Fresh from the Farm!

 We started growing certified-organic neem in 1992 based on the indirect advice of the US government. The National Academy Press had just published a book called “Neem:A Tree for Solving Global Problems.” The book,still available online,describes how the neem tree has been used for centuries as a biopesticide and medicinal herb,concluding that neem offers “enormous benefits to countries both rich and poor.”

Over the last 17 years,we’ve watched in awe as researchers around the world work to validate that vision. From Baltimore to Bangalore, scientists have documented neem’s diverse benefits in disorders ranging from AIDS and arthritis to cancer and ulcers.* More than 500 reports are available on the National Institutes of Health website.

In the US,neem is most often used as an immune system booster with multiple actions that make it particularly effective.* A series of studies – typically conducted in laboratories and not in clinical settings – indicate that neem significantly boosts immune system response.* While the science is very complicated,ongoing research shows that it increases production of important white blood cells including the aptly named Killer-T and Helper-T cells, as well as boosting levels of both antibodies and macrophages.*

Neem,particularly neem bark,also has been recognized as a valuable source of concentrated antioxidants that help combat the free radicals which have been implicated in a number of age-related disorders.* The antioxidants in neem appear to be extremely bio-available with several studies showing that neem contains compounds that boost levels of glutathione in the body. It also contains high levels of important flavonoids like quercetin and rutin.*

Other major uses for neem include:

• Topical treatment for skin and scalp. Neem oil contains high levels of antioxidants combined with long-chain fatty acids and natural glycerides to help soothe even chronically dry,itchy skin or scalp.*
• Natural inflammatory compounds including nimbidin provide relief from minor muscle and joint pain,probably by moderating prostaglandin levels.*
• Neem bark also has been shown to help reduce stomach acid and help improve digestion.*
• Neem chew sticks have been used for thousands of years to promote healthy teeth and gums. New research indicates that antioxidants play a critical role in oral health.*
• Liver-protecting compounds in neem,including precursors to glutathione,help minimize the impact of environmental stress and pollutants.*

Perhaps most importantly,ongoing research shows that neem has few side effects when used as directed by adults who are not trying to conceive a child. The Extension Toxicology Networknotes that neem is “practically non-toxic” even at the extraordinarily high doses fed to laboratory rats.

Learn More!

 Visit PubMed, the National Institutes of Health website, for free abstracts on neem research. (To use the site,type neem in the search box for an overview or type neem and your area of interest, i.e., antioxidant, cancer, oral care,etc. for more specific information.)

The National Institutes of Health also has documented the myriad uses of neem in its International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements (IBIDS) - which is nicknamed the "Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines." This database of published , international scientific literature on dietary supplements also includes more than 300 citations on neem. (Interestingly enough, they aren't the same documents listed in the main PubMed site, although there are some overlaps.)

Dr. Andrew Weil, the Harvard-trained medical doctor who is a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, also is a fan of neem.

Sherrie Henne N.D., owner of www.usingneem.com, has compiled an enormous amount of information on neem, including clinical research from around the world and reports from people who have used neem in a wide variety of situations. The research is broken down into white papers focused on specific issues with a separate interactive forum where additional questions can be posed.

* Disclaimer:Neem Tree Farms does not sell products which are intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease or kill or repel any insect on humans,animals or plants. The research presented on this page is not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. The statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency. Whenever possible,links to abstracts published by the National Institutes of Health (a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) are provided.

ALWAYS CONSULT WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL BEFORE STARTING ANY NUTRITIONAL,HERBAL,HOMEOPATHIC,OR DIETARY SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM.