Botanical Name: Azadirachta indica

Common Name:

English: Neem, Margosa
Ayurvedic: Nimba, Nimbaka, Arishta, Arishtaphala
Unani: Aazaad-Darakht-e-Hindi

Also, known as: Abodua, Neeb, Neem, Neem Sikha, Nim, Nim Tree, Nimba, Nimbatikta, Nimbam, Aforo-Oyinbo, Anwe Egyane, Aryaveppu, Arista, Arulundi, Azad Dirakht, Azadarakht, Azedarach, Balantanimba, Bakan, Bead Tree, Bevinama, Bevu, Bewina Mara, Bodetso, Bo-Nim, Bakayan, China Tree, Cót Anh, Darbejiya, Dogo Yaro, Dogo’n Yaro, Dogonyaro, Dogoyaro, Dongo Yaro, Dua Gyane, Gori, Vemu, Vembu, Vemmu, Vepa, Veppa, Veppam, Veppan, Gringging, Holy Tree, Igi-Oba, Imba, Indian Lilac, Indian Lilac Tree, Indian Neem Tree, Indian Sadao, Intaran, Isa-Bevu, Jaroud, Kadunimb, Kahibevu, Kingtsho, Kiswahhili, Kohhomba, Kwinin, Labkh, Lilac De Perse, Lilas Des Indes, Liliti, Limb, Limba, Limbado, Limado, Linigbe, Mahanim, Mahanimba, Mahnimu, Mak Tong, Margosa, Margosa Tree, Margose, Cape Lilac, Chajara Hourra, Chichaâne Arbi, China Berry, Marrar, Mimba, Mindi, Miro Tahiti, Mwarobaini, Nimgach, Nivaquine, Ogwu Akom, Kohumba, Koummar, Kuman Masar, Kuman Nasara, Oilevevu, Ouchi, Persian Lilac, Phãk Kã Dão, Paaribhadra, Picumarda, Pichumarda, Pichumanda, Pichumandaka, Sa-Dao, Sa-Dao Baan, Sadao India, Sdau, Salien, Sandan, Sandannoki, Sãu Dâu, Senjed Talhk, Shajarat El Horrah, Shereesh, Sutiktak,Tâak, Tâakhak, Tiktaka, Touchenboku, Veppu, White Cedar, Xoan Dào, Zanzalakht, and Zaytoon

Habitat: India

Origin: India

Harvested: Wild

Parts Used: Leaves

General Information:

Azadirachta indica is a straight deciduous tree, reaching a height of 6–25 m with a stout body and spreading branches, occurring throughout the country up to an altitude of 900 m. The tree is an evergreen, except in freezing temperature regions, has dark-green leaves and white or yellow fragrant blooms that produce yellow or purple fruit with a germ deep down. The first reported use of the neem was by the ancient Indian Harappa culture around 2500 B.C. It has been widely utilized in Ayurvedic, and Unani medicines worldwide, particularly in the Indian Subcontinent in the handling and prevention of various diseases. It was so popular in ancient India that some scholars think that, at that time, more than half of the Ayurvedic preparations contained neem as an ingredient. It is a largely accepted fact that numerous pharmacologically active drugs are derived from natural resources including medicinal plants. Dissimilar types of planning based on plants or their constituents are very popular in many countries in disease management. In this vista, neem, Azadirachta indica, a member of the Meliaceae family, commonly found in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh has therapeutics implication in diseases curable and the formulation because neem is also applied to treat several diseases.

Leaves alternately arranged, pinnately compound, are 8-16-inch-long, with 15-30 medium to dark green leaflets about 1-3-inch long. The terminal leaflet is often missing. The petioles are relatively short and slight flattened. The white and fragrant flowers are arranged in more-or-less drooping axillary panicles which are astir to 10-inch long. The inflorescences, which branch up to the third level, hold from 120-250 flowers. An individual flower is 0.23-inch-long and 0.40 inches broad. Protandrous, bisexual flowers and male flowers exist on the same individual tree. The fruit is a smooth, glabrous olive-like drupe which varies in shape from elongate oval to nearly roundish, and when ripe is 1.5-3 cm by 1-1.5 cm. The white, hard inner shell of the fruit encloses one, rarely two or three, elongated seeds (kernels) having a brown seed coat. Bark dark-brown, externally fissured, with a buff inner surface, fibrous fracture.

For centuries, the oil has been used in Asia for skin and hair care, the bark extract for mouth and gum inflammations, and the leaves as an insecticide. In countries where the neem grows, every part of the tree is used. In earlier times the patients suffering from incurable and chronic diseases were advised to live under neem and eat all parts of the tree. Since it is considered cool in its outcome, patients were advised to keep off all things live in nature like animal products, alcohol, sex, spices, etc. Milk as a role of the diet was allowed. In the 19^th century, a neem bark decoction was used for all types of fever, mainly malaria. Even today in the Indian sub-continent neem is a household name for treating skin diseases. It is a common practice to take a bath in the decoction of its leaves or to chew tender leaves as a blood purifier. The fatty oil obtained from the seed is applied externally for skin diseases or is mixed with other ingredients. The stem sap, which is sometimes exuded by the old neem tree, is very much esteemed for general physiological health. The leaves are added to animal feed for their high protein content, and the seeds and leaves yield an insect repellent. The tree contains the chemical component azadirachtin, which interferes with the metamorphosis of insect larvae, preventing the larvae from getting further into pupae. Many leaf-chewing insects find the tree leaves so repulsive that they would rather die of starvation than eat the leaves. The seeds yield approximately 40 percent oil. The oil is an ingredient in toothpaste, lotions, and soaps.

How to use:

Hot Infusion:

The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. Hot water is needed to draw out the antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, flavonoids, and volatile oils from the botanicals. Strain and squeeze out as much as liquid as possible and enjoy!

Tips:

You can sweeten your herbal tea with a bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder and or licorice root powder.
You can make ice cubes or pops by freezing tea in ice trays or pop molds.

Precautions:

You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

All information on this website is for educational purposes ONLY.

This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Neem Leaves Cut