Did you know that the divine tree Neem (नीम), referenced as “Divine Tree”, Life Giving Tree,” “Nature’s Drugstore,” and “Village Pharmacy.” is called in the Vedas in Sanskrit as “Sarva Roga Nivarini,” meaning “One that Cures all Ailments and Ills”?
The divine tree Neem (नीम), also known as Margosa, a Hindi noun derived from Sanskrit Nimba (निंब) consists of two species in the genus of Azadirachta indica which is native to India. It has been used by humankind to treat various ailments from prehistory to contemporary. It is referenced as “Divine Tree”, Life Giving Tree,” “Nature’s Drugstore,” and “Village Pharmacy.” It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta indica A. Juss, a member of the mahogany family, Meliaceae, and is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is typically grown in tropical and semi-tropical regions. The Latinized name of Neem, Azadirachta indica, is derived from the Persian. language by the words 'Azad' meaning "free", ' ' dirakht' meaning “tree”; and ' i-Hind' meaning “of "Indian origin”
In the ancient Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro civilizations one of the most prominent medicinal herbs found was A. indica, which was also known as Neem. Indian emigrants took it along to the places where they settled. Thus, the Neem tree was introduced in places such as Australia, East and sub-Sahelian Africa, South East Asia, and South America. Today, the neem is well established in at least 30 countries worldwide, in Asia, Africa and Central and South America. Some small scale plantations are also reportedly successful in Europe and United States of America. The world's largest neem plantations are about 10 sq km in the plains of Arafat, Saudi Arabia. A Saudi philanthropist planted 50,000 neem trees to shade and comforts the two million pilgrims.
In the annals of the ancient Siddha system of medicine, of the Dravidian civilization dated back to 10,000 B.C to 4,000 B.C. the first medicinal plant mentioned as well as found a place, in ancient Tamil literature is Neem or Margosa.
The evergreen Neem tree is native to India and Burma and belongs to the botanical cousin of mahogany, in the family Meliaceae.. Known for its drought resistance, it can grow everywhere from semiarid and semi humid conditions, with an annual rainfall of 400–1,200 millimetres (16–47 in). It grows at elevations up to 1500 m above sea level and its life is > 200 years. It can also grow in regions with an annual rainfall below 400 mm, but in such cases it depends largely on ground water levels. Neem can grow in many different types of soil, but it thrives best on well drained deep and sandy soils. Within 3–5 years, Neem trees start bearing harvestable seeds and full production may be reached in 10 years. Each year, about 30–50 kg of fruit may be produced. Oil yield from neem seeds is 40–60 wt% .
Neem has been used by humankind from time immemorial as a deterrent for smallpox and other infectious diseases and is also considered to possess powers to ward off evil spirits.
Few popular notions about neem in India are: When The amrita (ambrosia or the elixir of immortality) was being carried to heaven and a few drops of it fell on the Neem tree; the Sun took refuge in the Neem Tree to escape from the awesome powers of the demons; and planting three or more Neem trees during one’s lifetime is a surefire ticket to heaven.
All parts of Neem tree are commonly used in traditional Indian medicine for household remedy against various human diseases. Palm leaf manuscript conserved in the Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research (CTMR), Chennai, India, reveals the medicinal uses of neem trees. Neem flower is used to prevent and treat bile disorders; neem leaf is used to prevent and treat ulcers; and neem bark is used to prevent and treat CNS disorders, paralysis and psychiatrics' disorders. Seed is used on a large scale to manufacture medicines for skin diseases including leprosy, ulcers, gastro intestinal problems, oral care, urinary track problems, hair problems, diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. As a Datoon (teeth cleaner), the neem twig is even now chewed each morning by hundreds of thousands of Indians to clean their teeth. It is used to make complicated pesticide formulations for use abroad, which will have a place under the sun.
The tender shoots and flowers of the Neem tree are eaten as a vegetable in India. A soup like dish called " Veppampoo charu" (Tamil) (translated as "neem flower rasam") made of the flower of neem is prepared in Tamil Nadu.
In the year 1848 when plague epidemic had hit Bangalore (Bengaluru now) the then Maharaja of Mysore Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV initiated the creation of suburbs of Malleswaram, Chamarajapete and Basavanagudi to decongest the old town known as Bengaluru pete. In the Malleswaram suburb, in particular, two avenues named Margosa Road (Neem tree road) and Sampige Road were built from 5th cross to the 18th cross. Most of the trees are still surviving and providing healthy shades to people and it is claimed that these avenues give a 2 degree dip in the temperature.
Internationally, the United nations has declared the Neem tree as the “Tree of the 21st century" and a report published in 1992 by the US National Academy of Science is titled “Neem: A tree for solving global problems”.
' Neemania" has gripped scientists in the West and Neem (Azadirachta indica) is being hailed as the wonder tree that can solve global problems from locust swarms to AIDS, Indian scientists are jumping onto the bandwagon. An especially valuable quality of neem is that it is harmless to humans and other mammals.
-- Narasipur Char
