Introducing Neem
Neem honey is a popular Ayurvedic (whole body) treatment. You can find it quite easily all around the Indian sub-continent where the Neem trees (Azadirachta indica) are common. It shares most of its health claims with many of the world's quality honeys. It also has a few others which are totally unique. Neem has a natural blend of health properties that are said to work at preventing, treating and even curing common ills. This dark, robust honey is certainly in high demand that's for sure. But can it really be as good as it's claimed to be?
My Notes
As a medicine, people use neem honey to treat the following conditions:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Periodontal infections
- Skin conditions
- Throat infections
- Various allergies.
Neem honey comes from the neem tree, also called the nimtree or Indian Lilac. The tree belongs to the mahogany family (Meliaceae) and is native to the India and the Indian subcontinent. It grows in both tropical and sub-tropical regions which include:
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Sri Lanka
Neem honey has a high price in certain parts of Asia. Because of this, people promote beekeeping by planting plenty of the fast-growing neem trees. The trees are particularly rewarding as a crop because they offer more benefits than just beekeeping. In actual fact, every part of this lucrative tree has a use for something. This includes the bark, wood, twig, kernel, leaf, flower fruit and seed. People use neem in various medicines, for soap making and for pest control among other things. It seems that the uses for this tree are almost endless.
Many of the Indians in India chew neem leaves in the mornings. They say this is to help protect the body from conditions like diabetes and hypertension, to name just two benefits. Indians also use a five ml juice of the neem tree and mix it with the same amount of neem honey. They claim that this reduces discharge from the ears and helps to get rid of inflammation. So popular is the neem tree in India that some refer to it as the village dispensary. They’re not joking either.
The Science Behind Neem
Here's a 1992 study entitled “NEEM A Tree For Solving Global Problems.” If you're into the science, this is a fascinating read and it covers a lot. This paper is by The US National Academy of Sciences.
Summary
There is no shortage of health claims for most of the world's honey's. However, neem honey tends to get a lot of attention because of its source, the neem tree. The plant is like nature's own cure for all kinds of ills, though not all of these are conclusive. Some may even be steeped in folklore and old wives tales. Even so, it's a product that has got the attention of nutritionists and scientists the world over. Research is ongoing, but there's a good chance that the best secrets of this unique honey are yet to be uncovered.