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The Indian Neem Tree is considered to be one of the most promising trees of the 21^st century. It has great potential in the field of medicine, pest management and agriculture.

It has been known as a wonder tree in India for centuries. Why is it still new to modern science and what are the exact health benefits Neem can offer beyond the shores of India?

Quite recently, Vancouver’s David Suzuki raved about the endless uses of Neem in India, as this magic tree has showered its gifts on the population of the subcontinent for thousands of years.[1]

Today, Neem represents the most heavily researched tree in modern science but it is barely known outside scholar circles and Indian immigrants in Canada. How come, that Neem has received so little attention among the general public and what should we know about it? What are possible healths benefits the tree offers to help solving common disorders and diseases in Canada?

To start with, did you know that Neem is used in India for treatment of digestive disorders, skin diseases, diabetes, gum disease, fungal and viral infections, maleria and is even used to treat AIDS.[2]

English physicians are increasingly turning to neem when conventional medicine fails. They prescribe Neem soap for eczema, Neem cream for psoriasis, Neem toothpaste for gingivitis, Neem shampoos for head lice and dandruff and Neem leaves to diabetics as it helps the liver which in turn stimulates the pancreas to secrete more insulin.[3] Neem oil apparently produced reductions in mean glucose concentrations of up to 48 % and thus helps in the management of diabetes. [4]

The medical properties of neem are antifungal, antiviral and also anti bacterial. This is mainly due to the chemical constituents which enable neem to protect itself from a multitude of pests. The general class of these chemical compounds is triterpenes and within this category, the most effective are the limonoids, which are abundant in neem oil. Nimbin and nimbidin, which can mainly be found in the leaves, have strong antiviral and antifungal properties.[5]

Let us have a look at the different components of neem and their common use in India:[6]

Bark: Neem bark is bitter, astringent and acrid. It is used for treatment of respiratory disorders, fever and skin diseases.

Leaves: According to the Ayurveda[7], Neem leaves help to remove toxins, purify blood and prevent damage caused by free radicals.

Oil: Neem oil derived from crushing the seeds is antidermatonic, a powerful anthelmintic and is bitter in taste. It has a wide spectrum of action and is highly medicinal in nature. However, it breaks down quickly and is highly unstable. Also, the oil only yields the right potency if the tree is at least 50 years of age.

As this remarkable tree is beginning to reveal its secrets to modern science, it should be pointed out that there was a lot of hype created around Neem in the early 1990ies, especially in the USA and Europe. US companies like W.R. Grace and Agridyne tried to register over 50 patents related to Neem. Such action caused widespread criticism as it would have colonized the use of Neem in India by first world corporations. In the meantime, courts have overturned earlier acceptance of such patents as one cannot protect the rights to a plant.

The lack of profitable commercial opportunity, the fact that to this day the active components of Neem cannot be synthesized and the highly unstable nature of its most precious part, the oil, have prevented Neem to become more popular in Canada and the rest of the western world. Inconsistent quality of Neem product has not helped its popularity either (one of the key obstacles to a more widely accepted natural health industry in general). This stands in sharp contrast to the proven health benefits offered by Neem. It is maybe for that reason that the UN declared Neem as “the tree of the 21^st century”.[8]

Provided it is processed properly and comes from controlled sources, Neem can be of tremendous therapeutic benefit to treat a number of diseases and disorders.[9]

Neem works wonders in treating IBS (with aloe gel and acidophilus), diarrhea (juice) and hyperacidity (bark powder).

Neem’s antiseptic properties are widely recognized now. Neem preparations are reportedly efficacious against a variety of skin diseases, including eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, scabies and even the herpes virus.

Neem extract and oil in combination with aloe gel taken daily on an empty stomach for three months is helpful to manage diabetes.

The oil is reportedly to be found effective in treating certain fungi that infect the human body such as athletes foot and ringworm.

Extracts made from twigs contain antiseptic ingredients which provide dental hygiene and help to treat gum disease.

Neem is also used to treat malarial fevers and might offer a solution to prevent and treat Chagas disease, a major health problem in South America that cripples millions of people every year. Clinical tests are also underway to study Neem’s potential as a safe human contraceptive. According to preliminary clinical tests, 1 ml of intravaginal administration of neem oil can sterilize a female mammal for up to 4 menstrual cycles. [10]

India’s Village Pharmacy undoubtedly offers a wealth of opportunities beyond the shores of the subcontinent. The continued growth of the Indian community in the Anglo-American world will surely help spreading the use of Neem. Yet, only if western health care embraces Neem, there will be a reliable and cost-effective health benefit for the entire society. That however might take years to happen in view of a powerful pharmaceutical and chemical industry lobby that has not much to gain from a mass use of Neem. In the meantime, everyone is free to use Neem but should be careful while trying to identify quality product. Only manufacturers with vertically integrated supplies of Neem materials and appropriate methods to stabilize neem oil can guarantee consistent and effective quality.

[1] The Nature of Things: What’s in a neem, CBC Broadcast from Sept 1993

[2] Med and Aromat Plants Abstract 1987;9:465

[3] The Guardian, May 30, 2003

[4] Dixit VP, et al Effect of neem seed oil on the blood glucose concentration or normal and alloxon diabetic humans. J Ethnopharmacol 1986;17:95

[5] Koul O, Isman M, and Ketkar C. Properties and uses of Neem, Azadirachta indica. Can J Bot 68: 1-11. 1989

[6] The Neem Foundation at www.neemfoundation.org

[7] The Ayurveda is India’s ancient concept of health and healing. Literally, Ayurveda means ‘the knowledge of life’.

[8] Vietmeyer N. Neem, A Tree for Solving Global Problems, National Academy Press. Washington DC. 1997

[9] The Neem Foundation at www.neemfoundation.org

[10] Lal R, et al. Antifertility effect of neem oil in female mammals by the intravaginal and oral routes. Indian J Med Res 1996;83:89