These beautiful, hearty, evergreen trees (see image below) were introduced to Africa from India in the early 1900s. They were widely established throughout western Africa providing shade, soil stability, and a veritable pharmacy of natural beneficial ingredients.
The Neem Tree as Pharmacy
India considers these trees the local pharmacy. Anecdotal claims include:
- insect repellency
- insecticide
- antiseptic
- anti-viral benefits
- anti-inflammatory benefits.
Evidence and Commercialization
The extracts from the leaves and the nuts of the trees are under more disciplined study with clear evidence of mosquito control potential due to eradication of the larvae and decreased propagation. There are a variety of effects on a whole host of insects. Neem oil is now widely sold in the U.S. as an organic gardening main stay to protect plants from insects.
No comments:
Post a Comment