Azadirachta Indica- The Neem Tree
Growing Neem-The Nem Tress's Many Uses and Benefits
Neem is one of the most beneficial natural or Ayurvedic medicine people of India use to treat skin diseases and other ailments. Neem oil is used as a base for soaps, shampoos, hand and body lotions and creams. It is also used as an organic bio- pesticide repellant against insects.
The Neem Tree has been called the worlds most researched tree.
Just look at the many medicinal and other uses of that every part of this tree has. In India this tree is known as the "Village Pharmcy". There it is known and has been used for centuries. However, the western world is just now beginning to become aware of it as well as the many products that can be made from it such as neem oil, creams, soaps, extracts, teas, capsules, insecticides, etc.
As with other medicinal plants or herbs you can find so many different home remedies using neem.
Discovering Neem
Azadirachta Indica- Botanical name for neem.
The whole name, latinized, comes from the Persian language Farsi:
So the botanical name translates to: "The Free Tree of India"
Also known commonly by Margosa (meaning biter and trust me I've eaten the leaves right of the tree and wow it's bitter.)
Other names: arya veppu, azad dirakht, bev, margosa tree, nim, nimb, nimba and ravipriya
Neem belongs to the Meliaceae or Mohagany family
Neem is a fast growing, evergreen tree and is quite beautiful. Probably one of the best attributes of this tree is it's abilitily to block mosquitos. We own a landscaping/nursery business here in Monterrey and every day people ask advice on which tree to plant or plants that help with mosquitos. We highly recommend the Neem tree because it grows fast and blocks the mosquitos which is really necessary here with the Dengue problem in the summer.
The neem tree has a straight trunk and can reach 30 meters or more, although 15-20 is average. Depends on the area where it's planted. The bark is hard, rough and scaly, fissured even in young trees. It's brown in color but in can be a pale or greyish-black in older trees. The bark is used to produce a variety of products for internal supplements such as neem bark capsules and others. The bark has properties for many ailments.
Spreading branches with dark green leaves form a dense, round canpy, up to 20 meters across which makes it a wonderful shade tree.
Leaves are alternate and consist of several leaflets with serrated edges. Not to be confused with Canelo tree.