- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia; Azadirachta indica
- Sanskrit
- Arishta
Asia · Herb · № 39
Azadirachta indica
Herb · Asia
Neem
Azadirachta indica
Used for centuries in traditional medicine in India, but there is insufficient clinical evidence of medical benefits.
Safety notes
Neem oil is toxic to young children and can be fatal. Neem may also cause miscarriage, infertility, and low blood sugar; do not take it internally without medical advice.
Cautions by tradition (3)
- Herbal medicine worldwide: Not for the elderly, young children or the frail.
- Ayurvedic materia medica: Do not take the oil internally yourself. Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
- Herbs for viral infections: Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
Preparation
Twigs are used to clean teeth in southern India and the Middle East. Neem oil comes from the fruits and seeds.
Use in traditions
Neem (Sanskrit: nimba) has a firm place in India's traditional medicine and daily life, including as a teeth-cleaning twig.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Anti-inflammatory, antifungal, bitter tonic, anthelmintic, anti-emetic, cleansing, fever-reducing.
Preparation and amount
Strong bark decoction (50 g to 750 ml) as a wash against lice and scabies; tincture for arthritis and rheumatism; decoction for fever; leaf tea with 5–10 drops of tea tree oil as a hair rinse against lice; leaf poultice for ringworm and eczema; seed oil in witch hazel water for ringworm and athlete's foot.
Caution: Not for the elderly, young children or the frail.
Ayurvedic materia medica
Attributed effects
Bitter, cleansing, antimalarial; for blood disorders, tuberculosis, eye diseases, intermittent fever and malaria, persistent low fever; oil for leprosy, scrofula, skin diseases, ulcers and wounds.
Preparation and amount
Tea 12–20 ml; powder 1–2 g; bark as tincture or tea; oil externally.
Caution: Do not take the oil internally yourself. Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
Herbs for viral infections
Attributed effects
Polyphenols attach to the virus surface and inhibit multiplication; especially for herpes and hepatitis; further for leprosy, dandruff, eye conditions, gum disease, haemorrhoids.
Preparation and amount
Extract, tincture, capsules or tea (leaves in boiling water); capsules 1–2 twice a day or tincture 5 drops a day as directed on the leaflet; do not take neem oil internally.
Caution: Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
Everyday Ayurveda
Attributed effects
Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, purifies the blood, cleansing; good for teeth and gums; against dandruff.
Preparation and amount
Powder or oil in toothpaste; powder with water as a hair wash against dandruff; in face wash, body scrub and dry scrub (¼ cup neem with masoor and triphala).
Natural skin and hair care
Attributed effects
Reduces sebum and fights bacteria in oily, acne-prone skin.
Preparation and amount
External: dried leaf in a patchouli cleanser, powder in a fennel powder cleanser for oily skin.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)DecoctionTincturePowder and kitchen