It lives and reproduces inside nerve and muscle cells, particularly those of the heart, and drains its victims of all their energy. A parasite (Trypanosoma cruzi) causes this major health problem. Should these early results prove to be soundly based, an array of extremely virulent and difficult diseases of people-not to mention of wildlife and livestock-might be treated.Ībout 20 million Latin Americans are infected with Chagas' disease many live as helpless cripples, unable to work or enjoy life. 7 And in horticultural studies, crude extracts also seemed to effectively bind certain plant viruses, and so limit infection (see Chapter 6). 6 In Germany, an ethanolic neem-kernel extract has proved effective against herpes virus. In the United States, aqueous neem-leaf extracts have shown low to moderate inhibition of the viral DNA polymerase of hepatitis B virus. So far these are only preliminary and unconfirmed results, but they are intriguing, nonetheless. Recent pharmacological studies have supported the belief that neem leaves possess some antiviral activity. Thus neem was effective prevention, but not cure. 5 Unfortunately, no antiviral effects were seen once the infection was established within the cell. Crude neem extracts absorbed the viruses, effectively preventing them from entering uninfected cells. Smallpox, chicken pox, and warts have traditionally been treated with a paste of neem leaves-usually rubbed directly onto the infected skin.Įxperiments with smallpox, chicken pox, and fowl pox suggest that there may be a true biological basis for this practice. Its efficacy-particularly against pox viruses-is strongly believed, even among those of advanced medical training. In India, there is much interesting, but anecdotal, information attributing antiviral activity to neem. These promising, but unproved, applications include anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, and anti-ulcer treatments.Ī summary of some recent results in medical and veterinary studies follows. Nonetheless, there are intriguing indications that neem might in future be used much more widely.
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The oil is used for skin diseases such as scrofula, indolent ulcers, and ringworm.Ĭures for many more ailments have been claimed but have not been independently confirmed by trials under controlled conditions. The leaves, applied in the form of poultices or decoctions, are also recommended for boils, ulcers, and eczema. Neem preparations are reportedly efficacious against a variety of skin diseases, septic sores, and infected burns. Today, the best-established and most widely recognized uses are based on its merits as a general antiseptic. In addition, in places where the tree has been introduced in recent times, such as tropical America and Africa, it has also established a reputation as a useful cure for various ailments. Thus, over thousands of years, millions of Asians have used neem medicinally.
1 Each of these has long been used in the Indian Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine. The earliest Sanskrit medical writings refer to the benefits of its fruits, seeds, oil, leaves, roots, and bark. Since antiquity neem has been renowned for healing.
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