NEEM a powerfulplant

     Late last year after visiting my dentist I found that I had no cavities, but because of my sweet tooth, I was experiencing some bleeding from my gums. Hey don’t judge me I can’t resist white chocolate!  Anyway I had some dried neem leaves that I‘d only used occasionally but upon further research found that it is widely used in many dental products. So I brewed the leaves and sipped and gargled this tea for about 2 weeks before returning to my dentist. He was astounded to see no sign of gum disease and a perfectly healthy mouth. Since then I have added this to my dental regimen. 

     Around the same time, my mother who had been in a nursing home for rehab after a long hospitalization stay, developed a large blister on her foot as well as swollen ankles from the constrictive socks that they put on her in the nursing home. I made a mixture of neem , rosemary and almond oils to massage her feet. Within the space of a couple of weeks the blister had dried up and the swelling reduced significantly. The soft tone and texture of her feet were remarkable.

     Neem trees produce molecules in their leaves and seeds that have potent anti-viral, anti-fungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.It is also a used as an analgesic and anti-inflamatory In traditional medicinal practices such as Ayurveda. Almost every part of this tree is used- the stem, bark, root, leaves and young fruit.

     There are hundreds ethnobotanical uses for neem. For hundreds of years Indian farmers have used the leaves as a pesticide and insect repellent. It is a common ingredient in many of the natural/organic insect repellents sold in health food shops. I even noticed that many of the natural toothpastes in my bathroom cabinet contain neem.  

     To date I have found no negative side effects to using neem but as with any medicine, do consult your traditional or naturopathic healthcare provider before using it. So check it out for yourself and let me know how it works for you and stay tuned because I will definitely be researching, testing and sharing the many uses of this powerfully healing plant.