|
D. General Conditions
Neem inhibits allergic reactions when applied externally or consumed internally (David, 1978). Neem compounds inhibit the stimulus produced by histamine and may be helpful in skin rashes and bronchial allergy. Application of a neem-based lotion will stop the itching and inflammation of rashes and neem tea may be taken internally for allergies to pollen, molds, etc.
Suggested Products:
Neem Soaps
Neem Lotion - Apply liberally to affected area
Neem Leaf Powder - Can be used to make neem tea
Δ Back to Top
Neem can aid in treating arthritis in many ways. Neem's antibacterial properties can help kill infectious causes while its inflammation reducing properties and pain suppressing properties can alleviate the symptoms. Neem can also help create a balance in the immune system which directly affects progression of the disease (Kores, 1993).
A number of studies indicate the usefulness of neem in treating arthritis. There have been numerous studies on the ability of extracts of neem leaf to reduce the inflammation caused by arthritis (Bhargave, 1970) (Okpanyi, 1981). One study suggested that the phenolic compounds containing catechin (known to possess anti-inflammatory properties) may produce the anti-inflammatory effects witnessed (Van der Nat, 1991). Another study discovered quercetin, a known antibacterial compound, in neem leaves (Basak, 1968). Others concluded that the polysaccharides in neem reduce the inflammation and swelling associated with arthritis (David, 1978); (Fujiwara, 1984); (Brahmachari and Sharma, 1958).
Different parts of the tree and many extracts of each were tested. Compounds, like nimbidin, extracted from the seed with alcohol, showed significant effects against arthritis (Pillai, 1981a) as have methanol extracts of the leaf and bark (Van der Nat et al., 1991). The reason these compounds work is believed to be due to several factors. Several leaf compounds have been shown to be more potent inhibitors of prostaglandin than aspirin (Okpako, 1977). Limonoids and catechin in the leaf and seed (Swarnalakshmi et al., 1981); (Rao et al., 1983) may provide additional beneficial effects. Other possible explanations point to an inhibition of the release of mediators of acute inflammation.
An antihistaminic effect of nimbidin (underlying its anti-gastric ulcer activity) has been reported (David, 1969); (Pillai
and Santhakumari, 1984). Also, a modification of the immune response appears to reduce the generation of inflammation-producing chemicals (Van der Nat et al., 1987, 1989, 1991).
In any case, the long history of using neem leaf, bark and seed extracts to relieve inflamed joints is borne out by the recent scientific investigations. Traditional treatment for arthritis is a mild neem leaf tea coupled with rubbing a warmed neem-based lotion on the stiff or painful areas as needed.
Suggested Products:
Neem Lotion - Apply liberally to affected area
Neem Natural Salve or Neem Lavender Salve – Apply liberally to affected area
Neem Leaf Powder - Can be used to make neem tea
Δ Back to Top
The usual reason for chronic bad breath is bacteria, infections or gastric upset. Neem toothpastes and mouthwashes contain proven antibacterial and anti-viral compounds that can stop bad breath where it originates. The most common site of bad breath causing bacteria is the back of the tongue. The bacteria that cause bad breath can form a film that is difficult to gargle away and must be either scraped or brushed away. Once the film is removed and the bacteria are exposed neem extract will easily destroy the bacteria. If the cause is infection of the mouth, brushing the teeth and gums with neem toothpaste and rinsing afterward with neem extract will kill the infection and promote healing. For bad breath caused by gastric upset, ingestion of neem leaves or fresh seed kernel is traditionally recommended to relieve the upset and correct any acid imbalance.
Suggested Products:
Neem Toothpowder - Drip toothbrush in toothpowder and brush after meals
Neem Leaf Extract - rinse mouth with 5 to 10 drops in warm water twice a day after meals
Δ Back to Top
No one knows what causes chronic fatigue. There are theories that it is caused by excessive stress, rampant fungal infection or Epstein-bar viruses. Neem extracts have proven effective against both fungal and viral infections as well as an ability to relieve stress (Jaiswal et al, 1994); (Rao, 1969); (Thind, 1978). Neem also works to enhance the immune response on a cellular level so it is more effective in fighting disease-causing agents (Kores, 1993); (Chaiki, et al, 1987); (Upadhyay, et al, 1990).
Suggested Products:
Neem Bark Extract - 5 drops, twice a day
Neem Leaf Extract - 5 drops, twice a day
Meditation & Music Therapy CDs - Chakra Therapy, Divine Meditation, Moksha and Shuvam
Δ Back to Top
The inflammation of the eye can be treated with drops of room temperature neem tea prepared from powdered neem leaves (Puri, 1993) (Tincture should not be used due to the alcohol used in the extract). A few drops of the tea into each eye every three hours for one day should be sufficient. Overnight, a natural cream with neem oil should be wiped around the eye and eyelid.
Suggested Products:
Neem Leaf Powder - Use as required
Neem Oil - 5 to 10 drops mixed with a natural cream
Neem Cream - Apply liberally to affected area
Δ Back to Top
Neem is regularly taken to correct problems with the stomach and bowels. Neem promotes a healthy digestive system by protecting the stomach, aiding in elimination and removing toxins and harmful bacteria.
Suggested Products:
Neem Leaf Extract - 10 drops, twice a day
Δ Back to Top
Heat one clove of garlic in one teaspoon of sesame oil. Let cool to just above body temperature. Add two drops of camphor oil and five drops of neem oil, then drip into each ear. Use a bit of cotton in each ear to remove excess and to prevent it from running out. Neem acts to relieve the localized pain receptors, reduce inflammation and kill bacteria that can cause earaches.
Suggested Products:
Neem Oil - Use as required
Δ Back to Top
Neem has anti-pyretic (fever reducing) compounds (Pillai, 1980) (Okpanyi, 1981) (Khattak, 1985) (David, 1969, 1978) that have traditionally been used to reduce fevers. Studies have shown nimbidol to be anti-pyretic while nimbin reduces the secondary rise in fever (Narayan, 1969).
In a study to determine the effectiveness of nimbidin (a crude extract of neem leaves) as a fever reducer the results were striking. The study required that fevers be induced in rats with a vaccine. Those that developed at least a two degree increase in body temperature were selected for the study. Basically, one-third of the rats were given water, one-third were given 500 mg of aspirin while one-third were given 100 mg of nimbidin. Those that received the aspirin began to see the fever go down after two hours by about one degree then slowly rise. Those given nimbidin had their temperature go down by about one degree after one hour, two degrees after two hours then rise by about half a degree after three hours and stabilize (Pillai, 1980).
Suggested Products:
Neem Leaf Extract - 10 drops, twice a day
Δ Back to Top
Neem contains compounds similar to aspirin (prostaglandin inhibitors) for the relief of pain. Neem also helps reduce blood pressure, open constricted blood vessels and relax muscles and reduce anxiety. Each of these effects can act to reduce the causes of headaches including migraines.
Suggested Products:
Neem Leaf Extract - 10 drops, twice a day
Meditation & Music Therapy CDs - Chakra Therapy, Divine Meditation, Moksha and Shuvam
Δ Back to Top
Because neem is new to Western scientists, the number of pharmacological studies on neem has been somewhat limited. In those studies that have been made, the general conclusion is that neem not only kills some infective organisms directly but also boosts the immune response on several levels. This increases the body's ability to fight bacterial, viral, and fungicidal infections itself. This combination of effects is more effective in the long run because chemicals toxic enough to eliminate all microbes often also harm healthy body tissue and cause undesirable side-effects. An improved immune system can selectively wipe out the invading microbes without adversely affecting other cells.
When invaded by microbes (or anything else the body recognizes as foreign), the immune system releases antibodies that lock onto and neutralize the intruder. Neem not only enhances antibody production but also seems to improve the cell-mediated immune response by which white blood cells are unleashed to kill the invaders. In this type of immune response, special scavenger cells in the blood called macrophages devour the microbes and present bits of them along with their own surface molecules. It is only after macrophages (or other antigen-presenting cells) present bits of the microbe as antigens that helper T cells recognize the antigens. These helper T cells then release chemical messengers called cytokines that galvanize other cells of the immune system into a counter-attack (Upadhyay, 1990. By enhancing the body's first line of defense, neem helps the immune system more quickly respond to infections that might otherwise gain a strong foothold that would then be more difficult to overcome.
Neem, especially neem bark, is recognized for its immuno-modulatory polysaccharide compounds. These compounds appear to increase antibody production (Chiaki, 1987); (Kores, 1993). Other compounds in neem enhance the immune system via a different mechanism; the cell-mediated immune response, (Upadhyay, et al, 1990); (Upadhyay, et al, 1993); (Sen, et al, 1993) the body's first form of defense. Only when this system appears to be unable to stop an infectious onslaught is the more massive immune system involved (Beardsley, 1992).
Neem oil acts as a non-specific immuno-stimulant that activates the cell mediated immune response. This then creates an enhanced response to any future challenges by disease organisms. When neem oil was injected under the skin there was a significant increase in leukocytic cells and perioneal macrophages showed enhanced phagocytic activity and expression of MHC class II antigens. Production of gamma interferon was also induced by the injection. Spleen cells showed higher lymphocyte reaction to infection but did not augment anti-TT antibody response (Upadhyay et al, 1992).
Water soluble neem leaf extracts, when taken orally, produced an increase in lymphomatic counts and both red and white blood cells as well as lymphocyte counts (Prasad et al, 1994). In studies on the birth control effects of neem the major factor in that effect appears to be an increase in the immune response where neem has been applied that causes the body to reject the fetus as a foreign body (Upadhyay et al,
1993);(Tewari et al, 1989);(Upadhyay et al, 1994);(Garg et al, 1994).
By enhancing the cellular immune response most pathogens can be eliminated before they cause the ill feeling associated with disease. This mechanism could also help in diseases that involve the immune system, like AIDS. Taking neem leaf or bark powder every other day or drinking a mild neem tea will enhance antibody production and the body's cell-mediated immune response, helping to prevent infections.
Suggested Products:
Neem Bark Extract - 20 drops, twice a day
Neem Leaf Extract - 20 drops, twice a day
Δ Back to Top
Taking neem leaf or neem bark orally and applying a cream containing neem oil topically has been used for centuries to reduce inflammation.
A compound called sodium nimbinate found in neem leaves has been shown to provide significant relief to inflamed tissue (Okpanyi, 1981); (Lorenz, 1976). Other compounds such as nimbin, nimbinin and nimbidol are comparable to cortisone acetate in reducing inflammation (Wali, et al, 1993); (Shankaranarayan, 1978); (Tandan, et al, 1990). In one test with hydrocortisone, neem extract (sodium nimbinate) and several natural saponins neem was over four times more effective at reducing inflammation than hydrocortisone and more effective than the other agents tested (Bhargava et al., 1970).
"The main side effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is their ability to produce gastric lesions. The doses used of neem leaf extract 100, 300, 1000 mg/kg needed to produce anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activity had no adverse effects on the gastric mucosa of rats."
Journal Fitoterapia LXV, No. 6, 1994, Koley & Tandan, Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology Indian Veterinary Research Institute
Suggested Products:
Neem Bark Extract - 20 drops, twice a day
Neem Leaf Extract - 20 drops, twice a day
Neem Oil - 5 to 10 drops mixed with a natural cream
Neem Lotion - Apply liberally to affected area
Δ Back to Top
Stress is usually the cause of insomnia. Nimbidin, a neem leaf extract, has been shown to help initiate sleep up to faster than the control group (Pillai, et al, 1993). A warm neem tea shortly before bedtime should produce a calming effect conducive to sleep.
Suggested Products:
Neem Leaf Extract - 10 to 15 drops a day before going to bed
Neem Leaf Powder - Can be used to make neem tea
Meditation & Music Therapy CDs - Chakra Therapy, Divine Meditation, Moksha and Shuvam
Δ Back to Top
Inhibition of prostaglandin synthetase by limonoids (and/or polysaccharides) reduces perceived pain. Neem leaf and bark extracts have been shown to be a more potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthetase than acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) and pethidine hydrochloride. (Okpako, 1977); (Pillai, 1978); (Tandan, et al, 1990).
In some cases neem was effective at reducing pain for a significantly longer period than standard agents. Neem also reduces the activity of the central nervous system, which also reduces perceived pain (Debelmas, 1976).
According to a study led by N. Khanna, neem produces an analgesic effect upon the central and peripheral neural pathways. He also feels that both opioid and non-opioid receptors can be affected by neem. (Khanna et al, 1995).
Suggested Products:
Neem Bark Extract - 20 drops, twice a day
Neem Leaf Extract - 20 drops, twice a day
Meditation & Music Therapy CDs - Chakra Therapy, Divine Meditation, Moksha and Shuvam
Δ Back to Top
The active constituents in neem leaves have outstanding anti-inflammatory activity, comparable even to the well-known modern drugs phenyl butazone and cortisone (Puri, 1993); (Sankaranarayan, 1978). They relieve pain by acting on the prostaglandin mechanism and significantly reduce acute pain edema (Shah, 1958); (Okpako, 1977).
Topical applications of a warmed cream containing neem oil along with a mild neem tea will help alleviate the pain associated with these conditions. Drinking a mild neem tea once a day for two weeks should produce an increased activity level as the infections diminish. Thereafter, the tea should be taken only every other day for another two weeks.
Suggested Products:
Neem Oil - 10 to 15 drops mix with neem lotion
Neem Cream - Apply liberally to affected area
Neem Leaf Powder - Can be used to make neem tea
Δ Back to Top
Nimbidin has produced up to a 90% blockage of the spasmatic effect of nicotine (Pillai, et al, 1993). Neem's calming action on the nervous system may also reduce the anxiety and desire for nicotine as well as counter the effect nicotine has on the body. Neem extracts could offer a method for reducing the effects of nicotine and enable smokers to stifle the addiction.
Suggested Products:
Neem Bark Extract - 10 to 15 drops, twice a day
Neem Leaf Extract - 10 to 15 drops, twice a day
Δ Back to Top
One of the most recent discoveries for neem revealed that extracts of neem leaves have been able to reduce anxiety and stress when ingested in small quantities. In an experiment to see what, if any, effect neem leaf extract had on anxiety and stress fresh neem leaves were crushed and the liquid squeezed out to obtain a leaf extract. The extract was then given orally to test animals who were placed in two different standard stress tests and the behavior noted. As controls and for comparison three main sets of animals were used. One group received salt water to act as a base control, another group received diazepam (Valium) and another set received the neem leaf extract. To determine if neem leaf extract worked differently at different amounts the neem extract group was subdivided into sets that received ever larger doses.
In the elevated plus maze test doses of neem leaf extract up to 200 mg/kg showed significant anti-anxiety activity equal to or greater than diazepam. In the open field test doses of neem leaf extract up to 100 mg/kg were equal to diazepam in its anti-anxiety effect. At levels higher than 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg respectively the neem extract performed less well as the dosages increased until at 800 mg/kg the effect totally disappeared. The explanation for neem's anti-anxiety effect may rest with its ability to increase the amount of serotonin in the brain (Jaiswal et al, 1994);(Banerjee, 1992).
The amazing part of the experiment isn't that neem can reduce anxiety. That is something that had been reported many times before scientific experimentation finally quantified it. The amazing part is that neem extracts will only work in small doses. This unique quality of neem could make neem extract a safer alternative than drugs currently used for stress that compound their effects with higher doses up to a point where they can become dangerous.
Suggested Products:
Dried Neem Leaf
Neem Leaf Extract - 10 to 15 drops, twice a day
Meditation & Music Therapy CDs - Chakra Therapy, Divine Meditation, Moksha and Shuvam
Δ Back to Top
|
