Health and Medicines

The neem tree in full bloom in Bikaner. Across India the neem tree, and its leaves, bark, flowers, and fruit, are used in traditional medicine, religious ceremonies, and food preparations. Its Latin name is Azadirachta Indica, which is based on the Persian term for this ancient Indian tree: Azad-daracht-e-Hind or free (standing) tree of India.

In Rajasthan it is said that the temperature under a Neem tree is always two or three degrees cooler than in the shade of any other tree. Neem twigs are used for cleaning the teeth and gums, its leaves keep away moths and termite, neem bark paste is used for treating skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, ulcers. Animals eat Neem leaves as fodder in the desert regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat, and the seeds of the fruit are ground to make a natural pesticide.

While Indians have used neem for medicinal purposes in wound healing, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and skin care, US companies appear more interested in obtaining neem patents in the areas of biodiesel production, fertilizers, dental formulations, food packaging, and pharmaceutical compositions. A new study by Dolcera has confirmed that India has indeed lived up to the competitive neem research and development efforts from the West. The study reveals that while the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has the single most neem patents, individuals (41.84%) and private companies (31.63%) hold the majority of neem patents in India. Government institutes (which include CSIR, the Defense Research and Development Organization, and others) hold 26.53% of patents on India’s ancient asset.