Neem,Agar Tree Plantation

Neem Benefits:


Neem is a native tree of India, found in every parts in India especially in semi-arid conditions. The Neem Tree is an incredible plant that has been declared the "Tree of the 21st century" by the United Nations. In India, it is variously known as "Divine Tree", "Life giving tree", "Natures Drugstore", "Village Pharmacy" and "Panacea for all diseases". It is one of the major components in Ayurvedic medicine, which has been practiced in India since many centuries. The neem is an ancient Indian cure-all due to its antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antihistamine and antiseptic properties. The neem leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, bark and fruits are utilized to treat inflammation, infections, skin diseases and for dental care.






In India's ancient Ayurvedic Medical texts it is explained that every part of the Neem tree has health promoting benefits. What is clear from the above information is that the general population of India for, over 5000 years, has used Neem safely and effectively. In fact the people of India call the Neem Tree "The Village Pharmacy". It is also called Holy Tree (Azadirachta indica.). In ancient times neem was the most celebrated medicinal plant of India and found mention in a number of Puranic texts like the Atharava Veda, Upanivahod, Amarkosha and Ghrysutra. They all dealt with the outstanding qualities of the neem tree as a source of medicine and as a natural pesticide.

Today, neem is once again steadily becoming an agro-scientific celebrity. Neem tree believed to cure 40 diseases has hit headlines in homeopathy journals. It has figured as the priority in seminars and serious agricultural workshops all over the world. Modern western medicine is finally discovering what the ancient Indians have known for thousands of years: that the neem tree has superb pharmaceutical and pesticide controlling qualities. Its effectiveness, availability and safety have made agro-scientists promote cultivation of neem forests.
The azadirachton compound in neem has been recognized as an effective insecticide that is biologically selective, not harming the useful pest-predators but keeping almost 250 harmful ones at bay. Scientists recommend coating urea with neem cake to kill nitrifying bacteria. Even water management with neem to control vectors of Japanese encephalitis was the success of neem over DDT.

Common Name

Botanical name: Azadirachta indica
Latin name: Melia azaderach
English name : Margosa tree
Sanskrit: Nimbah
Hindi: Neem (नीम)
Marathi: Nimba
Tamil: Vempu, Vembu (வேம்பு)
Telgu: Kondavepa
Kannada: Bevu ( ಕಹಿ ಬೇವು)
Malayalam Arya Veppu
Bengali Nim (নিম)
Gujarati Limdo
Punjabi Nimm
Urdu Nim ( نیم )
Nepali Nim
East Africa Muarubaini
Indian names: Neem, nim, Indian lilac, nimmi, limbo, limda 

Neem tree

The neem tree, Azadirachta indica, is a tropical evergreen with a wide adaptability. Native to India and Burma, it has been transplanted to Africa, the
Middle East, South America and Australia. It is especially suited to semi-arid
conditions and thrives even in the poorest soil with rainfalls as little as 18 inches (450 mm) per year and temperatures up to 50° C (120° F). It may grow up to 50 feet (15 m) tall and live for 200 years. The lifespan of the Neem tree is described to be anywhere between 150 to 300 years.
Its blossoms are small, white flowers with a very sweet, jasmine-like scent. Its edible fruit — is about 3/4 of an inch (2 cm) long, with white kernels. A neem tree generally begins bearing fruits at three to five years of age, and can produce up to 50 kg (110 lbs.) of fruit annually when mature. The pinnate leaves have a very bitter taste and a garlic-like smell.
Raw Neem parts used are:
Neem Leaves , Neem Seeds, Neem Bark, Neem Fruit, Neem Flower,
Neem Twig, Neem Gum, Neem Root and Neem Kernel

History of Neem


The neem tree has been used for more than 4,500 years in the Indian sub- continent. The Indian physicians CHARAKA (2nd century AD) and SUSRUTA (4th century AD), whose books provided the foundation of the Indian system of natural treatment, the Ayurveda, also mention the the tree and its medical use. In Ayurveda the neem tree was called the "Sarva Roga Nivarini" (= one that could cure all ailments and ills). At the beginning of this century the neem tree was still highly estimed by Indian emigrants and they took it along to the places were they settled. Thus, the neem tree was introduced in places like Australia, East and sub- Sahelian Africa, South East Asia, and South America. Pioneering work in the possible commercial use of Neem oil and cake had been done by the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore in 1920.
Pioneering work in the possible commercial use of Neem oil and cake had been done by the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore as early as the 1920s. In the last two decades research on neem has been intensified and many of the trees agricultural and medical properties were rediscovered. Today, Neem plays a major role in the rural industry of India and projects for the commercial use of Neem have been successfully introduced in other countries.

Chemical Compounds in Neem

The chemical compounds that have been identified and scientists feel that there are many more compounds yet to be identified in neem. Other then sodium, potassium, salts, it contains chloriphyle, calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflasium, nicocin, vitamin C, carotene, and oxalic acid. The chemicals classified are:
Nimbin: anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-histamine, anti-fungal
Nimbidin: anti-bacterial, anti-ulcer, analgesic, anti-arrhythmic, anti-fungal
Ninbidol: anti-tubercular, anti-protozoan, anti-pyretic
Gedunin: vasodilator, anti-malarial, anti-fungal
Sodium nimbinate: diuretic, spermicide, anti-arthritic
Quercetin: anti-protozoal
Salannin: insect repellent
Azadirachtin: insect repellent, anti-feedant, anti-hormonal
Other chemicals that form its therapeutic value are:
1. Limonoids 2. Terpenoids and steroids 3. Tetranortarpenoids
4. Fatty acid derivatives like margosinone and margosinolone
5. Coumarins like scopoletin, dihydrosocoumarins 6.Hydrocarbons like docosane, pentacosane, hetacosane, octacosane etc. 7.Sulphur compounds 8. Phenolics 9.Flavonoglycosides 10. Tannins
The highest concentrations of the active ingredients are found in the seed and oil, however the active ingredients are also found in lesser amounts in the bark and the leaves. Traditionally in Ayurveda the fresh leaves and twigs were used on a daily basis as a preventative for many conditions, including tooth decay, gum disease, malaria, etc. When a serious condition was treated a concentrated paste of the leaves or strong decoction of the leaves and/or the bark was used, for blood purification (in case of bacterial, fungal, or viral infections), malaria, fever, arthritis, rheumatism, and many more. It was also used as a protective agent from nature’s pests both as an insect repellant and insecticide that is both safe and harmless to humans. Traditionally Neem oil was applied externally to the hair, scalp, and skin for parasites and as an insect repellant. It was also massaged into arthritic joints, after being slightly warmed, to relieve pain and inflammation.

Medicinal use of Neem


Traditionally Neem was used in Ayurveda for a number of conditions. It is one of the main ingredients in every blood purification formula used in Ayurveda and it appears in most Diabetic formulas as well. It is also used for arthritis, rheumatism, the removal of external and internal parasites, including malaria and fevers and as an insect repellent.
Neem possesses anti-diabetic, antibacterial and antipyretic (fever reducing) properties. Neem is used for a wide range of ailments including flu, fever, sore throat, cold, fungal infections, skin diseases, malaria and many more ailments.

Medicinal use of NEEM in Ayurveda
Leaf 

Leprosy, skin problems, skin ulcers, intestine worms, anorexia, eye problems, epistaxis, biliousness
Bark 
Analgesic, curative of fever 
Flower 

Elimination of intestine worms, phlegm, bile suppression, 

Fruit 

Diabetes, eye problem, piles, intestine worms, urinary disorder, wounds, leprosy, epistaxis 

Twig 

Asthma, cough, piles, intestine worms, obstinate urinary disorder, phantom tumor, spermatorrhoea

Gum

Scabies, wounds, ulcer, skin diseases
Seed 

Intestine worms and leprosy

Oil 

Intestine worms, skin diseases and leprosy 

Root
Refrigerant, diutretic 
According to Ayurveda, it is useful in treating all sorts of Pitta, Kapha and Vatic disorders. It should be consumed early in morning on empty stomach for 15 days during the end of winter till the starting of summer season. This prevents most of the diseases through out the year. 
Under no circumstance should Neem products be taken by pregnant women.