Neem article Dr Shiva 1993

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Neem provides an answer to many incurable diseases. Traditionally Neemproducts have been used against heat-rash, boils, wounds, jaundice, leprosy,skin disorders, stomach ulcers, chicken pox, etc.Modern research also confirms Neem's curative powers in case of manydiseases and provides indications that Neem might in future be used muchmore widely.--Properties of NeemSince ancient times, neem has been associated with healing in thesub-continent of India. A large number of medicinals, cosmetics, toiletriesand pharmaceuticals are now based on neem derivatives because of it's uniqueproperties.Bark: Neem bark is cool, bitter, astringent, acrid and refrigerant. It isuseful in tiredness, cough, fever, loss of appetite, worm infestation. Itheals the wounds and is also used in vomiting, skin diseases and excessivethirst.Leaves: According to Ayurveda, Neem leaves help in the treatment of vatikdisorders (neuro muscular pains). Neem leaves are also reported to removetoxins, purify blood and prevent damage caused by free radical in the bodyby neutralising them. Neem leaves are reported to be beneficial in eyedisorders and insect bite poisons. It treats Vatik Disorders ( neuroandmuscular pains )Fruits: Neem fruits are bitter, purgative, antihemorrhodial and anthelminticin nature.Flowers: Neem flowers are used in vitiated conditions of pitta ( balancingof the body heat ) and kapha ( cough formation ). They are astringent,anthelmintic and non-toxic.Seeds: Neem seeds are also described as anthelminitic, antileprotic,antipoisonous and bitter in taste.Oil: Neem oil derived from crushing the seeds is antidermatonic, a powerfulanthelmintic and is bitter in taste. It has a wide spectrum of action and ishighly medicinal in nature.Mixture: Five parts of Neem tree ie. Bark, Root, Fruit, Flower and Leavestogether are used in diseases of blood. It is also used in vitiatedconditions of excess heat, itching, wound, burning sensation in body andskin diseases.--Traditional use of Neem in IndiaThere are several instances of Indian traditional custom sanctifying andencouraging usage of Neem. For instance Neem leaves have been used byholymen to avert illuck and diseases. Neem leaves are kept in the mouthsignifying grief, on returning from funerals. A concoction made of Neemleaves, flowers, jaggery and raw mango is drunk on a new year's day forsafegaurding health. (Gahukar 1995)In the times when the Vedas were composed the Neem was called the Sarva RogaNivarini, (one that could cure all ailments and ills.) and continued to beregarded for several centuries.However, with the advent of the Portugese, British and French colonists inthe Indian subcontinent a few hundred years ago, the traditional practiceslike using Neem leaves to protect crops and stored grains came to beregarded as backward practices and created a stigma, which led to theabandoning of these ecologically sound practice in favour of modern chemicalproducts imported from the west. Centuries of knowledge and wisdomaccumulated in the minds of people based on the trials and errors ofgenerations gone by were threatened, slowly but surely.Rational traditional knowledgeHowever the values of their forefathers were too deeply ingrained to betotally abondoned, and they lingered in the minds of the masses. Neemcontinued to provide toothbrush, soap, sacrament, and spiritual food tomillions of Indians.The continued usage of Neem represented not a condition of primitiveness butwas a fine example of rational traditional knowledge prevailing overmisguided modern notions. It represented the truimph of a rationale onceunderstood, expounded through custom, and translated into practice for thelargest common good.In the past, the combination of medicinal and agricultural values of neemmade it a favoured companion of Indians journeying to distant lands insearch of their fortunes and this contributed to its widespread distributionand propogation across continents. To Indians in foreign lands the Neem treebrought solace and helped them bridge the gap with their homeland. Itsymbolized a continuity of tradition and fulfilled the need to live inintimate harmony with nature. Thus the Neem tree found itself at home inMauritius, Fiji, Australia, East and Sub-Sahelian Africa, South East Asia,many countries in central and south America and the Carribbean. With thisjourney across oceans, the saga of Neem spread to the far corners of theglobe. (Tewari 1992)Pioneering work in Neem researchDuring the course of the freedom movement in India, led by Mahatma Gandhi,there was an upsurge of the 'Swadeshi' or nationalistic sentiment. This ledto a move to encourage 'Swadeshi' science. Neem research in India was a partof this movement. Pioneering work on the possible commercial use of Neem oiland cake was done by the Indian Institute of science in Bangalore during the1920s. Until 1933, neem cake was used in the sugar cane fields as afertilizer and to keep termites at bay. At this point synthetic pesticidesand remedies appeared in the market and overshadowed the pioneering work ofindigenious science.Mahatma Gandhi, however kept the tradition of Neem alive. He was known to bea firm believer in the goodness of Neem. Dr Ekaid, in reply to some queriesabout neem leaves by Gandhi, wrote. "We have made experiments upon neemleaves in our laboratory which revealed that its leaves contain morenutritious elements than any other similar vegetation which had beensubjected to chemical analysis earlier". The prayer meetings at theSabarmati Ashram were conducted under a Neem tree by the Mahatma Gandhi anda Neem leaf chutney was a part of his everyday diet. (Dr. Shiva 1993)