For thousands of years humans have sought to fortify their health and cure various ills with herbal remedies. Throughout this time, the search for a true panacea or cure-all has been undertaken by virtually every civilization. While hundreds of substances have been tried and tested, few have withstood modern scientific scrutiny. Perhaps no other botanical meets the true definition of a panacea than neem, a tropical evergreen native to India. Every part of this fascinating plant has been used to treat hundreds of different maladies from ancient to modern times. While it is still revered in India for its superior healing properties, recent investigation has dramatically increased worldwide interest in neem and many products are now manufactured with this miraculous herb.

While legendary herbs such as ginseng are far better known, comprehensive research has proven that neem has a far wider array of uses than any other herb. The first recorded use of neem is attributed to the ancient East Indian Harappa culture which added the plant to dozens of health and beauty aids 4,500 years ago. The centuries-old healing system, Ayurvedic Medicine, has utilized these timeless neem formulations as a mainstay of the Ayurvedic pharmacy. Medicinal attributes of neem were extolled in the oldest Sanskrit writings. Neem has been continuously referred to as the "village pharmacy" due to its incredible array of healing properties. Its usefulness as a natural non-toxic insecticide, among other fascinating properties, further increases its phenomenal applications.

Some Westerners are familiar with neem as a culinary spice, while others have purchased neem-based toothpastes sold in health food stores. This is only the beginning of the neem story in North America. Consumers can soon expect to find a complete selection of products containing neem such as cremes, lotions, tinctures, oil, extracts and capsules. While Western medical doctors considered neem to be nothing more than "native folklore", many are now giving neem serious consideration as a potent and safe ingredient for use in diverse health treatments. The lack of side-effects certainly enhances neem's appeal to doctors and consumers alike. Ongoing scientific research is validating what Ayurvedic practitioners have known for centuries; neem is a dynamic and useful plant which can solve dozens of health problems, while enhancing overall well being.

The bark, seeds, leaves, fruit, gum and oils of the neem tree contain compounds resonsible for the exceptional benefits this amazing botanical provides. These pharmacological constituents offer some impressive therapeutic qualities including:

Neem boosts the immune system on all levels while helping the body fight infection even before the immune system is called into action. It also stimulates the production of T-cells to mount a head-on attack against infections. Unlike synthetic antibiotics, neem does not destroy beneficial bacteria and other micro-organisms needed to maintain optimum health. Neem offers a non-toxic alternative to powerful and sometimes damaging prescription medicines.

Numerous active compounds have been isolated from the neem plant. Some of the most studied include nimbin, azadirachtin, nimbidiol, quercetin and nimbidin. Neem leaves contain fiber, carbohydrates and at least ten amino acid protiens. They also contain calcium and other nourishing minerals. Analysis also reveals the presence of carotenoids, nutritive compounds being hailed for their ability to ward off many types of cancer. Neem oil is especially high in important fatty acids, and contains all of these vital nutrients in significant quantities. Researchers believe the high fatty acid content of the oil may be why neem is so effective for treating many skin ailments. Neem has very powerful skin rejuvenating qualities and absorbs quickly into the skin. See our selection of Neem Tree products in our product pages.

Find out more about the Neem Tree from the Neem Association's Homepage.