Modern medicine has its benefits, but sometimes the old ways have their place as well. Neem is a tree that’s been used in traditional medicine practices for thousands of years. It’s safe and gentle, can be used by almost anyone, and has a wide variety of benefits for your health. Neem may help boost oral health, fight lice, potentially help male fertility, and more. This article looks at some of the neem benefits that you might be interested in and how this plant might help you live a healthier life.
Neem is a tree in the genus Azadirachta. It’s used in African and Indian traditional medicine and is known by other names such as Indian lilac, nimtree, and margosa. Almost every part of the neem tree can be used therapeutically, though current research focuses on the uses of neem seed extract and the leaves. Other parts that have been used in traditional therapies are the:
Neem contains over 140 active compounds and constituents, including nimbin, which is a
triterpenoid that’s thought to be primarily responsible for the biological effects of this plant. Neem is still being studied by researchers, but here are some of its current uses:
However, many of these uses haven’t been scientifically backed up yet, so make sure you do your own research and talk to a healthcare practitioner before trying neem for a specific issue.
Here’s a closer look at how neem benefits specific parts of your body and health:
Neem is used widely in Ayurvedic oral health products such as toothpaste. This is because this plant can help to fight harmful bacteria in the mouth. It’s also anti-inflammatory, which means it may help to soothe irritated or infected gums.
Neem may have benefits for both fertility and preventing pregnancy at the same time. However, these effects aren’t proven or reliable, so don’t stop using your regular contraceptive methods in favor of neem.
Some studies in rats have shown that neem can help prevent ovulation; however, these results weren’t carried over in primate studies. Neem can also kill sperm in the vagina when used as a spermicide and is often used as an oral contraceptive in men.
Neem root powder may also help lower infertility in men. In rat studies, it has been shown to increase sperm density and motility. However, these studies have not been performed on any other animal, so this theory is untested.
Neem is a powerful antioxidant, which is why many people claim that it can be helpful in the prevention of cancer. Studies have also shown that it may help to kill cancer cells, improve immune response, and inhibit cancer cell growth. However, these neem benefits aren’t proven, so this plant shouldn’t be used as an alternative to any cancer treatments.
Studies have shown that neem can lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It can also help with weight control. This may help prevent or control diabetes and metabolic syndrome, which is a big health threat in the modern world.
More research is needed on this issue to determine the exact mechanisms by which neem brings about these effects and the safety of the product.
Using a shampoo with neem in it can benefit the health of your scalp and hair in several ways. Firstly, it can help stop dandruff by killing a yeast known as Malassezia, which has been known to cause dandruff. This is due to the anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial effects of neem.
This plant can also help safely and gently get rid of head lice. Neem shampoo can help to kill lice at every stage, from eggs to adult lice. It’s also very safe and has no harmful side effects.
Neem may also be helpful in your adrenal fatigue recovery process. Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) is the non-Addison's form of adrenal dysfunction, where the body's stress response cannot keep up with life's chronic stressors. The human body often struggles to cope with long-term stress. This is due to the way the body changes how it functions to survive stress.
When you’re stressed, the adrenal glands try to help you survive by releasing cortisol. Cortisol helps you to fight or flee from the cause of the stress and makes changes throughout the body’s organs and circuits to promote survival. More specifically, cortisol diverts energy away from non-essential organs and systems and towards the organs that will help you survive.
This is supposed to be a short-term solution to stress. But when it is ongoing, it can cause widespread problems throughout the body. This usually impacts the adrenal glands first. They can become fatigued from their high workload and may even start to struggle to produce the cortisol that the body is demanding.
As the high cortisol levels continue, the body’s circuits are forced to remain in their stressed state. The body needs rest in order to perform important functions. Lack of rest can cause the body's organs and systems to become unbalanced and dysfunctional, causing worsening health concerns and symptoms. And because the circuits include organs throughout the body from the brain to the gut, the effects can be extremely varied and confusing.
The solution to these issues is to reduce stress and rebalance the body’s circuits, bringing the body slowly back to a natural state. However, this often isn’t as simple as it may sound. AFS is associated with a wide range of health problems and symptoms, from infections to rampant inflammation, each of which causes more stress, pressure on the adrenal glands, and dysfunction.
This means that lowering stress often means addressing and alleviating the individual symptoms, to give the adrenal glands time to heal. Here’s a look at how neem benefits the problems associated with adrenal fatigue:
Rampant and chronic inflammation is a common problem with adrenal fatigue. Neem could help to relieve some of that inflammation safely and gently.
People with adrenal fatigue often experience ongoing or concurrent infections throughout their body. This occurs because of dysfunctions in the immune system. Neem’s antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-fungal effects may help to alleviate these issues.
Blood sugar instabilities and metabolic syndrome are very common in people with AFS. Neem may help to control or eliminate these health threats, which could make a big difference to your short and long-term health.
Like anything else, there are some safety considerations to think about before taking neem. Research is still ongoing on this topic. However, here’s a brief summary on how to keep yourself safe when taking neem:
If some of these neem benefits have convinced you to start trying this product, then talk to your healthcare practitioner first. They will be able to work with you to determine if this product is right for your body and your health. They will also advise you on the best form and dosage of this product for your needs.
Here are some of the ways you can use neem safely:
Finding natural ways to improve your health without causing reactions or side effects is key to adrenal fatigue and dealing with many other health conditions. So, here’s how you can determine if neem benefits could help you achieve better health:
For more natural and traditional remedies for better adrenal health, talk to our team at +1 (626) 571-1234 or click here.
If you’re looking for easy, safe ways to improve your health, then you need to know more about neem. There are a number of ways that neem benefits the body, many of which could have a profound effect on your short and long term health.
