The Healing Benefits of Neem in Ayurveda

Ongoing research is validating what Ayurvedic practitioners have known for millennia, that Neem is a dynamic plant which can help treat a variety of health problems, while enhancing overall well-being.

Ayurveda is a holistic system indigenous to India and practised worldwide. The word Ayurveda is a Sanskrit term meaning “science of life.” Ayu means “life” or “daily living”, and Veda is “knowing”.

Ayurveda was first recorded in the Vedas – which are ancient Hindu scriptures. Widely practised in India, this holistic health approach encompasses the most successful medical system in the world and has been practised in daily life in India for more than 5,000 years. Ayurveda treatment involves the whole body, mind, and spirit with a focus on the cause of health disorders.

Yoga, meditation, and botanical medicine are all valuable parts of the Ayurvedic approach. One plant that is essential to Ayurvedic practice is the Neem tree, named “Arista” in Sanskrit. With its 4,500 year history, “Arista” means perfect, complete, and imperishable. The Neem tree is also known as “sarva roga nivarin” meaning healer of all ailments and “The Village Pharmacy” in India.

About the author:

As one of the few North Americans researching Neem medicine since 1994, I have authored over 95 educational articles about health, healing, herbs and nutrition. These include 23 articles about the miraculous and versatile Neem tree from India that works to improve plant, human, animal and environmental health.

I am also the author of three Neem books:

  • Award-winning book “Neem: Nature’s Healing Gift to Humanity,” originally published in 2015, revised third edition published 2025.
  • “Neem: The Tree that heals Nations” and
  • “Neem: Your Guide to Natural Health and Beauty” https://www.neem-books.com

I am also one of 14 core-founding members who established the WNO – World Neem Organisation, in Mumbai, India, in 2017. Other founding members were from Africa, Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East. I represented North America, United Kingdom, Germany and the Scandinavian countries. As well, I attended three Neem Conferences in India as a speaker:

The strongest supporters of my Neem research and books include: Dr. David Suzuki: I viewed his video “What’s in a Neem” at the CBC program “The Nature of Things” in January 1994 and I have been in touch with him since 1995. Two other supporters include world renowned entomologists, scientists, and neem researchers Dr. Ramesh Saxena from India, and Professor Dr. Heinrich Schmutterer. Dr. Schmutterer, who hails from Germany, is known as “The father of Modern Neem”, and he is editor of the book “The Neem Tree ” second edition published in 2002.

Why Neem was Named Tree of the 21st Century by the UN

For thousands of years, humans have sought to fortify their health and cure various ills with herbal remedies. The World Health Organization claims on their website that 80% of the world’s population are still using herbs and herbal remedies for health problems! The search for the true panacea, or cure-all, has been undertaken by virtually every civilization.

Every part of this fascinating tree – bark, cake, fruit, flowers honey, and roots has been used since ancient times to treat hundreds of maladies

Perhaps no other botanical plant better meets the true definition of a panacea than the Neem tree, a tropical evergreen belonging to the mahogany family and native to India and Myanmar (Burma). Every part of this fascinating tree – bark, cake, fruit, flowers honey, gum, leaves, seed oil, twigs, pulp, resins and roots has been used since ancient times to treat hundreds of maladies.  While other herbs such as ginseng are better known, comprehensive research has proven that Neem has a wider array of uses than any other plant on Earth! While it has always been revered in India, there has been a dramatic increase in worldwide interest in Neem recently.

As a result, new herbal products are being manufactured, promoted, and distributed around the globe. Large corporations have been jumping on the bandwagon offering many kinds of Ayurvedic herbal medicinal Neem products (make sure to read the labels and check for toxic chemicals). These include: Colgate, Costco, Wholefoods Market, WalMart, Now Foods, New Roots Herbal, Sundari, Nature’s Way, L’Oreal, Garnier / Paris, Avon / UK, A.Vogel / UK, Dr. Hauschka / Germany, and Shiseido / Japan. Furthermore, you will find huge numbers of companies selling Ayurvedic herbal neem products on Amazon and Alibaba!

The first recorded use of Neem was several thousand years ago, as ancient Indian cultures used it as an integral part of dozens of health and beauty aids. In fact, 75% of all Ayurvedic herbal products contain Neem, and medicinal attributes of Neem were extolled in the oldest Sanskrit writing.

The following health problems have been treated successfully with Neem using the Ayurvedic approach:

  • skin conditions, hair and nails, teeth and gums, minor skin abrasions
  • fungi, parasites, viruses, health disorders such as Aids, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, chronic fatigue
  • works as a non-toxic insecticide, non-toxic insect repellent, soil enhancer, air purifier

Ongoing research is validating what Ayurvedic practitioners have known for millennia, that Neem is a dynamic and useful plant which can help treat a huge variety of health problems, while enhancing overall well-being.

Neem Boosts the Immune System

Neem acts as antiviral, anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, analgesic, anti-helmetic, anti-emetic, anti-arthritic, anti-gastric, anti-carcinogenic, anti-anxiety, and antioxidant (free radicals).

Neem works to boost the immune system on all levels while helping the body fight infections. Unlike synthetic antibiotics, Neem does not destroy beneficial bacteria and other micro-organism needed to maintain optimum health. Some medical experts believe that the overuse of chemical antibiotics is contributing to the breakdown of the human immune system. Neem offers a non-toxic, zero-harm alternative to powerful and sometimes damaging prescription medicines and their side effects!

Numerous active compounds have been isolated from the neem plant. Some of the most studied include: gedunin, sodium, nimbinate, salannin, nimbin, azadirachtin, nimbidiol, quercetin, and nimbidin. Neem leaves contain fibre, carbohydrates and at least ten amino acid proteins. They also contain calcium and other nourishing minerals.

Klaus Ferlow hugging for the first time a neem tree at the Neem Research & Technology Development Center, Village Gondkhairy, North of Nagpur , India

Ecological Benefits

The tree helps prevent environmental pollution and soil erosion, and works to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems and wastelands. Neem trees are recommended for reforestation, are useful for wind breaks, in areas of low rainfall (grows even in the desert), and high speed wind, protects  crops. It can also be made into non-toxic pesticide and fertilizer and can be used as a veterinary medicine.

Cleared Up My Psoriasis

My own experience with Neem for psoriasis has been nothing short of a miracle. I suffered for more than 40 years with severe psoriasis on my scalp and elbows. However, when I started using the herbal neem care products we created (Neem cream, shampoo, conditioner, soap, oil blend) and I alleviated the problem but it is not a cure and need to maintain using the neem products! Question: Which product has been the bestseller?
>
Conclusion:
Of all the plants that have proven useful to humans throughout the ages, few have offered as much value and versatility as the neem tree. With growing research supporting the benefits and healing properties, Neem is finally getting the attention it deserves!
>
Words of Wisdom
It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.  Mahatma Gandhi, India

Nature gives us energy we need to protect and maintain our health.  Alfred Vogel, Switzerland

> References:
>
> https://neemresearch.ca, www.worldneemorganisation.org

[1] www.neemfoundation.org

[2] https://neem.world, neempedia.com

[3] neem-products.com

[4] https://www.discoverneem.com , neemresearch.ca/, neemresearch.ca/neem-oil-a-sacred-oil-from-india
https://www.ferlowbotanicals.com, book” THE NEEM TREE” second edition,
> edited by Prof. Dr. Heinrich Schmutterer, 893 pages, published 2002
> Neem Foundation, Mumbai, India.
>
> Klaus Ferlow, Master Herbalist, (HMH) www.doninionherbalcollege.com


> [5], Herbal Advocate (HA), https://bcherbalists.ca, author, educator,
> formulator, lecturer, researcher, writer, founder of Ferlow Botanicals & Neem Research, co-author of the book
> “7stepstodentalhealth”, author of the books “Neem: Nature’s Healing Gift to Humanity,” “Neem: The Tree that heals Nations,” “Neem: Your Guide to Natural Health and Beauty”

>
> disclaimer: the content of this article is for educational purpose
> only and should not be used for the diagnose and or treatment or cure
> of disease, please contact your health care practitioner
copyright 04/2025
>

Klaus Ferlow can be reached at: klausferlow1@gmail.com For information on his over 30 years of experience in the natural health products industry, visit: neemresearch.ca/klaus-ferlow-curriculum-vitae www.neemresearch.ca and www.worldneemorganisation.org

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked*

Recent Posts

Natural Health Product Protection Assn Calls on Federal Politicians to Protect Canadians’ Health Rights

Ottawa, ON — On April 28th, Canada is facing the most important federal election in… Read More

2 weeks ago

4RBEES Uses Tesla-inspired “Quantum Field” Technology to Save Bee Populations Globally

At 4RBEES, we're proud to announce significant progress toward our global mission, encapsulated by our… Read More

2 weeks ago

Can Nikola Tesla’s Lost Technologies Heal Humanity?

The great architect of the Universe works in very strange ways. Only Edgar Cayce could… Read More

2 weeks ago

A Tale of Two Books: The Transcendence and Tripping the Allegory Fantastic

THE TRANSCENDENCE  Author: Mara Recalis Publisher: FriesenPress Date of Publication: May 9, 2022 Genres: Fiction,… Read More

3 weeks ago

Get the Lead and Mercury Out: Detox Heavy Metals with Minerals and More

(Originally published in 2018; Updated in 2025) In the mid-1990s, I embarked upon a personal… Read More

4 weeks ago

Debunking the Cholesterol Myth – Can Higher Levels Actually Mean Greater Longevity?

“About a decade ago, cardiologist Stephen Sinatra, M.D., and I [Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS) came… Read More

1 month ago

This website uses cookies.

Read More