Herbs and Plants: Azadirachta – The Village Pharmacy

Neem tree belongs to the plant family Meliaceae, genus Azadirachta and the species A. indica. The plant is often described as the “village pharmacy” because every part of the plant has bioactive compounds that are used in medicine. It is a wonder plant to many communities across the World.

It is an evergreen tree that can reach a height of 15-20 meters. The opposite, pinnate leaves are 20-40 centimetres long, with 20 to 31 medium to dark green leaflets about 3-8 centimeters long. The terminal leaflet is often missing. The petioles are short. The white and fragrant flowers are arranged in drooping axillaries panicles which are up to 25 centimetres long.

The inflorescences, bear from 150 to 250 flowers. The fruit is a smooth olive-like drupe with varying shape. Neem is known to be one of the very few medicinal plants with the ability to keep a number of diseases at bay. The biggest benefit of neem is that it is good for your general health as reflected below.

The neem flower juice, when mixed with lemon juice and honey and drunk daily in the morning on an empty stomach, is very important in natural body weight loss. The flowers improve the metabolism and bring about the breakdown of body fats, leading to reduction in the body weight. Neem is an excellent natural aid to manage your diabetes. The neem leaves lower the blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin receptor sensitivity.

The juice of the tender shoot of neem leaves is drunk on an empty stomach daily for best results. Neem has many incredible medicinal benefits, but one of the most important health benefits is its ability to destroy cancerous cells. The leaves contain glycoprotein that inhibits growth of the tumor cells. Neem is very useful in treating athlete’s foot, ringworm infection or any other fungal infection.

The plant contains nimbidol and gedunin medicinal compounds which posses antifungal activity that kills fungus. Neem is the solution for people suffering from acne, wrinkles, skin pigmentation, black heads, dry skin and other skin infections. Due to its potent anti-viral action, neem has been used to treat hepatitis. It works by eliminating the harmful toxins from the body and thus, lowering the toxic load on the liver. This improves ones’ immune functioning and thus, enhances recovery. This is achieved by drinking juice from the tender leaves mixed with honey in the morning on an empty stomach for seven days.

Neem twigs used as tooth brush plays vital role in prevention of gum disease, toothache, bad breath, mouth ulcers due to its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Neem is also a powerful natural remedy for whiter teeth. Neem is important in eliminating toxins away from the body. It has been known to stimulate the liver and kidneys, helping to eliminate toxins quickly and optimizing the body’s metabolic activities.

Neem reduces inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, which reduces ulcers and a wide range of other intestinal issues, such as constipation, bloating, and cramping. Neem leaves have strong anti-inflammatory properties. The paste from the leaves when applied to aching joints and muscles due to arthritis can significantly reduce pain and discomfort, and even increase flexibility if consistently used.

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