Hailing from the mahogany family of plants, neem is a drought-resistant and fast-growing tree that is cultivated all over the arid zones of Asia, Africa, and Central America.
The oil extracted from the seed kernels of neem has emerged as a natural elixir for the treatment of various skin, hair, and overall health issues. The chief biologically active compound in neem oil is azadirachtin, which is one of the most potent naturally occurring pesticides.The bitter-tasting oil also contains triterpenoid compounds including nimbidin, nimbin, nimbinin, nimbidol, and tannin along with triglycerides, vitamin E, sterols, linoleic acid, healthy fatty acids, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid.
Neem oil has been found effective against a wide spectrum of skin issues, from everyday cosmetic concerns to relatively serious skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, ringworm, and warts. Neem oil is also touted as a natural hair tonic that helps condition, repair and strengthen your hair while keeping your scalp free of dandruff and lice.
* Kills Head LiceHead lice infestation may not be a serious medical concern, but it reflects poorly on your hygiene and can be a source of embarrassment and discomfort.The lice sustain themselves by feeding on human blood several times a day, which causes your scalp to get excessively itchy. The constant urge to scratch that uncontrollable itch can be a nightmare to live with.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of neem oil with 1 tablespoon coconut or olive oil.
- Massage this oil concoction onto the scalp and hair, and leave it on for a minimum period of 1 hour. - Letting it stay overnight yields better results.
- Thereafter, rinse the oil from your hair and scalp by shampooing as usual.
- Even though the lice infestation will most likely be resolved within a week or so, you must continue treating your head with neem oil this way to ensure that all the nits that are hatching are decimated as well.
* Reduces Hair FallNeem oil is a wholesome hair tonic that can improve the quality of your tresses to a great degree if used regularly.
- Dilute 3 drops of neem oil by mixing it with 2 teaspoons of a bland carrier oil such as jojoba oil or grapeseed oil. You can also add 3 drops of tea tree oil, lavender oil, or any other essential oil of your liking.
- Give yourself a nice head massage with this oil mix on a daily basis to rejuvenate your brittle, lifeless hair, and to make your scalp healthy.
* Treats AcneNeem oil packs quite a lot of potential as a natural skin care agent, due to its inherent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This is particularly true in the case of acne breakouts, which usually have a bacterial foundation.
- Mix 6 drops of neem oil with 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil of your choosing, such as hemp seed oil, sunflower oil, prickly pear seed oil, safflower oil, or black cumin seed oil.
- Use this oil mix to moisturize your acne-ridden skin by applying it to your face.
- Let the oil sit on your skin for some time so that it gets adequately absorbed.
- Then, rinse your face gently and pat it dry.
- Include this remedy in your daily skin care routine.
* Fights Premature Skin AgingEnriched with essential fatty acids (EFAs), triglycerides, vitamin E, and calcium, neem oil is regarded as one of the best skin-protective, skin-healing, and anti-aging oils there is.
- Pour 15 g of pure neem oil, 225 g of organic jojoba oil, and 4-5 drops of pure lavender essential oil in a small cosmetic container or bottle.
- Shake the container well so that all the ingredients are blended together.
- Apply this oil mix to your skin to moisturize it from within.
* Heals Cuts and BruisesNeem oil is known to accelerate skin healing of a wide range of wounds, including cuts, bruises, lacerations, and burns. When the surface layer of the skin gets compromised, applying this antimicrobial oil provides a protective cover against bacteria and other microorganisms that can infect the wound or lesion.
- Mix neem oil with Vaseline or a carrier oil in a ratio of 1:5.
- Apply the remedial preparation to the affected skin.