You may use neem products to protect your favorite rose bushes or fruit trees from insects or fungus, but you may not know what exactly neem is, where it comes from, or the history and cultural significance surrounding it. Although neem has purported medicinal benefits, it isn't recommended as a remedy for any specific ailment. Always consult a medical professional or a certified holistic specialist before using any herbal remedy.
Identification
All neem products come from the neem tree, or Azadirachta indica, a large, subtropical evergreen tree that is related to the mahogany tree and the Chinaberry tree. The neem has a large, dark green canopy and produces small, fragrant white flowers and sweet yellow fruits. It grows easily from seed, adapts easily to a variety of soils, matures rapidly and can live for 200 years, reaching heights of up to 50 feet.
Geography
The neem is native to southern Asia, where it is locally cultivated. It is also indigenous to parts of Africa. Currently the neem is being cultivated on a trial basis in Australia, South and Central America and parts of the United States. The neem thrives in warm, frost-free climates, although older trees can tolerate some mild cold spells.
Significance
The neem is prized by Indian natives, who have relied on its purported healing and pest control properties for millennia. It also has great cultural significance. According to EcoIndia.com, many Indians believe that planting a neem tree in your home ensures your passage to heaven, and that its leaves can protect you from evil spirits. In Africa, the neem has been instrumental in the reforestation of lands stripped bare due to overpopulation and consequent overgrazing.
Medicinal Uses
In India, neem twigs are used as medicinal toothbrushes. The neem's stem, root, bark and fruits are used as a tonic. The pulp of young neem fruits is used to make an antiseptic soap, and its bark is used as an analgesic. Neem tea is said to reduce headaches and fevers. Neem leaves are used to treat parasitic infections in people and cattle, as well as a variety of skin lesions. Various parts of the neem, including the flowers, are used to aid with stomach problems.
The FDA has done limited studies on neem as a medicine, but all purported health benefits are still considered anecdotal. There is also no usage recommendation from the FDA. Always use caution when using any herbal remedy.
Agricultural Uses
Texas A & M's AgriLife Extension notes the neem tree's many agriculture benefits. Neem oil acts as an effective organic insecticide, insect repellent and fungicide, and unlike its manufactured counterparts, it has shown little toxicity to mammals. When used as a top dressing for crops, neem cakes--a byproduct of neem production--have been shown to prevent infestations of plant roots by nematodes, snails and certain fungi. Neem cakes also act as a fertilizer and have been noted as superior in efficiency to farm manure or sewage sludge.
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