Organic Neem Powder

The Life of Neem


Neem trees are fast growing, in 3 years from planting the seed, they may become upto 20 feet tall. Neem trees require little rain and cannot sustain waterlogged areas that front drain very well.
They are able to grow in soils of all types, with a pH of up to 8.5. As they don’t like too much water they do very well in well drained soils, particularly stony, shallow environments. Neem has the ability to improve soil fertility as it has a water holding capacity and the calcium-mining ability, which can make acidic soils neutral. Thriving in heat up to 120°C and cold of 0C at an altitude of around 1500m.
The Neem tree grows slowly during the first year of planting and these young plants cannot tolerate intensive shade, frost or excessive cold.
Fruit normally begins between 3 and 5 years and bears fruit at full production in around 10 years. A mature tree produce 30 – 50 kg. fruit every year, living for between 150-200 years.
The fruit of the Neem can either be shaken off the tree, picked, or stripped from the branches. When ripe it is yellow in colour, about 2 cm in length and oval-shaped. In the soft, sweet fruit there is a light-coloured seed of about 1.5 cm in length, containing one, or sometimes two, brown seed kernels. After harvesting the fruit the ripe pulp should be removed as quickly as possible.
In some regions, birds or fruit bats eat the sweet pulp, so that a lot of clean seeds can be found on the ground.
Neem is also an effective insecticide in the garden.

History

Throughout the ages, due to the shifting of continents and the travels of Sages, Siddhas (both Chinese and Indian), many plants became integral in the daily prevention of disease and household remedies. Neem is one of those plants, said to be the first medicinal plant mentioned in the Siddha system of medicine from ancient Tamil.
Typically Siddhars were saints, doctors, alchemists and mysticists all rolled into one, they were spiritual adepts who possessed the Ashta Siddhis, or the eight supernatural powers. The word Siddha came from the word siddhi, which means the perfection of heavenly bliss. Sage Agathiyar is considered the guru of all Sidhars, and the Siddha system is believed to have been handed over to him by Lord Muruga.
Believed to be more than 10 000 years old, the Siddha system of medicine is considered to be one of the most antiquated traditional medical systems, prevalent in the southern states of India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore. The first medicinal plant mentioned in the Siddha medical system is Neem.
Siddhas wrote their findings in the form of poems in Tamil language, on palm leaves which are collected and stored in what are known today as palm leaf manuscript.
A 350 year old palm leaf Siddha manuscript (at the Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research (CTMR) in India), explains the medicinal uses of the Neem leaf as:
- The leaf being used to treat and prevent ulcers,
- The bark used to treat and prevent CNS disorders, paralysis and psychiatric disorders,

The first recorded medical treatment via the use of Neem was more than 4500 years ago, with the entire tree (bark, leaves, seeds, oil, fruit and roots) being used for various ailments. In 1922 Archeologists found ruins with sophisticated architecture, engineering, sewer constructions and water supply networks, dating back to around 5000 years ago. These ruins included skulls that had had cranial surgery and alongside pots containing remnants of medicinal herbs often including Neem.
Neem was used in those ages for the prevention of small pox and other infectious diseases, as well as possessing powers to ward off evil spirits. (Its flavour is less than desirable, but none the less, it is still very effective).
Neem tea has been used for centuries as a tonic, Neem twigs commonly chewed to clean the teeth and gums, Neem leaf juice was used for skin disorders, and the leaves are said to have been placed around the house as a repellant for insects and pests.

Due to having been used for many pains, illnesses, infections and fevers, Neem is referred to as “The Village Pharmacy”.

The last 10 years of research has shown that the traditional uses are very effective and the wonders of Neem being effective for many ailments and as preventative measure.