A few years ago, the Saudis gave orders to plant 50000 neem trees at Mount Arafat , Mecca, where the pilgrims keep a vigil.
I would say, this is the wisest decision made in Mecca , after Mohammed the Prophets decision , NOT to allow his people to eat pig.
To an average naïve westerner , this decision was made to give shade at the same time providing good cross ventilation, which is NOT afforded by a claustrophobic tent—as the heat can hang you up to dry.
This goes far beyond that.
The Ayurveda texts of India, talk extensively about Neem as early as 5000 BC. Translated from Sanskrit one para reads--
QUOTE ‘Neem bark is cool, bitter, astringent, acrid and refrigerant. It is useful in tiredness, cough, fever, loss of appetite, worm infestation. It heals wounds and vitiated conditions of kapha, vomiting, skin diseases, excessive thirst, and diabetes. Neem leaves are reported to be beneficial for eye disorders and insect poisons. It treats Vatik disorder. It is anti-leprotic. It’s fruits are bitter, purgative, anti-hemorrhoids and anthelmintic’ UNQUOTE
Most of the homes in India ( leave out cities ) have a Neem tree . It is known as Margosa in English . Its Botanical name is Azadirachta Indica – as its magical properties were first recognized in India and then spread around by Emperor Vikramaditya.
India resisted a vested US attempt to patent Neem and Turmeric and won. Ancient Indians never found the need to patent things in a ridiculous manner like unscruplous Edison .
The neem tree has dense leaves. In spring small white flowers blossom. Later in June small fruits appear changing from green to yellow. There is a single seed inside which gives neem oil.
Neem contains certain complex organic chemical compounds like azadirachitin, triterpenes, limonoids, nonterpenoids, hexanortriterpenoids, pentattriterpenoids etc.
Nothing is wasted –every part of the plant is used like leaf, flower, bark sap neera , seed, oil etc.
Neem is ANTI –
Need I say more?
Let me expound—
It combats acne, rash allergy, ringworms, lice, dandruff, hairfall, rheumatoid arthrititis, gout, constipation, worms , malaria, sinus, cough, STD, ulcers, pox scarring, foot fungi,
It drives awat insects, mosquitoes and snakes. It does NOT harm birds.
All Vedic sages brushed their teeth with neem twig. Its bitter tase formats the taste of the tongue. Like in perfume shops you must format your olfactory senses with coffee bean smell, beofe you smell another perfume.
It is used in food godowns in India as it drives away unwanted pests and termites. Powdered bark and root is applied on pets to drive away fleas.
In my lawn I use neem seed cakes to lower Nitrogen losses, and also to prevent fungus.
In Puri temples dieties are carved out of aged neem wood..
When I sit on my lawn in the evenings , I get rid of mosquitoes by sprinkling neem water—fooling the smell senses of the mosquitoes.
CAPT AJIT VADAKAYIL