AZADIRACHTA INDICA [NEEM/ Margosa]

 AZADIRACHTA INDICA  [NEEM/ Margosa]

Among varied plants undoubtedly, the most common and well known is the Neem tree. To me, it symbolizes nature’s gift to hot humid tropics. Several villages in South India survive in the shades and breeze of neem. Honestly none ever takes effort to cultivate these trees. At best, human effort stops at the level of planting the sapling. When most plants /trees seem to suffer from poor water supply, neem trees look rather flourishing with dense green lush foliage- an enviable sight during the merciless scorch of summer. Summer nights are best spent under the breeze from neem trees –oh! What a pleasant delight to recall?

After some early care, it is ‘neem’ that takes care of the community around. Neem is a ready fodder for goats and sheep. Neem oil is a near panacea for human ailments. Villagers [even to-day] patiently collect ripened fruits of neem and press out the seeds; these seeds are dried in open yards and oil is extracted from the ‘neem kernels’.  In southern Tamil Nadu, people call the seeds of neem as Vaeppa muththu [வேப்ப முத்து] [-pearls of neem] revealing the value accorde4d to them as pearls.

Village folk liberally use the neem oil as hair tonic/ skin tonic by applying the oil. For those not used to the oil, it may be offensive, but for the village folk it is the best defencive tool in their kit as it serves to be a powerful ‘anti-biotic’. To my knowledge, the oil is for ‘external use only’ and not an edible stuff.

However the ability of the oil to penetrate skin is believed to be high indeed.  Yes, the oil is rich in beneficial fatty acids and   Vitamin-E and is a deterrent   against bugs /insects.

Also, the residual cake-like solid remnants [வேப்பம்  புண்ணாக்கு]  from oil extraction are powerful in preventing fungal/bacterial pathogens invading plants/ crops including coconut trees.

The villagers in T N use twigs of neem for brushing the teeth and their tell-tale pearly teeth stand testimony to the value of neem twig in oral hygiene. Perhaps the first ever ‘use and throw’ item in the world was the  neem twig tooth brush; the user breaks a young twig of neem and tucks it between the molar teeth of the jaw and gently masticates it to make the chewed end a bristly head. Using the rough bristles [s]he sweeps all over the teeth dislodging all tiny particles, even as the bitter neem juice destroys oral microbes in a very cost-effective hygienic natural way. For the villager the day begins with the neem twig

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