Neem seed Azadirachta indica seed
LATIN NAME: Azadirachta indica
COMMON NAME: Neem
The neem tree is one of the most useful trees of the warm dry lands. The fine, evergreen, fast-growing tree carries the dense, feathery, pinnate leaves, and the small, white, scented flowers open in the clusters through the warm season, to be followed by the small, olive-like, yellow fruits. Every part of the tree has a long and careful record of use in the traditional practice of the region, and the tree is a fine, dependable, generous addition to the warm, dry garden and the avenue. It is a tree of the open, sunny, well-drained ground.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The neem sits firmly in the middle of the ongoing studies of the useful trees of the warm dry lands, and the tree has been studied for a very long time for the chemistry of its leaves, bark and seeds. Plant scientists have looked at the fine, bitter oils of the seeds and the well-documented record of the tree in the traditional practice of the region, and it keeps showing up in the work on the natural pest-deterrent compounds and the dryland trees. The dense, feathery, pinnate leaves and the small, white, scented flowers have also made it a fine garden tree, and the neem remains a regular subject of the studies of the multipurpose trees of the warm regions.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
The neem earns its keep in more ways than most trees. The bitter, pressed oils of the seeds have a long and careful record of use in the household and the farm practice of the region, and the leaves and the bark are gathered and studied for their place in the traditional remedies. The fast-growing, evergreen tree is also a fine, dependable shade tree of the warm, dry garden and the avenue, and it holds the dry ground well. It has been written about in the botanical and the agricultural papers for its many uses, and it is a fine, generous, long-lived tree of the warm, dry, well-drained garden.
The neem tree is one of the great multipurpose trees of the warm dry lands, and the dense, feathery, pinnate leaves give it a fine, fresh, airy look. The small, white, scented flowers and the olive-like, yellow fruits follow through the warm season, and every part of the tree has its old record of use.
To grow the neem from seed, sow the fresh seeds about a centimetre deep into pots of moist, free-draining soil and cover them lightly, keep them in a warm, bright, open spot and water gently. The seedlings come through within a few weeks and grow on fast into fine, feathery young trees. With the sun and the well-drained ground, the dense, feathery, pinnate leaves will be there through the warm season.
Neem Leaf has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine and is used to treat skin disorders, remove toxins from the body, nourish eyes and hair, as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, and in the treatment of malaria. Neem Leaf is also said to reduce blood sugar levels in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Uses:
Neem Leaf comes from the famous Neem Tree of the Indian subcontinent. The benefits of the Neem Leaf are almost too numerous to mention. The leaf has been used in Ayurvedic medicine since at least the dawn of written language in India. One of the primary uses of Neem Leaf over the years is in skin care. It works as an antifungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent and is said to be effective in treating eczema, ringworm and acne. Traditional methods include crushing the leaves into a paste and applying directly to wounds, ulcers or skin diseases. Neem Leaf is considered to be the aspirin of Indian medicine, and it is used extensively by traditional practitioners and modern herbalists in the treatment of neuromuscular pain and inflammation. Neem Leaf is an astringent and, in Ayurveda, is considered effective in balancing Vata disorders. It is believed to remove toxins from the body, neutralize free radicals and purify the blood. It is also used for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Indians still sprinkle fresh Neem Leaf around the beds of those ill with flu or fever and is also hung in the doorways of the sick, the belief being that air flowing past the Neem will be purified. Neem Leaf has also been used in India for pest control. Farmers mixed Neem Leaf with grain before storing it, and it would act as a repellent toward weevils, beetles and moths. The leaf is also used topically against insect bites by removing the toxins from wasp and ant stings. Neem Leaf is also thought to be good for the eyes and nourishing to the hair. Recently, Neem Leaf has been the focus of much research and has shown much promise in the area of treatment for malignant disease, especially when combined with Garlic. Neem Leaf has also been studied as a natural contraceptive and as an anti-infective. It has also traditionally been used to treat malaria and diabetes mellitus, and many modern tests have demonstrated Neem Leaf's capacity to reduce blood glucose levels. Neem Leaf may also reduce toxicity in the liver.