June 29, 2009

Neem Essential Oil

Neem is antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic, and antiparasitic. Because of these properties, it is widely deployed in many different toiletries such as soap, toothpaste, hair care products, and skin care products. It is used to treat a wide array of diseases, illnesses, and problems, and is considered a cure-all in India. The oil has moisturizing and regenerative properties, contains Vitamin E, and has essential fatty acids. Scientific research today validates many of the traditional uses of Neem Oil, it is used to treat bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, boost the immune system, and for many specific health problems. It is also used to deter mosquitoes, fleas, flies, ticks, mites, and lice. Among other conditions, Neem Oil has been historically used to treat the following: Malarial fevers, diabetes, urinary problems, acne, eczema, psoriasis, scabies, gingivitis, swollen and bleeding gums, cavity prevention, ringworm, chicken pox, lice, dandruff, burns, wounds, athlete’s foot, sore throat, tiredness, cough, leprosy, hemorrhoids, intestinal worms, boils, ulcers, warts, herpes, arthritis, cancer, sprains, AIDS, cold sores, parasites, bed sores, rashes, gangrene, heart disease, gastritis, stomach problems, high blood pressure, sinusitis, hives, snake bites, hypertension, hair loss, heart burn, cholesterol, hangover, shingles, chronic fatigue, headaches, poor circulation, influenza, colds, insomnia, tuberculosis, immune system, indigestion, conjunctivitis, inflammation, urinary stones, candida, kidney problems, wrinkles, eye disorders, yeast infections, earache, hot spots, and nausea.

Neem oil has been used for hundreds of years in controlling plant pests and diseases. Many researches have shown that the spray solution of neem oil helps to control common pests like white flies, aphids, scales, mealy bugs, spider mites, locusts, thrips, and Japanese beetles, etc. Neem oil also works as a fungicide and helps control powdery mildew. Some people have also experienced good results with neem oil spray on black spot. Orchid owners use pure neem oil spray to control pests like mealybugs, spidermites, etc. One of the main ingredients in neem seed oil is Azadirachtin that works as an insect growth regulator, thus preventing the larval stage to molt into an adult. As neem is very bitter in taste, it also works as an antifeedant thus making the leaves sprayed with it very distasteful for the bugs to eat, and the bugs choose to starve themselves than eat the leaves treated with neem. Neem oil is bio-degradable and has proven to be non-toxic to mammals, birds, bees or earthworms. It is biodegradable and breaks down easily and quickly. Neem has also proven to be not harmful to adult beneficial insects, since it primarily affects only plant sap-sucking insects, which feed upon the treated plants. However it is recommended that care should be taken not to spray neem oil solution when honey bees and the larvae of beneficials like ladybugs, etc. are present. Neem oil spray like any other oil spray can also burn leaves if sprayed in sun.

I did not write this, one of my first cut and paste attempts, if these are your words accept my apologies and let me know so I can give you credit.  Peace

I swear by this stuff. I have linked the title to a good neem site. Peace

7 comments:

  1. you are a MINE of information!!!!
    many thanks
    johnxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Neem trees grow not only in India, but throughout much of equatorial Africa. I lived for two years in Ghana, West Africa, and the neem tree was about as common as maple trees in New England. While living there, we had to maintain ourselves with constant antimalarial drugs. But most of the native population didn't use these drugs and would periodically contract malaria. Their home remedy for this was to heat a big pot of neem leaves over an open fire. The neem leaves were free and available throughout the year. Then they would drape a cloth over their heads, and breathe in the vapors as long as they could. Then they would drink some of the tea, but it was very bitter, so they couldn't take in much. This was an effective treatment for their infection by the malaria parasite. The active ingredient was quinine. That is what makes the tea bitter. And quinine is one of the oldest treatments for malaria in Western medicine.

    So I have no doubt that the natural extracts are effective as advertised. I just need to get used to having to pay for something that was so very free and common there, even though neem doesn't grow here. But then, I still have never paid for a bottle of water, either. Gettin' old and cheap, I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow - thanks so much for the generous conversation - i am so fascinated with how plants are used in their natural environment. Peace

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you so much for sharing such valuable information with us. Your blog is very interesting and informative.

    ReplyDelete
  5. you are so kind, thanks for the visit, peace

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice Blog! I was recommended to Herbal Hair Treatment by many netizens when I did an online search for a herbal treatment.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dandruff is due to the excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. The skin itself sheds every twenty-four days. Dandruff is an itchy, annoying and persistent skin disorder of the scalp. Mild cases may need nothing more than daily shampooing with a gentle cleanser.

    ReplyDelete