NEEM: THE WONDER TREE OF INDIA

 

NEEM PLANT in my House!

 

Neem is a multipurpose creation. It is one of the most loved, cherished and talked about tree when it comes to its medicinal properties. Its botanical name is Azadirachta indica . In Sanskrit, it is known by several names like nimba, nimbou, arishtha (reliever of sickness), etc. This versatile plant grows in tropical regions such as India and Myanmar. Every part of the this plant has great value and multiple uses. Its bark, leaves and seed extracts have been used for centuries in India in both, ethno medicine and ethno veterinary medicine. The fruit, roots and flowers maybe used less frequently, but they also serve important purposes.

People consume its fruits raw or cooked, and sometimes eat the young twigs and flowers as vegetables. It is a versatile tree and is widely used for agro forestry, urban re-greening, fuel wood production and cosmetic purposes. The entire Neem tree possesses antifungal, antiviral and antiseptic properties.

 

Some of the facts around Neem tree always leave me fascinated and curious. Neem tree is widely appreciated for its sweet aroma and attractiveness, also loved by honeybees. Its oil is valued for its calming effect. This plant can grow up to 30 m tall and 2.5 m in girth. The small, white, bisexual flowers are borne in auxiliary clusters. A neem tree normally begins bearing fruit after 3-5 years, becomes fully productive in 10 years, and from then one can produce up to 50 kg of fruits annually. It may live for more than two centuries.

GREEN INDIA WITH NEEM

Neem is extremely beneficial to save the environment from pollution. It is a genuine ‘Kalptaru’ as it creates healthy environment. Like other trees, it balances oxygen  in the atmosphere. Neem also helps in restoring and maintaining soil fertility which makes it highly suitable in agro-forestry.

 “Greening India with Neem” campaign was launched in 2005 and a target was set to plant 10 Crores Neem trees all across the Indian landscape. Planting Neem plants on this massive scale was equivalent to crossing a milestone.

Neem is now well established in at least 30 countries, particularly those in the regions along the Sahara's southern fringe, where it has become an important provider of both fuel and lumber. 

Do You Know about NEEM DAY?

‘Neem Day’ is celebrated on the 1^st day of the month of Chaitra, Gudi Padwa.  Neem (‘kadu nimba’ as it is known in Maharashtra), is accorded much significance during this festival. In many homes Neem and Zendu leaves are tied on the doors as ‘torans’. At dawn everybody has to compulsorily chew some Neem leaves to start the New Year in a healthy way, a practice that has prompted the dedication of Gudi Padwa as ‘Neem day’. Using Neem for health and happiness, channelling cosmic energy to heal varied ills are just some of the wonderful things that you can see and learn at the ‘Neem Day’ celebrations.

TEETH-CLEANING TWIG

When it comes to teeth-cleaning twigs (in India: datun), Neem makes for great choice. It is perfect for cleaning teeth. Neem twig is frequently used by the people in villages. Even I have used Neem twig continuously instead of tooth-brush and paste upto 10^th standard. It was common phenomena in kasba and rural areas in sixties and seventies. In those days, it was considered that chewing the twigs can help to prevent tooth decay and gum diseases. Traditional Sikhs still use datun today as it is written in their scriptures. Although the bark is not widely used, it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. These make it a beneficial natural treatment for gum disease.

AS A VEGETABLE

 

The tender shoots and flowers of the neem tree are eaten as a vegetable in India. A soup like dish called Veppampoo charu is prepared in Tamil Nadu which is known as "neem flower rasam" made of the flower of neem. In Bengal, young neem leaves are fried in oil with tiny pieces of eggplant (brinjal). The dish is called neem begun bhaja and is the first item during a Bengali meal that acts as an appetizer. It is eaten with rice.

Neem is used in parts of mainland Southeast Asia particularly in Combodia, Laos (where it is called Kadao), Thailand (where it is known as sadao or sdao), Myanmar (where it is known as tamar) and Vietnam (where it is known as sau dau  and is used to cook the salad goi sau dau).

MEDICINAL VALUE

Products made from neem trees have been used in the traditional medicine of India for centuries. Neem contains chemicals that might help reduce blood sugar levels, heal ulcers in the digestive tract, prevent pregnancy, kill bacteria, and prevent plaque formation in the mouth. Drinking Neem juice on a regular basis will help you achieve a clean stomach and will improve your metabolism. 

Neem leaf is used for leprosy, eye disorders, bloody nose, intestinal worms, stomach upset, loss of appetite, skin ulcers, diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease), fever, diabetes, gum disease (gingivitis), and liver problems. The leaf is also used for birth control and to cause abortions.

Many Ayurveda experts recommend daily intake of neem capsules. Consuming neem leaves helps in reduction in inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Neem leaves also help in reducing ulcers and a wide range of other intestinal issues, such as constipation, bloating and cramping if taken regularly. Clinical research shows that applying a neem extract shampoo to the scalp once completely cures head lice in children. However, more evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of neem for these uses. Research in various fields is still going on. Do not forget to ask about its side effects from your Ayurvedic physician. It is must.

 

Neem tea is also widely prescribed to reduce fever, especially the malaria one. Since, Neem tastes bitter, the tea acquires a similar taste but works magically. You can also make a concoction using neem, lemon and honey to further boost your metabolism.

USE AS FERTILIZER

Neem cake organic manure protects plant roots from nematodes, soil grubs and termites, probably due to its residual limonoid content. It also acts as a natural fertilizer with pesticidal properties. Neem cake is widely used in India to fertilize paddy, cotton and sugarcane.

Neem seed cake can also reduce alkalinity in soil, as it produces organic acids upon decomposition. Neem cake improves the organic matter content of the soil, helps improve soil texture, water holding capacity, and soil aeration for better root development.

PROPOGATION AND CARE

Every home must have a neem tree. It promotes good energy. You can grow in a pot in your balcony/terrace garden where there is 4-5 hours of sunlight. But, don’t forget to move the pot indoors when temperatures fall below 35 degrees Fahrenheit. I have grown and nurtured a neem plant in my house. You can also do. 

According to Vastu Shastra, you should plant a Neem tree in the northwest corner of your house. Neem can grow in many different types of soil, but it thrives best on well drained deep and sandy soils.

Neem is propagated by seed, cuttings and root suckers but seed is the most viable method of propagation. Viability of the neem seed remains for very short period hence it is suggested to use yellow ripe neem fruits.

Commonly, it is said that that after 2-6 months in storage they will no longer germinate. However, some recent observations of seeds that had been stored in France indicated that seeds without endocarp had an acceptable germinative capacity (42 percent) after more than 5 years.

 Neem plants benefit from the regular moisture but be careful, not to overwater as the tree would not tolerate the wet feed or poorly drained soil. Allow the soil to dry between every watering.

Feed the tree about once a month in spring and summer, using a balanced fertilizer or a dilute solution of water- soluble fertilizer. You can also apply a diluted fish emulsion.

The flowering season of neem varies from place to place. Generally it flowers from January to May and the ripening time of fruits is from May to August. The fruit pulp is edible.

These days, Neem tree attracts the gardeners a lot because of the benefits of effective herbicide. I love this plant since childhood because I have always seen it being used for shade along the streets, around temples, schools and other such public buildings or in most people's back yards. Possibly, its importance becomes more due to its anti-desertification properties and to be as a good carbon dioxide sink. Its leaves can be occasionally used as forage for ruminants and rabbits.

Not only this, Neem is manifested as the Goddess Durga, also known as Parvati (the wife of Shiva) in our Hindu culture. In some parts of India, the Neem tree itself is thought to be a goddess, Neemari Devi.

Neem is referred to as the "Miracle Tree" and because of its tremendous medical properties; the neem is also conisdered to be a "village pharmacy "in India. Extracts from neem leaves, twigs, bark, seeds, and flowers are integral components of many traditional remedies in the Indian medical system of Ayurveda.

It has been claimed by many countries that there is no evidence for the effectiveness of Neem leaves in the treatment of COVID-19. Some claims were called myths that Neem leaves are effective to treat COVID-19. But, there is a success story of Tala village of Ramsnehiighat Nagar Panchayat in Barabanki district of UP wherein the villagers believe that Neem trees have given protection from both the waves of this pandemic. Not a single person from this village has been found infected so far and this is the reality. Report says that the Neem trees are planted here in front of most of the houses. If a tree is broken, the villagers plant another tree in its place. They believe that its medicinal properties only have the effect that no one has developed a corona infection here.

Plant a Neem Tree on various family functions like birthdays, anniversary etc. It will not only be our sincere effort but most effective action to help maintain the delicate balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Don’t wait...   Plant ….Neem.

 

--------------------