Neem Oil

The Neem tree is said to be indigenous to the Indian subcontinent which means the countries of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The Neem tree grows up to the height of around 15 to 20 metres and is well known to be a fast grower. It is a tropical evergreen tree which can resist the harsh conditions of high temperatures and dryness but does not survive frosty climates.

The uses of the various parts of the Neem tree as medicines and insecticide has been recorded in the ancient Indian scriptures called the 'Vedas'. In the Indian subcontinent it has been used by local communities as a traditional medicine and insect repellent for over 2000 years.

The amount of essential oils extracted from the seed or the kernel of the Neem tree varies widely from 25 to 45 %. The methods by which the oils are extracted from the seeds also affect the purity or the quality of the oil. Although the method of using a solvent for extraction is used it does not completely extract the contents of the seeds and also contains many impurities that distort the fragrance and colour of the oil.

For the extraction of pure Neem essential oil is done by the Cold press method, in which the oil is mechanically pressed out of the kernels, while constantly maintaining texture. Although this method is very cumbersome, it is the only way to extract usable essential Neem oil.

 

Commonly known Benefits

 

Neem Oil (Cold Press) has been recorded in the Ayurveda in the treatment of major diseases like leprosy, tuberculosis, malaria, as an ophthalmic and all sorts of skin diseases.

Other uses of Neem Oil are as follows:

Anthelmintic: It is used widely in traditional medicine to expel parasitic worms from the stomach and also other parasitic organisms in the body by killing them or making them inactive.

Antiseptic: It has been proven to be antiseptic in nature and help the wound to heal faster as they provide a rich protective and a nutrient rich layer for a longer time than other creams or antiseptics.
 

Diuretic: It has also been recorded to act as a Diuretic agent in cases of kidney stones, eating disorders and urinary tract infections, where the natural agents in Neem oil help counter the infections completely.
 

Antipyretic: Many times it is used to counter fever and is found to be very effective in relieving the symptoms of a fever.
 

Insect Repellent: In many cultures of the Indian subcontinent, agriculturists have used Neem oil based solutions to protect the crops from insects, as many harmful insects and rodents avoid the contact with Neem.
 

Insecticide: It is proven to be good insect killers as its toxicity affects insects directly by killing them or indirectly by limiting their ability to eat, reproduce and fly.

This oil is used as grease in many communities in India due to its resilience to atmospheric and mechanical degradation.

 

Physico Chemical Properties:

 

Specification	Limit
Botanical Name	Azadirachtaindica
Family Name	Meliaceae
Common Name	Neem or Indian Lilac
Part used	Seeds
Specific Gravity	0.9087 - 0.9189 at 40o C
Optical Rotation	>170C
Refractive Index	1.4617 - 1.4627 at 40o C
Blends Well With	Sandalwood, Cedar wood, Geranium
Uses	This oil is an effective antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral and antibacterial agent and was used in Indian folk-lore medicine for over thousands of years. This oil is used as an insect repellent.