Neem, Azadirachta indica, is a Tree of Life originating in India. The oil, fresh and dried leaves and extracts from the plant have been used in Ayurverdic medicines for thousands of years, and have been revered in India for their medicinal and healing properties, especially on chronic skin disorders.
Scientific research has confirmed that neem seed oil is non-toxic to mammals and may be very effective antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, dermatological and dental agent.
It is also widely hailed as a natural insect repellant, so you can use it 1-2% in a blend.
It is rich in fatty acids and glycerides and together with its healing properties, provides an excellent natural moisturizing base for skin care formulations.
Neem oil can be semi solid at room temperature. I have found that simply heating it for a few minutes in a hot water bath in order to thin it out makes it easy to pour into a bottle and so long as it is not refrigerated, it stays fluid. Neem oil is a deep golden brown and forms a nutty, spicy, musky base note in a blend. You can use at up to 10% in everyday skin care formulations, and more in treatment formula. Use up to 3% in hand and foot care products. I've been able to reduce the price and it's available here: http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/94
After spending lonely times in a big amber glass bottle at the bottom of my essential oil cabinet, neem has come out into the light for me. I've formulated two new neem based organic glycerine soaps to help with serious skin conditions:
Neem Citral Cleansing Soap The citral lends a pleasant lemony scent to the earthy, spicy scent of neem. http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/1420
Neem Cleansing Clay Soap The essential oils lend a fresh herbaceous scent to the earthy, spicy scent of neem. http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/1422
Read How To Use Neem To Treat Scabies here: http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/1414
I am also now experimenting with neem leaves, which are now for sale in the DIY section here: http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/240 I have made a connection with a neem grower in Florida and samples of neem extracts are on their way to me!
Neam leaf can be used as a bath tea, in soaps, and to make toner and other skin healing products. Few are aware of the varied medicinal properties of neem leaves (as opposed to the popular oil from the seed). Ayurvedic medicine has always strongly relied on the leaf. Over 75% of Ayurvedic remedies contain neem, usually in form of leaf (or extract), sometimes the bark/fruit/flowers, and almost never the oil. The leaf is also the part of the neem plant that western medicine knows the most about. The majority of scientific neem studies were done with neem leaf or neem leaf extracts.
In 2005 scientists published a research report, Medicinal properties of neem leaves: a review. It is a compilation of existing scientific studies and clinical trials. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&Te...
"Neem leaf and its constituents have been demonstrated to exhibit immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycaemic, antiulcer, antimalarial, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties."
Who knows? Maybe I'll hold a special workshop on blending and formulating with neem soon!
For recipes, go to DiscoverNeem.com, and non commercial site written by a biologist. http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-leaf-recipes.html