The word Neem may not mean much to most Europeans at present, but the Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) has long been venerated by the people of India as a solution to countless health problems. For thousands of years, preparations of the leaves, seeds and oil have been used for the treatment of many diseases, and for the protection of people and animals against insect pests. It holds an honourable place in Ayurvedic medicine and the National Research Council (USA) call it 'A tree for solving global problems'.

Scientific appreciation of Neem came after a swarm of locusts descended on India, stripping bare all viable vegetation except the Neem trees. Since then, there has been intense research into the therapeutic and natural insecticidal properties of Neem. Not surprising when you consider the misery that can be caused by rampaging insect life of one sort or another! Scientific research has confirmed many of the traditional uses of Neem, and this ancient tree now offers many exciting new therapeutic applications. It seems that Neem has many important modes of action, making it anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal. This wealth of properties has led to the development of many therapeutic personal care products.

In India, eczema and psoriasis are traditionally treated with preparations of Neem leaf. Recent studies indicate that their effectiveness results from the anti-inflammatory action of many of the constituents of Neem leaves. The component Nimbidin for example, has been demonstrated to be at least as effective as the non-steroidal treatment, phenylbutazone, which is used in hospitals. A second important component of Neem leaf, Nimbin, is four times as effective as the steroid hydrocortisone! This research suggests that formulations of Neem leaf may be at least as effective as over-the-counter preparations for the treatment of eczema and psoriasis, but without side effects such as thinning of the skin, which are a worry with long term use of many conventional preparations.

Recent research on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of Neem has led to the development of topically applied balms, creams and oils for a variety of skin complaints. Neem leaves and Neem oil are important natural antiseptics, and can control a wide range of pathogenic bacteria and fungi, such as those causing Candida infestations, athlete? foot, fungal nail infections, etc. A recent study has shown Neem oil to be effective against a variety of pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Extracts of Neem leaves have been shown to control Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which cause abscesses and wound infections. Several studies have also confirmed the antifungal activity of Neem leaves and Neem oil, which have the potential to treat athlete? foot, sweat rash, thrush and ringworm. In a clinical evaluation patients with long term, severe ringworm who had tried other treatments without success, were treated with a Neem leaf extract and were clear of infection after two to three days. More importantly, they were still free from infection after a year. The anti-inflammatory and fungicidal action may provide a further important application of Neem leaves in the relief of dandruff and scalp irritation, which can often be caused by fungal problems.

Neem offers an exciting and safe alternative to conventional treatments for parasites such as head lice and scabies. The organo-phosphate and pyrethroid insecticides have always been regarded as the first line therapy for the treatment of head lice and scabies and, until recently, were considered safe. Recently, concerns have been raised about the potential for these chemicals to affect the central nervous system. Neem offers several important advantages over conventional treatments. Firstly, Neem has a safe mode of action and controls parasites by affecting their growth, feeding and reproduction. Secondly despite its wide range of applications in protecting people, livestock and stored food against insect pests, no cases of resistance to Neem have yet been reported. In a recent study seventeen children infested with headlice used a preparation containing Neem seed extracts. Twelve of the seventeen were free from infestation after one application, the remaining five children were free from infestation after a second treatment. Of course, one of the most exciting aspects of this work for parents struggling to keep their children nit-free is the ability of Neem to kill the egg as well as the adult louse. No more terrified waiting for the eggs to hatch!

The Neem tree is understandably highly regarded in India, where it is valued for its many uses. Greater appreciation of its qualities is leading to more trees being planted, with beneficial effects on the environment. The leaf and seed can be harvested without damaging the tree, meaning that the benefits to humans and animals are not at the expense of the tree. The growing body of research provides compelling evidence of the therapeutic applications of Neem. There is increasing recognition of this huge potential in America, Australia and Europe and exciting new products containing Neem leaf, Neem seed and Neem oil extracts are now becoming available in the UK.