The Tree of Health – Neem

Do we know the Tree of Health?

We know the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. The Tree of Health is Neem. Many have written about the greatness of this tree but the accredited pharmacopoeia is yet to recognize this for lack of documentation. It is large evergreen vegetation found in India and neighboring countries.

Taking a few tender neem leaves in empty stomach early in the morning is said to create the immunity and help us retain health. The neem leaves placed in a vessel in which food grains are stored keep the grains fresh and the pests and insects never affect them or colonize there. It is found to be an effective mosquito repellants. The original and pure neem oil regularly applied to scalp is said to clear all scalp problems, dandruff and lice, and when taken in, to clean the alimentary canal and to remove all worms which cause diseases.

The bitter neem bloom is added to thin gravy and mixed with rice and eaten. The little flowers are also used to make a semi solid, slightly bitter-sweet side dish. This is done particularly on the New Year day which falls in mid April, the hot season in India and also the season of chicken pox. (Small pox has been eradicated in India) The dried bloom is stored for future use as medicine and food. Even now, many people use the tender stem as brush; they munch an end of the fresh tender stem, early in the morning to turn the end into a soft brush and brush their teeth. The essence of neem goes in as the mouth and teeth are cleaned. As far as I know they all have sparkling white teeth and rosy and healthy gums and suffer no decay of teeth or diseases of the mouth.

The South Indian homes prefer having a neem tree in front of their houses. The air is said to keep the people living in the house hale and healthy. Every part of the tree—the leaves, stem, root, bloom, fruits, and nuts—is used as medicine. Neem leaves are placed above doors of the houses to indicate that a person is suffering from chicken pox, measles and such viral diseases in that house. It is also to inform others. The leaves are spread all round the patient to stop the disease getting severe. The leaves are dropped into the hot water used for bath, on the person’s recovery from his severe illness to make him get back the immunity and to ward off relapse.

At present, chemical companies have started using this as herbal medicine. They have found many uses for this neem. It is used in medicines to remove worms and other infections caused by them. In insect repellants and pesticides, we find this. People suffering from diabetes take this along with bitter gourd. Skin diseases, ulcers, fungus infections and also cardio vascular diseases are said to be cured. People believe this to be a good contraceptive. It is not a poison; has no bad effects on any living organism and so no antidote is necessary for this.

Now many companies have started encashing on this and have come out with neem tea, tooth paste, creams for skin, creams for fungal diseases and use this even in facials.

Going green is making more profit.

Picture courtesy: Google