About Us >>Applications >> NEEM OIL for Skin Care

Kindly refer SOAP PERFUMERY COSMETICS ( SPC ) Magazine published in UK , Oct'96, wherein our Managing Partner, Mr Mehta has contributed an Article. Here you can get to know where and how Neem plays a role in Modern Cosmetics developed and being developed in the Western Countries.

Indians since thousands of years have realised the efficacy of Neem Tree for Skin & Hair care. We use Neem leaves /powder in hot water and then bath with the same. We even wash our hair with that water, which is light greenish tinge.The natural compunds in Neem leaves make an effect on the skin & hair for good.

We consume Neem leaves/powder/capsules as Neem detoxifies the blood besides lot of other useful properties. Bacause of the detoxification, the toxics do not get piled up and show at the skin surface causing skin problems.

NEEM PRODUCTS for Skin & Hair Care:

1. Neem Oil, 100 ml Bottles
2. Neem Leaf Powder, 50 gms. sachets
3. Neem Capsules
4. Neem Soap
5. Neem Shampoo

Valuable comments & conclusions from experts all over the world reg. efficacy of Neem Oil for skin & hair.

" The Neem oil is used in skin diseases such as scrofula, indolent ulcers, and sores, and ringworm. It is also applied in cases of rheumatism as a liniment. " ---- pg.141, Azadirachta, the Wealth of India.

" The neem seed oil is used to treat chronic syphilitic sores and ulcers, as well as Skin diseases such as ringworm, and scabies."
--- Cambie,R.C.Ash,J.( Csiro publications, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ) fijian Medicinal plants ( 1994, 365 pp., Aus $95 ).

" Neem oil is used as an antiseptic and acaricide ( parasiticide ) against various skin infections like ringworm and scabies, respectively ".
---- Chopra, R.N.Nayar, ( 1956 ).glossary of indian medicinal plants.

" Neem preparations have been used to treat boils,burns and syphilis "
---- Jacobson, 1989.

Excerpts from the paper " ayurvedic views & values on neem ", of Prof. Vaidya Suresh Chaturvedi, Ayurvedacharya, B.I.M.S.,M.A.M.S.
are as follows : ---

In India, Ayurved classified Neem in different therapeutic applications:

Kandughna - it is best drug for skin disorders.
Aragvadhani - antipoisonous, antipyretic, antidermatotic, antiemetic,antiseptic.
Lakshadi - astringent, bitter, anthelmintic, antidermatotic, antiseptic.

Neem oil derived from seeds is antidermatotic and powerful anthelmintic, and bitter in taste.

Dermatological disorders :-- oil from seeds forms a useful application in ringworm and scabies.

Hair care : -- to get rid of lice and dandruff the massage of Neem oil on the scalp at night and washing of the hair with neem water in
morning is recommended.

Dermal disorders and syphilis : -- in skin diseases like eczema, ringworm psoriasis, Leucoderma, the external application of oil on the
affected part is proved to be effective. It is also useful in syphilitic sores.

Toiletries : -- Neem fights against the bacteria and reduces the excessive perspiration and bad odour. It is used for domestic purpose also. It cleanses the Skin and improves the Complexion. It is effective against the pimples and black spots on face.

The Materia Medica by Uday Chand Dutt states about NEEM

"This useful tree is indigenous to India and is cultivated all over the country for the
sake of its bark, leaves and fruits. These have been used in Hindu medicine from a very remote period.

The bark is regarded as bitter, tonic, astringent and useful in fever, thirst, nausea, vomiting and skin diseases. The bitter leaves are used as a pot-herb being made into soup or curry with other vegetables. The slightly aromatic and bitter taste which they impart to the curries thus prepared, is much relished by some. The leaves are moreover an old and popular remedy for skin diseases. The fruits are described as purgative and emollient and useful in intestinal worms, urinary diseases, and ulcers."

It also states in the book that the bark is used in fever, that the fresh juice of the leaves is given with salt in intestinal worms, and with honey in jaundice and skin diseases.

Neem also enters into several compound preparations used in skin diseases. As an external
application to ulcers and skin diseases, neem leaves are used in a variety of forms such as poultice, wash, ointment and liniment.

A poultice made of equal parts of neem leaves and sesame seeds is recommended by Chakradatta for unhealty ulcerations.

The Materia Medica of Ayurveda by Dr. Bhagwan Dash, mentions:

NIMBA (AZADIRACHTA INDICA A. JUSS.) Nimba cures aggravated pitta and kapha, chardi (vomiting), vrana (ulcer), hrllasa (nausea) and Kushta (obstinate skin diseases including leprosy). It is cooling, constipative, and a digestive stimulant. It cures kasa coughing), jvara (fever), trt (morbid thirst), krimi (parasitic infection) and meha (obstinant urinary disorders including diabetes).

NIMBA alleviates the vitiation (impurities or corruption) of the blood, pitta and kapha.

It also mentions that according to Susruta nimba belongs to a group of drugs that can cure daha (burning syndrome) and aruci (anorexia). nimba belongs to another group of drugs that can alleviate kapha and poisoning, kandu (itching) and cleansing of ulcers.

The medicated oil which is prepared of nimba is useful for cleansing ulcers.

Materia Medica of Ayurveda based on Madanpalas Nighantu,mentions that it is constipative. This indicates that along with its anti-bacterial and anti-viral actions it may be useful in dysentary.

It has been stated that it suppresses an unsuppurated boil and helps in the bursting open of a suppurated one. In still another statement on specific actions it is mentioned that it is useful for eyes. It appears that they are talking about the leaf for the above mentioned uses, because following these descriptions it lists the attributes, potency and specific action for the fruit of the nimba tree. The attributes are unctuous and light, the potency is hot and the specific action is purgative. As oppossed to the leaf which is light in attribute, cold in potency and constipative in its specific action.

In still another book by Dr. Bhagwan Dash A Hand Book of Ayurveda in a section on how to manage diabetes he states that taking neem leaves in the morning is good; they reduce blood sugar.

In The Yoga of Herbs, by Drs. Vasant Lad and David Frawley, the Qualities and uses of neem are described as:

The parts used are the bark and leaves not mentioning the fruit or the oil derived from it until later. The energetics are listed as bitter in taste, cooling in its nature and pungent in its post digestive effect on the tissues. The tissues affected are plasma, blood, and fat. The systems affected are the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, and urinary. Its actions on the systems is that of a bitter tonic, antipyretic, alterative, antithelmintic, antiseptic, and antiemetic.

These are the western naturopathic terms for the actions already explained in the above Materia Medicas in sanskrit.

According to Drs. Lad and Frawley, neem is indicated in the following conditions:

skin diseases like (urticaria, ringworm, and eczema), parasites, fever, malaria (for which it is famous), cough, thirst, nausea, vomiting, diabetes, tumors, obesity, arthritis, rheumatism, and jaundice.

Precautions are called for in diseases of cold or tissue deficiency. In discussing the preparation of neem they indicate making infusions, decoctions, using the powdered leaf directly, a paste of the fresh leaves, medicated ghee, and medicated oil.

The following two paragraphs are direct quotes from the book giving a general explanation of the healing effects of the neem tree.

NEEM is one of the most powerful blood-purifiers and detoxifiers in Ayurvedic usage. It cools the fever and clears the toxins involved in most inflammatory skin diseases or those found in ulcerated mucous membranes. It is a powerful febrifuge, effective in malaria and other intermittent and periodic fevers (in which case it is usually used with black pepper and gentian).

Neem can be taken whenever a purification or reduction program is indicated. It clears away all foreign and excess tissue, and possesses a supplementary astringent action that promotes healing. Yet it should be used with discretion where there is severe fatigue or
emaciation. In medicated oil, it is one of the best healing and disinfectant agents for skin diseases, and anti-inflammatory agent for joint and muscle pain.

In another book by Dr. Bhagwan Dash Ayurvedic Cures for Common Diseases he states that neem is extremely effective for scabies.

"The parts of the body affected by scabies should be washed daily with water boiled with neem leaves. Soap prepared with neem oil is very useful. Neem leaves can be chewed and taken internally also. Tender neem leaves which are not very bitter, are made into a pill the size of a pea and given to the patient, twice a day ."

In still another book by Dr. Bhagwan Dash Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Medicine he points out
that in the excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in Northern and Western India which
date back to 2500 B.C., several theraputic substances were found including leaves of
the neem tree.

In Caraka-Samhita:

Neem is recommended for use in the event of gastro-intestinal diseases caused by vitiated kapha and pitta. The physician should prescribe it for emesis being careful not to cause any harm to the body.

Neem mixed with several other Indian herbs as well as ox bile and mustard oil will immediately cure obstinate skin diseases including leprosy, leucoderma of recent origin, alopacia, keloids, ringworm,fistula-in-ano, piles, cervical adenitis, and papular eruptions of human beings.