The beneficial properties of Neem and its potential uses are extensive, and volumes have been written on the subject. Here we present a brief overview of the Neem tree, and outline a few specific uses that are especially relevant to personal hygiene and holistic body care.
The Neem Tree
Perhaps no other botanical better meets the true definition of a panacea than Neem.
Klaus Ferlow, world-renowned Neem researcher
Neem (Azadirachta indica), a small tree native to the Indian subcontinent, is one of the most prominently recognized plants in Ayurveda and is described in Sanskrit since ancient times as sarva roga nivāriṇī, “the protector from all diseases.” Neem is featured in nearly every body care product offered by Auromere. Widely known throughout India for its almost miraculous healing properties, every part of the Neem tree (including its twigs, leaves, bark, roots, fruits and seeds) has medicinal uses: from skin care, to oral hygiene, to internal medicine, to wound treatment and even plant care, helpful in treating plant diseases and protecting them against unwanted pests. Modern scientists have found and isolated numerous helpful compounds and phytochemicals from Neem including Azadirachtin, now widely used as an insecticide in pest control, and Nimbin, thought to be responsible for much of the biological activity and health benefits of Neem oil. These compounds and phytochemicals of Neem have diverse medicinal properties, including:
Anti-fungal · Antibacterial · Anti-inflammatory · Antioxidant · Anti-parasitic · Antipyretic · Antihistamine · Insecticidal
Neem for Optimal Oral Hygiene
Neem has a very long and distinguished history of use in Ayurveda for the promotion of optimal health and hygiene of the teeth and gums, cleansing the mouth and helping to reduce plaque and associated bacteria.
Every morning people all over rural India entrust their oral health to the humble Neem tree, taking young twigs from nearby trees and chewing one end to release the beneficial compounds and create individual fibers to brush their teeth with. It is a ritual which repeats itself day after day in villages all over India, and which in many places has been the regular practice for a few thousand years – a lasting testament to the power of Neem!
After thousands of years of use in the Indian tradition, its benefits are also being increasingly recognized by modern science. The US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health recently published this study about Neem, calling it an “herbal panacea in dentistry”.
It is this amazing power of Neem which Auromere brings into the modern daily oral health routine with a full line of dental care products all containing Neem (along with many other beneficial and synergistic herbs and herbal extracts). Products for optimal oral hygiene that feature Neem include our Ayurvedic Herbal Toothpaste, Mouthwash and Neem-infused Toothpicks. Visit our Ayurvedic Dental Care page for an overview of these products.
Neem in Ayurvedic Skin Care
In addition to its central place in Ayurvedic oral hygiene, Neem is also a key ingredient in Ayurvedic skin care, with all its powerful antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties.
Neem is traditionally prescribed for treating or relieving problematic skin conditions and infections like eczema, acne, ringworm, etc. and for cleansing and treating wounds, burns (including sunburns), cracked or dry skin and insect bites. Neem is considered to have a powerful cooling potency (śīta vīrya) and thus also helps to relieve other types of redness, swelling and inflammation.
For various medicinal applications for the skin, either fresh neem leaves or neem oil or neem powder is prescribed.
For daily use in an Ayurvedic Skin Care routine, Auromere offers a complete line of Ayurvedic Bar Soaps formulated with Neem, together with other synergistic herbs and herbal extracts. A new addition to the Auromere line, our Ayurvedic Liquid Soap also contains the beneficial properties of Neem for daily hygiene use.
And last but not least, there is Auromere Ayurvedic Neem Balm (fondly referred to as a ‘pharmacy in a jar’!) for special treatment of all manner of skin conditions as described above.
Neem in Ayurvedic Hair Care
Neem is also prized and recommended in Ayurvedic herbology for daily maintenance of the hair and scalp, leading to healthy and abundant hair with a natural sheen.
It is considered especially useful as an herbal remedy for the treatment and prevention of lice and fungal infections of the scalp which lead to dandruff, due to its potent anti-fungal and insecticidal properties.
Naturally, the entire line of Auromere Ayurvedic Hair Care products contains Neem (along with other herbs), which includes our Shampoo, Shampoo Bar, and Ayurvedic Pre-Shampoo Conditioner (Conditioning Oil).
Learn More About Neem
For a deeper study of the numerous and almost miraculous beneficial properties of Neem, we recommend the book Neem: Nature’s Healing Gift to Humanity by Klaus Ferlow, and encourage you to visit his informative website neemresearch.ca.
We also recommend as an excellent resource freely available online: Neempedia, the official Neem encyclopedia. A nice overview is available in the article Neem, the miracle tree.
Auromere is a supporting member of the World Neem Organization (WNO). The WNO and the Neem Foundation are both noteworthy groups dedicated to further researching, understanding, and sharing information about the many benefits of Neem. Feel free to reach out to these organizations to find out more or get involved.