Local Names of Neem in India and Around the World
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| NEEM |
Bengali - Nim, Nimgachh Konkani - Beva-rooku
Marathi – Kadunimb
Gujarati – Leemdo
Tamil - Vembu, Vempu
Punjabi – Nimb
Malayalam - Veppu, Aryaveppu, Aruveppu, Kaippan, Veppu, Vepa
Simhalee – Nimu
Oriya – Nimo
Telegu – Vepa
Kannada - Bevinmar, Kahibevu
English - Margosa, Neem, Indian Lilac
French - Azarirae d'lnde, Margousier
German - Indischer Zadrach
Persian - Azade Darakhte
Hindi Arabic - Azad Darkhtu
Hind Burmese - Tamabin, Kamakha
Malay - Dawoon Nambu, Baypay
Latin - Azadirachta indica A. Juss or Melia azadirachta
Linn Farsi - Azad darkht 1 hindi (Free tree of India)
Singapore - Kohumba, nimba
Indonesia – Mindi
Nigeria - Don goyaro
Spanish – Margosa
Nepal – Nim
Portuguese - Margosa, Nimbo
History of Usage
Neem - the legendary medicinal tree of India, has grown with the human settlement all over the country and has been an integral part of the Indian way of life for centuries. The history of the Neem tree is inextricably linked to the history of the Indian civilization.
The Neem tree has for a very long time been a friend and protector of the Indian villager. For ages, Indians have trusted this tree to fortify their health and remedy scores of diseases. In addition, it has been used for protecting food and stored grains and as a fertilizer and natural pesticide for the fields. It has been used for a far wider array of uses than any other tree!
The Neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) was probably India's best-kept secret! Ancient India was envied for its Black Pepper, Cardamom, Saffron, Turmeric, Sandalwood, Silk etc. and these prized ingredients were sought after and taken across the seas to Europe for centuries. The British Raj also failed to grasp the significance of the presence of this tree in every nook and corner of India (barring the Himalayas and the coastal regions). Perhaps, if they had known about the wonderful array of uses of the Neem Tree, it would have become a worldwide phenomenon age ago!!
For Indians, the Neem tree had many fascinating aspects. For the children this evergreen, the attractive tree was a haven from sun and rain - they spent hours in its cooling shade, plucked the sweet ripe fruit for a snack and built tree houses, which they shared with butterflies, birds and bees. This tree was the chosen one because its shade is known to be cooler than any other tree's, and also, no bugs or insects are to be found under it because of its repellant action.
For the women, the neem was the mainstay of the herbal beauty tradition. It was also a source of medicine to treat more than a 100 health problems, from scratches and skin rashes to malaria and diabetes. The women also used it to protect their stored grains and pulses through the year.
For the menfolk, the tree provided seeds, leaf and bark which could be converted into fertilizer and pest control material. It also provided medicinal potions for their cattle and livestock. Besides, the breeze that blew through the boughs of the tree kept their homes free of bacteria and viruses and cool through the summer.
For centuries Indians planted this tree in the vicinity of their homes and practised gentle and daily interaction with this extraordinary plant. For women, in particular, the Neem proved an invaluable source of health, hygiene and beauty that was freely available. Having a bath with a decoction of neem leaves kept their skin supple and healthy. Neem leaf powder or crushed leaves incorporated into their face packs provided emollient and anti-ageing action. The antiseptic properties of neem leaf extracts helped in controlling pimples and acne.
In some parts of India, it was a regular practice to apply coryllium (lamp black) along the side of the eye, particularly by young ladies as a beauty aid to make eyes conspicuous. The common method employed to make lamp black was to take an earthen lamp and put neem oil and a cotton wick in it. When ignited, the wick liberated copious smoke from which lamp black could be collected, by placing a brass cup containing water for cooling, some distance away from the flame. The lampblack deposit was then scraped from underneath the cup and mixed with a small quantity of mustard oil to form a thick paste called Kaajal.
Neem oil was believed to prevent baldness and greying of hair and was used as anti-lice and anti-dandruff treatment. A teaspoon of dried neem leaf powder, mixed with the same quantity of ghee (clarified butter) and honey was known to help control skin allergies.
A mixture of equal quantities of neem seed powder, rock salt and alum mixed well was used for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Nimba, the great medicine for the cure of pitta - aggravations and for blood purification.
Importance
If you are discovering Neem for the first time, here are some quick amazing Neem facts:
The Neem tree has for a very long time been a friend and protector of the Indian villager. For ages, Indians have trusted this tree to fortify their health and remedy scores of diseases. In addition, it has been used for protecting food and stored grains and as a fertilizer and natural pesticide for the fields. It has been used for a far wider array of uses than any other tree!
The Neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) was probably India's best-kept secret! Ancient India was envied for its Black Pepper, Cardamom, Saffron, Turmeric, Sandalwood, Silk etc. and these prized ingredients were sought after and taken across the seas to Europe for centuries. The British Raj also failed to grasp the significance of the presence of this tree in every nook and corner of India (barring the Himalayas and the coastal regions). Perhaps, if they had known about the wonderful array of uses of the Neem Tree, it would have become a worldwide phenomenon age ago!!
For Indians, the Neem tree had many fascinating aspects. For the children this evergreen, the attractive tree was a haven from sun and rain - they spent hours in its cooling shade, plucked the sweet ripe fruit for a snack and built tree houses, which they shared with butterflies, birds and bees. This tree was the chosen one because its shade is known to be cooler than any other tree's, and also, no bugs or insects are to be found under it because of its repellant action.
For the women, the neem was the mainstay of the herbal beauty tradition. It was also a source of medicine to treat more than a 100 health problems, from scratches and skin rashes to malaria and diabetes. The women also used it to protect their stored grains and pulses through the year.
For the menfolk, the tree provided seeds, leaf and bark which could be converted into fertilizer and pest control material. It also provided medicinal potions for their cattle and livestock. Besides, the breeze that blew through the boughs of the tree kept their homes free of bacteria and viruses and cool through the summer.
For centuries Indians planted this tree in the vicinity of their homes and practised gentle and daily interaction with this extraordinary plant. For women, in particular, the Neem proved an invaluable source of health, hygiene and beauty that was freely available. Having a bath with a decoction of neem leaves kept their skin supple and healthy. Neem leaf powder or crushed leaves incorporated into their face packs provided emollient and anti-ageing action. The antiseptic properties of neem leaf extracts helped in controlling pimples and acne.
In some parts of India, it was a regular practice to apply coryllium (lamp black) along the side of the eye, particularly by young ladies as a beauty aid to make eyes conspicuous. The common method employed to make lamp black was to take an earthen lamp and put neem oil and a cotton wick in it. When ignited, the wick liberated copious smoke from which lamp black could be collected, by placing a brass cup containing water for cooling, some distance away from the flame. The lampblack deposit was then scraped from underneath the cup and mixed with a small quantity of mustard oil to form a thick paste called Kaajal.
Neem oil was believed to prevent baldness and greying of hair and was used as anti-lice and anti-dandruff treatment. A teaspoon of dried neem leaf powder, mixed with the same quantity of ghee (clarified butter) and honey was known to help control skin allergies.
A mixture of equal quantities of neem seed powder, rock salt and alum mixed well was used for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Nimba, the great medicine for the cure of pitta - aggravations and for blood purification.
Importance
If you are discovering Neem for the first time, here are some quick amazing Neem facts:
- the tree is known to cure more than ONE HUNDRED diseases.
- neem is both a pest control material and as well as a fertilizer, making it an invaluable farm companion.
- neem is an intelligent pest repeller - it affects only harmful pests and does not affect useful species in the farm!
- neem has a four-pronged repellant action and complex molecular structure which ensures that pests don't become immune to it. Contemporary Importance.
- it gives more oxygen than other trees, making it a champion pollution fighter.
- just sleeping under the shade of a neem tree is therapeutic.
- the tree is known to halt spreading deserts.
- It's leaf and it's extract are a natural substance that don't simply mask symptoms but encourage your body to heal itself.
- Its completely safe and causes no harm or side-effects. It has been used as a health and beauty aid in India for more than 5000 years!
- It was considered a divine tree by ancient Indians.
- A world conference is held every three years to discuss the research and discoveries modern science is making, on this single tree. And there is lots to show and tell!
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