|
Sanskrit |
: |
Nimba,
Arista |
|
English |
: |
Neem,
margosa |
|
Latin
name |
: |
Azadircta indica |
|
Family |
: |
Meliaceae |
Morphology :
A medium to large sized tree. The entire tree is bitter to taste (except fruit).
The leaves are crowded at the branch tips. The leaves are divided into 7 pairs
of leaflets. The leaflets are dark green, glossy, sickle shaped with toothed
margin. The flowers are sweet scented, white or pale-yellow, and arranged in
clusters. The fruits are fleshy drupe. The fruit pulp is sweet to taste. The
stem bark is rough, dark grey and appears like crocodile back. The wood is
reddish brown.
Ayurvedic
Pharmacodynamic properties:
|
Rasa |
: |
Tikta
(bitter), Kashaya (astringent) |
|
Guna |
: |
Laghu
(light) |
|
Virya |
: |
Shita
(cold) |
|
Vipaka |
: |
Katu
(pungent) |
|
Doshakarma |
: |
Kapha-Pitta Shamaka |
|
Useful parts |
: |
Pushpa, Patra, Twak, Beeja, Taila. |
|
Medicinal uses |
: |
Stem
is bitter coolent, anthelminthic, antiperiodic and astringent. It is a
powerful blood purifier. It rehabilitates vitiated pitta and kapha and is
useful in intestinal worms, impurity of blood, eye diseases, intermittent
fevers, thirst, vomiting, general debility, diabetes, leprosy, skin
diseases, ulcers and insect poisons. Seed oil is used as application in
ulcers, chronic skin diseases itch and rheumatism. |
|
Dose |
: |
Twak Churna (powder)
2-4 gm; Swarasa (juice)10-20 ml; taila 5-10 drops. |
|
Important formulations |
: |
Nimbadi Churna (powder), Nimbarishta, Nimbakhadira Khanda. |
|
Home
remedies:
-
5-10 gm powder of its bark is so beneficial in Vishama Jwara (Malaria).
-
Intake of 20 ml decoction of its bark is much beneficial in various skin
disorders like eczema, itching, pimples, wound etc.
-
Intake of its bark powder also helps to reduce the blood sugar level.
|
Summary:
Neem has strong
antiparasitisic qualities & is a powerful blood purifier. As such it also
clears the digestive tract of parasites and toxins. It has a long history of
outstanding results for all kinds of skin problems, even leprosy.
Neem leaf
powder helps to prevent diseases like diabetes and hypertension, lowers the
levels of blood sugar and cholesterol. It is an excellent antiseptic for the
teeth & gums. It is analgesic and antipyretic. It cleans away all foreign and
excess tissue, and possesses a supplementary astringent action that promotes
healing.
Other
clinical studies show that Nimba has a specific antibody response against
carcinoembryonic antigen. This unique property of neem may be utilized
for the immunotherapy of CEA positive tumors. A research team has evaluated
antibacterial, antisecretory and antihemorrhagic activity of Azadirachta indica
used to treat cholera and diarrhea in India. The results obtained in this
study give some scientific support to the uses of neem employed by the
indigenous people in India employed for the treatment of diarrhea and dreadful
disease cholera.
Neem leaf
preparation enhances Th1 type immune response and anti-tumor immunity against
breast tumor associated antigen. It also provide Cardioprotective,
hepatoprotective and larvicidal effects.
|
