Neem is a type of tree. Its bark, leaves, and seeds can all be used for medicinal and health-improving benefits. Neem health benefits are well-known, to say the least. The fruits produced by the tree can also be used although this is less common. It contains chemicals which can help your body in a number of ways, from improving your blood sugar levels to fighting bacteria. Also known as Indian Lilac, the plant is often renowned as an herbal treatment for many ailments thanks to its antimicrobial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory qualities.

Neem Health Benefits

1. Dental Plaque

Studies have suggested that brushing your teeth with the extract from neem leaves could help reduce dental plaque by fighting bacteria in the mouth. Make sure you rub the extract over your teeth and gums once a day for six weeks and you should notice a drop in the level of plaque that builds on your teeth.

 

2. Insect Repellant

Early research has suggested that applying the extract from the neem root or leaf to your skin could help to repel insects and reduce your risk of bites. This includes protecting you from mosquitos.

 

3. Psoriasis

Studies have also indicated that taking orally taking neem extract could help to reduce the severity of your psoriasis symptoms. It could help to soothe the condition and reduce the pain, discomfort, and itching that it causes.

 

4. Removing Pigmentation and Acne Scars

Neem oil is great at tackling pigmentation issues and scarring. It can help lift the appearance of your skin and lighten any dark spots. All you need to do is boil 20 neem leaves in half a liter of water until the water turns green. Once this happens, allow the water to cool, strain it and store the liquid in a bottle or container. Apply the liquid to your skin, concentrating on the areas affected by acne scars and pigmentation issues. You can do the same thing with powdered neem instead of whole leaves.

5. Reduces Skin Rashes

Neem is very effective in treating skin rashes caused by allergies, irritants or infections. All you need to do is boil around 25 leaves in two glasses of water for about thirty minutes (the water should turn green when it’s ready). Strain the leaves and store the liquid in a bottle or container. You can then apply the liquid to your rash and let it for 20 minutes before rinsing off with clean water. Doing this on a regular basis should help clear up the rash.

 

6. Wound Healing

Neem oil is often considered one of the best treatments for healing chronic wounds. It’s most effective when used in conjunction with Haida capsules but it will also have an effect on its own thanks to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. You can also mix it with some turmeric and water to make a paste and apply this to the wounded area.  

 

7. Prevents Blackheads

Neem is great for keeping your skin clear and healthy. Simply combine some neem oil (no more than three drops) with an equal amount of water and apply it directly to your blackheads. Let it sit for fifteen minutes and then wash your face with fresh water. Not only will this help to clear up your blackheads when used regularly, but it will also help to prevent the development of future blackheads.

8. Cures Skin Infections

Thanks to its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties, neem is great at curing skin infections like ringworm and jock itch (to name just a couple).  Adding two drops of neem oil to your bath water and bathing in it can really help to treat your skin infection and relieve you of your symptoms.

 

9. Prevents Acne

Neem has diverse healing properties as it is both an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent. As such, it helps to support the treatment of acne. Neem helps to kill the bacteria which would otherwise cause your breakouts and soothes the skin to reduce irritation.

Boil equal amounts of neem leaves and orange peel in a small amount of water until the peel softens. You can then add a few drops of lemon juice and honey and grind into a paste. Apply the paste to your face, back or shoulders depending on where your acne is and let it sit for fifteen minutes. You can then rinse off the paste with cold water and pat yourself dry. Using this method twice a week should help to improve your acne.

10. Moisturizes Skin

Another amazing benefit of Neem is its ability to combat dry skin. To use, grind twelve to fifteen neem leaves with some rose water to make a paste and apply this to your skin. Allow it to dry over fifteen minutes before washing your face with clean, cold water. This will help pack your skin full of moisture and prevent dryness and damage which could otherwise leave your skin looking older.

 

11. Gives Your Skin a Glow

Blend a few neem leaves with some rose water and add a little turmeric to form a paste. You can then apply this paste to your face for fifteen minutes. After that, you’ll need to rinse your skin thoroughly with fresh water and pat it dry. Doing this three times a week could help to lift your skin, giving it a healthy and youthful glow.

 

12. Prevents Skin from Aging

Neem is often used in beauty and anti-aging products, thanks to its ability to slow down the physical signs of aging. You can use it to create a face mask and apply this to your skin regularly to heal damaged skin cells, moisturize dry skin and fight the formation of wrinkles by stimulating collagen production.

13. Removes Dark Eye Circles

Because of its antioxidant properties, Neem or Indian Lilac can help to reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. Create a paste using ground neem leaves and water and apply it to the skin under your eyes – be very careful not to get any in your eyes though. Let the paste dry for ten minutes and then wash it off with clean water. Doing this every day should help your bags decrease over time.  

 

14. Hair Conditioning

Neem also has a number of benefits for your hair, one of them being that it helps to condition dry hair. Blend some fresh Neem leaves with some water to make a paste. You can add a teaspoon of honey too if you want. Run the mixture through your hair and let it soak for twenty minutes. You can then wash your hair as you would normally to leave your hair silky smooth and full of life.

15. Prevents Baldness

Neem can help restore lost hair and keep your hair feeling stronger so that it’s less likely to fall out again. Make the hair mask described earlier and apply this to your hair for ten to twenty minutes before rinsing. This will help to nourish your scalp and restore lost hair.

 

16. Promotes Hair Growth

If you’re looking to grow your hair and finding that it’s not going anywhere, a little neem could be your answer. Massage the neem hair mask we’ve already discussed into your hair, massaging the scalp to enhance blood flow. This will help encourage hair growth.

17. Improves Scalp Health

Improving the health of your scalp is key to growing a healthy head of hair. Neem can help you achieve this. Simply mix a little neem powder with amla powder, lemon juice, shikakai powder, and a little water to form a paste. You can then apply this mixture to your scalp and hair, letting it sit for thirty minutes. After this half hour has passed, wash your hair with your regular shampoo and conditions. The pack will help keep your scalp free from irritants and other toxins that may dry it out and damage hair growth.  

 

18. It’s Antibacterial

The leaves of the neem tree have antibacterial properties which are so strong that they even have the ability to control the pathogens in manure. Neem sticks also contain antibacterial properties and can be chewed to promote oral health.  

 

19. Contraceptive

Many studies have suggested that neem has an antifertility effect, making it work as a natural birth control.  It has a spermicide effect, killing sperm cells and preventing fertilization.

 

20. Cures Asthma

Neem oil helps asthma patients manage their symptoms by reducing phlegm and tackling inflammation of the airways. You can chew raw neem leaves or grind them and drink with your beverages. You could also try breathing the fumes from a few drops of neem oil on a daily basis.  

21. Helps to Treat Ulcers

Neem extract is very effective and safe in the treatment of gastric hyperacidity and ulcers. This is because the bark has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains compounds which increase the amount of gastric mucous you produce which help to reduce the risk of developing ulcers.

 

22. Manage Diabetes

Studies have suggested that the Neem plant has hypoglycemic properties which help to lower high blood sugar levels. Therefore, Neem is often mentioned as a diabetes management tool. It can also prevent oxidative stress caused by your diabetes which reduces some of your symptoms.

 

23. Helps to Cure Leprosy

According to the ancient Egyptians, Neem can be used to cure leprosy. There may be some truth in this as neem is non-mutagenic which means it isn’t vulnerable to any changes in the DNA. As a result, it is thought that it prevents leprosy from developing.  

24. Increases Blood Circulation

Neem acts as a blood purifier, which means it’s ideal for blood circulation and can help to cleanse your entire body. This can help reduce your risk of various illnesses and issues, including acne, toxin build-up, and damage to tissues and organs. In some instances, it can even help to balance out hormone levels.

 

25. Soothes Malaria Symptoms

Neem has been known to be beneficial for soothing the discomfort and pain caused by a malaria infection. It can also help by speeding up the healing process as a result of its antibacterial and antiviral nature.

26. Boosts Immunity

Consuming neem in any form once a day can help to boost your immune system, thanks to its high level of nutrients. It’s also packed full of essential extracts that will protect you from a number of seasonal illnesses.  

 

27. Cures Eye Infections

Neem is also great for soothing eye infections. You can boil some leaves in water, strain and leave the liquid to cool. Once it’s cooled to room temperature you can use it as a natural eye wash to treat infections like conjunctivitis or irritation. Some even think daily use can help to improve your vision.

 

28. Combats Fungal Infections

Not only can neem fight bacterial infections, but it’s also a great anti-fungal agent too. This makes it the perfect home remedy for a variety of fungal skin infections. Boil a handful of neem leaves with some water and once it’s cooled enough you can wash the infected area of skin using the strained liquid. Over several days this should help the infection to clear up.

 

29. Reduce Dandruff

Neem oil is often used in commercial anti-dandruff shampoos. It can help reduce itchiness and dryness which will, therefore, clear up any dandruff you may be experiencing. It will also help to balance the pH of your scalp, which is crucial to dandruff management. You can massage two to three drops of warmed neem oil onto your scalp and let it sit for no more than thirty minutes before washing it out and then washing your hair normally.

30. Combat Frizzy Hair

Dry and frizzy hair can be difficult to control, but neem oil can really help tame it and stop it from reacting to humid situations. It helps because it has hydrophobic qualities which naturally repels excess moisture in the humid air and stops it from being absorbed by your hair, preventing it from frizzing. It creates a protective layer around your hair so that it is less affected by your environment. You can create one of the hair masks we’ve already mentioned and leave it on your hair for half an hour or you can mix a teaspoon of coconut oil with a few drops of neem oil and massage it gently into your scalp.

 

31. Repair Split Ends

When hair becomes weakened by over-styling, dryness, heat or lack of care the ends of the air-fiber will split. This is what we call split ends. Trimming your hair regularly is one of the most common ways to remove split ends, but you can also use neem oil to strengthen your hair and reduce splitting. Simply add a few drops of neem oil to a teaspoon of coconut oil (or another carrier oil) and massage into the ends of your hair. Let it sit for ten minutes before washing your hair as normal.

32. Remove Head Lice

Having head lice can be really irritating, but thankfully neem oil provides an effective natural remedy. This is because it contains an active ingredient called azadirachtin which is a natural insecticide. This is toxic to the lice and will kill them and their eggs. To use, simply massage six drops of warm neem oil into your hair, cover with a shower cap and let it sit overnight.  In the morning you can then comb your hair in sections to get rid of the dead lice and eggs. Repeat the process until you can comb your hair without getting and lice of eggs.

Has this article convinced you to use neem or neem oil? Comment below!

References

https://www.epainassist.com/articles/skin-and-hair-health-benefits-of-neem-or-indian-lilac

https://www.up-nature.com/blogs/news/top-20-amazing-benefits-of-neem-oil

https://recipes.timesofindia.com/articles/food-news/know-your-oatmeal/articleshow/65149420.cms

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-577/neem

https://www.lybrate.com/topic/neem-benefits-and-side-effects