by Ian Kennedy
It is known by many names: Azadirachta Indica, Indian lilac, Veppam, Arya Veppu, Margousier, and by its most common name, Neem. It holds a place of high reverence in the Eastern Indian culture and in Ayurvedic medicine. All parts of the Neem tree including, of course, the flowers and leaves, have been used for over two thousand years and has proven its versatility in the Ayurvedic tradition. All parts of the Neem tree are used in the treatment of a wide verity of ailments such as inflammation, edema, infections, fever, skin diseases, and dental disorders to name a few. It is used as an effective cleanser for blood disorders and as a detoxifier of the liver and is commonly used as a general immune system booster.
Neem is bitter and pungent to the taste. The fruit can be eaten, the twigs can be chewed on, the leaves come encapsulated for easy ingestion without the taste. Neem oils are good for skin and hair and powdered Neem can be added into smoothies. Neem can easily be added to foods, made into a tea, hot or cold, and the leaf, like the twig, is commonly chewed to support healthy gums and the oral microbiome. It is bitter! and can take some getting used to when it comes to chewing the Neem leaf. There are Neem saves, soaps, toothpaste, mists, and the raw whole organic leaf and flower can be easily acquired from India.
Neem is effective in eliminating intestinal worms, treating loss of appetite, helping cardiovascular disease, and lowering high blood pressure. It is powerful in reducing fever, abating flu symptoms, and in fighting gum diseases and liver congestion. Using Neem paste on psoriasis and other skin rases and disorders including scalp problems has been amazingly effective. Neem oil is particularly good for restoring the vibrance and luster to hair. Neem is excellent for the liver. Ingesting a little neem daily automatically enhances your digestion. Aside from consuming Neem daily as liver support and digestive aid, it has also been shown to destroy excess bacteria in the intestinal region and cleanses the colon, further facilitating smoother digestion.
The Neem tree is said to have over one hundred and thirty different biologically active compounds including those with anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti-parasitic properties. Perhaps, only the Ginkgo baluba tree is held in such high esteem as is the amazing Neem tree. The all-encompassing usages of the Neem tree and its benefits are just now becoming fully apparent within the modern medical field and even those of us schooled in Bioregulatory medicine may be uninformed or have simply forgotten about the versatility of this remarkable plant. A blend of Neem, black pepper, and organic honey is a mixture traditionally taken every day in the yogic sciences as an immune system booster and spiritual aid.
The Neem tree can grow to a height of fifty feet and is a powerful reminder of the gifts that nature holds for mankind. Its spiritual qualities include the common India reference to it as the “Tree of Life.” In the African tradition, it is referred to as “Green Gold” and in Senegal, it is lovingly known as the “Independence Tree”.
Siddha is one of the oldest healing traditions known to exist in human history, dating back some ten thousand years BC, originating in Tamil Nadu, South India. The recorded history of this system shows consistent reliance on the Neem tree. It is central in the formulation of treatments meant for physical, psychiatric, and spiritual ailments. The practitioners of Siddha were known as Siddhars and were multi-talented scientists of ancient times, specializing not only in medicine but also in the language of alchemy, mysticism, and spirituality.
The foundational philosophy of the Siddhars was based on a “person-centered” approach. All dimensions of the individual were explored and taken into consideration when formulating a treatment plan. Siddhars' focus was on the four main bodies of a person. The intent was to re-establish cohesion that may have been disturbed or lost in some way between the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of the individual. This disturbance was understood as the root cause of many health issues that may arise.
The United Nations educational scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO) has formally included Siddhars' medical manuscripts as part of their “memory of the world” archive. The memory of the world register/archive is a collection of oral traditions, manuscripts, and documentation of universal value. The United Nations has also honorably named the Neem Tree, as the “tree of the 21st Century.”
Neem oil and the Pineal gland. Neem oil extract has natural antibiotic and antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and can protect the body against toxic and oxidative damage. Neem oil helps the liver and kidneys in eliminating heavy metals. This takes some of the stress off the endocrine system thus paving the way for greater pineal gland function. Neem is a multi-level purifier and its elimination properties greatly support the body through the pineal gland decalcification process. The pineal gland is traditionally understood as the third eye and the seat of the soul or the gland of “universal connection.”
Adding high-quality Neem into the diet will have far-reaching health benefits and is one of the best preventive substances that one can take as an overall immune system supporter, digestive aid, liver, and blood cleanser and can even be used as birth control.
If a couple is attempting to conceive, Neem should be avoided in all its forms by both the man and woman. A pregnant woman should especially avoid Neem as it can cause fetal abortion. It has been used as natural birth control for men and is effective in lowering a man’s sperm count.
Neem is well worth your time investigating, adding into your diet, and when appropriate added into your patients’ protocol. Neem is highly effective, inexpensive, and readily available in many organic forms. Obviously, there are many benefits of Neem and its effectiveness has stood the test of time. Neem is offered to us in the form of its fruit, seeds, twigs, flowers, and leaves. The Neem tree may just be that magic from time immemorial you were looking for.
