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The Benefits of NEEM in Ayurveda
listed in herbal medicine, originally published in issue 303 - June 2025
Ongoing research is validating what Ayurvedic practitioners have known for millennia, that Neem is a dynamic plant which can help treat a variety of health problems, while enhancing overall well-being.
Ayurveda is a holistic system indigenous to India and practised worldwide. The word Ayurveda is a Sanskrit term meaning "science of life" Ayu means "life" or "daily living", and Veda is "knowing."
Ayurveda was first recorded in the Vedas – which are ancient Hindu scriptures. Widely practised in India, this holistic approach encompasses the most successful medical system in the world and has been practised in daily life in India for more than 5,000 years! Ayurveda treatment involves the whole body, mind, and spirit with focus on the cause and not the symptoms of the health disorders.
Yoga, meditation, and botanical medicine are all valuable parts of the Ayurvedic approach. One plant that is essential to Ayurvedic practices is the Neem tree, named “Arista" in Sanskrit. With its 4,500 year history, "Arista" means perfect, complete, and imperishable The Neem tree is also known as "sarva roga nivarin", meaning healer of all ailments and "The Village Pharmacy" in India.
Why Neem was Named Tree of the 21sty Century by the United Nations
For thousands of years, humans have sought to fortify their health and cure various ills with herbal remedies. The World Health Organization claims on their website that 80% of the world population are still using herbs and herbal remedies for their health problems. The search for the true panacea, or cure-all, has been undertaken by virtually every civilization!
Perhaps no other botanical plant better meets the true definition of a panacea than the Neem tree, a tropical evergreen belonging to the mahogany family and native to India and Myanmar (formerly Burma). Every plant of this fascinating tree – bark, cake, flowers, fruit, gum, honey, leaves, seed oil, pulp, resins, roots and twigs has been used since ancient times to treat hundreds of maladies. While other herbs such as ginseng are better known, comprehensive research has scientifically proven that Neem has a wider array of uses than any other plant on Earth! While it has always revered in India, there has been a dramatic increase in worldwide interest in Neem recently.
As a result, new Ayurvedic herbal neem products are manufactured/distributed, marketed, promoted, and distributed in many countries around the globe. This caught the attention of large corporations and they have been jumping on the bandwagon offering many kinds of Ayurvedic herbal medicinal Neem products (warning: make sure to read the labels and check for toxic chemical ingredients!). These include: Colgate, Costco, Whole Foods Market, Wal Mart, Now Foods, New Roots Herbal, Sundari, Nature's Way, L’Oréal, Garnier, France, Avon, UK, A. Vogel, UK, Dr. Hauschka, Germany, and Shiseido, Japan. Furthermore, you will find huge numbers of companies selling Ayurvedic herbal neem products on Amazon and Alibaba!
The first use of Neem was several thousand years ago, as ancient Indian cultures used it as integral part of dozen of health and beauty aids. In fact, 75% of all Ayurvedic herbal products contain Neem, and medicinal attributes of Neem were extolled in the oldest Sanskrit writing.
The following health problems have been treated successfully with Neem using the Ayurvedic approach:
- Skin conditions, hair and nails, teeth and gums, skin abrasions;
- Fungi, parasites, viruses, health disorders such as Aids, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, chronic fatigue;
- Works as a non-toxic insecticide, non-toxic insect repellent, soil enhancer, air purifier.
Ongoing research is validating what Ayurvedic practitioners have known for millennia, that Neem is a dynamic and useful plant which can help treat a huge variety of health problems, while enhancing overall well-being.
Every part of this fascinating tree – bark, cake, flower, fruit, gum, honey, leaves, seed oil, pulp, resin, roots and twigs has been used since ancient times to treat hundreds of maladies.
The Neem Tree Grows Only in these Tropical and Sub-Tropical Countries
Here is an impressive list of 118 tropical and sub-tropical countries where the miraculous versatile medicinal neem tree is growing globally. That does not mean that herbal Ayurvedic medicinal neem products are also manufactured/distributed in these countries;
Native to India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Thailand. Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Java, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Qatar, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Surinam, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, United States of America, Venezuela, Virgin Islands (US), Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Neem Boosts the Immune System
Neem acts as antiviral, anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-emetic, anti-arthritic, anti-gastric, anti-carcinogenic, anti-anxiety, and antioxidant (free radicals).
Neem works to boost the immune system on all levels while helping the body fight infection. Unlike synthetic antibiotics, neem does not destroy beneficial bacteria and other micro-organism needed to maintain optimum health. Some medical experts believe that the overuse of chemical antibiotics is contributing to the breakdown of the human immune system. Neem offers a non-toxic, zero harm alternative to powerful and sometimes damaging prescription medicines and their side effects!
Numerous active compounds have been isolated from the neem plant. Some of the most studies include: Gedunin, sodium, Nimbin, Salannin, azadirachtin, nimbidiol, quercetin, nimbidin. Neem leaves contain fibre, carbohydrates and at least ten amino acids proteins. They also contain calcium and other nourishing minerals.
Ecological Benefits
The Neem tree prevents environmental pollution and soil erosion, and works to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems and wastelands, Neem trees are recommended for reforestation, are useful for wind breaks, in areas of low rainfall (grows even in the desert!!) and high speed wind, protects crops. It can also be made into non-toxic pesticide and fertilizers and used by holistic veterinaries.
Cleared Up My Psoriasis
My own experience with Neem for psoriasis has been nothing short of a miracle. I suffered for more than 40 years with severe psoriasis on my scalp and elbows. However, when I started using the herbal neem care products we created in 1994 (Neem cream, shampoo, conditioner, soap, oil blend, tincture) I alleviated the problem and are in charge of my own body and health. But it is not a cure and psoriasis sufferer need to maintain using Neem products. The bestseller is our neem cream for all kinds os skin problems,
acne, eczema, dry skin, ringworm, scabies, rosacea just to name a few!
I received support for my Neem Research and three Neem Books from these Professionals, Academics, scientists, researchers:
David Suzuki CC OBC FRSC PhD: I viewed his video in January 1994 "What's in a Neem" at the CBC program "The Nature of Things", one of the best neem videos ever
produced and I have been in touch with him since 1995.
Dr Zoltan Rona MD MSc, Dr. Neil McKinney ND BSc, Dr. David Schleich PhD Dr Nirrmala Kotharii ND FICCM PhD Dr Male Hozzel PhD. Dr. Sandra Goodman PhD Dr Eve Hillary ND BSc. MA Dr Arun Kumar Garg MD FRCPC PhD
Two other supporters include world renowned entomologists, scientists, and neem researchers Professor Dr Heinrich Schmutterer who hails from Germany, is known as
"The father of Modern Neem," and editor of the book "THE NEEM TREE" second edition published 2002, I had the privilege interviewing him in his hometown Wettenberg in Germany 2015. He passed away at the age of 96 in 2022 and Dr Ramesh Saxena, Chairman of the Neem Foundation and core-founding member of the World Neem Organisation, Mumbai, India he passed away at the age of 82 in 2021, two big losses for the neem community!
The Author’s Achievements
As one of the few North American Neem Researchers since 1994, I have authored over 95 educational articles about health, healing, herbs, and nutrition inclusive 23 educational articles about the miraculous versatile medicinal neem tree from India, published in English and online nationally and internationally in 19 countries including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, in Hindi in India and Canada since 1995.
I am also one of the 14 core-founding members from Africa, Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East establishing in 2017 the WNO - World Neem Organisation, Mumbai India, representing North America, United Kingdom, Germany and the Scandinavian countries and attended as speaker three Neem Conferences in India in 2012 Nagpur, 2018 Bangalore, 2024 in New Delhi and are planning to attend the next event in February 2026 in Hyderabad, NEEMING THE WORLD!
He is also the Author of three Neem books:
- Award winning book "Neem: Nature's Healing Gift to Humanity", originally published 2015, received at the 2019 annual Living Now Book Awards the GOLD MEDAL in the category "Health & Wellness" by the Jenkins Group & Independent Publishers, Traverse City, MI. The third revised edition will be published in May 2025.
- "Neem: The Tree that heals Nations" released 2024
- "Neem: Your Guide to Natural Health and Beauty", released 2024, check: https://www.neem-books.com
Conclusion
Of all the plants that have proven useful to humans throughout the ages, a few have offered as much value and versatility as the Neem tree. With growing research supporting the benefits and healing properties, Neem is finally getting the attention it deserves!
Words of Wisdom
It is health that is real wealth not pieces of gold and silver.
Mahatma Gandhi, India
Natures gives us energy we need to protect and maintain our health.
Alfred Vogel, Switzerland
References and Further Reading
https://www.worldneemorganisation.org/
https://neemresearch.ca/neem-oil-a-sacred-oil-from-india/
https://www.ferlowbotanicals.com
Disclaimer
The content of this article is for educational purpose only and should not be used to diagnose and/or treatment or cure of disease, please contact your health care
practitioner, ©Copyright April 2025.
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