medicine in India, and has been a part of traditional remedies in South Asia, for ages. All parts of the tree possess medicinal properties.
1. Skin Disorders : Neem leaves are very useful in skin diseases. For boils, chicken pox, measles you can make a small broom( jhadu) out of neem leaves and keep itching the eruptions with this. It provides instantaneous relief.
2. Insect repellent : Neem is a good insect repellent. It has anti- bacterial and anti- fungal qualities and applying neem oil to the skin protects against mosquitoes. Drying neem leaves well and keeping them in between your clothes (especially woolens) prevents your clothes from getting eaten by insects. Frequent application of neem oil destroys head lice.
3. Oral Health : Neem twigs have been used for several years as a toothbrush, and are still used in some rural areas. It firms up loose teeth, relieves toothache and keeps your breath fresh. The juice of the neem leaves is used widely in toothpastes. Neem powder is also used to massage gums and to clean the teeth.
4. Hair Care : Due to its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties neem helps treat dandruff. Neem leaves can be boiled in water, and you can rinse your hair with this concoction. This can also prevent hairfall and may help hair growth.
5. Blood purifier: it is said that neem has blood purifying properties and detoxifies the blood. This helps in fortifying both the kidneys and the liver. This will help in removing toxins involved in most inflammatory skin diseases.
6. Immunity : Neem helps boost your immune system while cooling down your body internally. It possesses both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial qualities. Neem helps to cleanse the liver by regulating the production of bile and acid in the body. This helps in leaving you with a strengthened immune system.
7. Malaria : Research says that neem may be as effective as quinine on malaria – infected cell cultures. An infusion of the fresh leaves is a bitter vegetable tonic, and acts positively on the liver. It should, however, not be taken in excessive doses.
8. In addition to the above, neem is useful in heart disease, psoriasis, stress, arthritis, ulcers, herpes, blood sugar regulation and several other health conditions.