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What are the Uses of Neem Leaf?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

Neem, also known as azadirachta indica, is a tree that is found in several locations in Southeast Asia and parts of West Africa. Several different parts of the tree are used in a wide range of consumer goods, including shampoos, soaps, and herbal beauty products. The neem leaf has a long history of use in Ayurvedic healing, and is used singly and along with other herbs to treat a wide range of ailments.

There are many claims for the healing properties of the neem leaf. Ground into a powder, the leaf can be mixed with other herbal supplements and used as a means of cleansing the system. There are a number of anecdotal testaments regarding the ability of the neem leaf to cleanse the blood of excessive amounts of cholesterol. At the same time, the action of the leaf also regulates the amount of glucose in the bloodstream, making it helpful for people suffering with diabetes. The blood vessels are also said to receive nourishment from the ground leaves when used in tea, balancing the flow of blood to and from the heart.

Neem is commonly used in alternative medicine.
Neem is commonly used in alternative medicine.

Many of the claims for the neem leaf can be traced back to this cleansing action. Healthier blood vessels leads to more efficient blood flow to the extremities, which aid in the healing of wounds. The improved blood flow to the brain aids in combating anxiety and other emotional disorders that result from stress or severe emotional traumas, restoring a proper balance to the production of neurotransmitters. Arthritis, ulcers, and various types of digestive orders are also thought to be treatable with the use of neem leaf products.

Neem leaf can be used in shampoos, soaps, and other herbal beauty products.
Neem leaf can be used in shampoos, soaps, and other herbal beauty products.

Along with use in alternative healing, the neem leaf can also be used to create a strong insect repellent that is safe to administer directly to the skin. A time-honored claim is that a solution made from the leaves will nourish the skin even while driving away insects. This also makes the leaf an ideal ingredient in herbal skin lotions as well as other beauty products like shampoo and hair conditioner.

A few neem oil drops can be added to shampoo before application.
A few neem oil drops can be added to shampoo before application.

While the neem leaf has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine, tests in Western medical traditions have not yet confirmed many of the claims made for this herbal combination. For this reason, there is not a lot of confirmed evidence to support neem benefits or identify any common side effects. As research continues, making use of the leaf as a dietary supplement or herbal supplement should be discussed with a physician, especially if the individual is already taking some type of medication for a specific ailment.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

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Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

discographer
There is a professor at my University in New Jersey who has studied neem uses. She found through her research that neem extract can help fight HIV.

I knew that neem has antibacterial and antiviral benefits. Neem is used very commonly in rural India for malaria treatment but it wasn't known until now that neem can help with HIV too.

I think researchers are still trying to figure out how neem should be used in this case. But this professor has discovered that neem attacks the part of the HIV virus which is responsible for multiplication. So that means that neem can be used to keep the HIV virus under control.

serenesurface

@turkay1-- Yea, it's near impossible to find fresh neem leaves in the US unless you grow some yourself. But the dry kind is found widely in natural and international stores, as well as online. But so are products made from neem leaves like neem soap, shampoo and oil.

I use organic neem soap and neem oil to kill my pets' fleas. Neem is a natural pesticide and it's not harmful to pets like commercial flea shampoos with chemicals in them.

I either use neem soap to wash my pets, or I add several drops of neem oil into their shampoo. I keep it on for a few minutes and then rinse. It kills fleas really well and even works to keep away ticks!

Just make sure to rinse completely because you don't want them ingesting the neem.

candyquilt

I had a dandruff problem for several years until I discovered neem shampoo. The original neem treatment which is recommended by ayurveda practitioners for scalp problems is made with neem leaves. The leaves are ground to make a paste which is applied on the scalp then rinsed.

I don't have access to fresh neem leaves, so instead I purchased an organic neem shampoo online. There was a reduction in my dandruff after the first use and after a couple of weeks, it disappeared completely.

Just several months ago, I had no idea what neem was or what it was good for. Now I can vouch for it as a treatment for dandruff. No wonder it's been used for hundreds of years in herbal beauty products.

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    • Neem is commonly used in alternative medicine.
      By: Unclesam
      Neem is commonly used in alternative medicine.
    • Neem leaf can be used in shampoos, soaps, and other herbal beauty products.
      By: seen
      Neem leaf can be used in shampoos, soaps, and other herbal beauty products.
    • A few neem oil drops can be added to shampoo before application.
      By: Africa Studio
      A few neem oil drops can be added to shampoo before application.