Are Neem Leaves Healthy?
Neem leaves are the ultimate health remedy for a number of conditions. They`re great for treating several ailments such as diabetes, gastrointestinal conditions, and liver conditions.
According to experts, neem leaves contain numerous active healthy ingredients that work to prevent diseases and infections. They are rich in various vitamins such as Vitamin C. They also contain anti-toxic elements and flavonoids.
With their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, neem leaves clearly provide many health benefits. In this article, we`ll be sharing some amazing health benefits of neem leaves. Let’s get talking.
What is Neem?
Also known as Indian lilac, neem is a tree with lots of medicinal properties. Experts refer to neem as a wonder tree because all of its parts are relevant for treating one condition or the other. For instance, its bark is great for treating malaria, ulcers, and fevers; its flowers are used to get rid of intestinal worms; its fruit is used to treat diabetes and hemorrhoids; its twigs are used for treating coughs and maintaining dental health; its juice is great at getting rid of lice; while its leaf cures leprosy and gastrointestinal issues.
8 Health Benefits of Neem Leaves
Contains Antioxidant Properties
Neem leaves contain a rich amount of antioxidant properties like polyphenols. These elements work to prevent tissue and organ damage caused by free radicals in the body. Polyphenols like nimbolide rid your body of all kinds of free radicals.
Additionally, experts posit that adding dried neem leaves to your diet regularly will boost your immunity against pathogens.
These antioxidants contained in neem leaves make it a perfect treatment option for cancers, cirrhosis and other inflammatory conditions.
Combats Diabetes and Hypoglycemia
Making neem leaves a part of your everyday diet will help you regulate your blood sugar levels. This is because neem leaves contain anti-diabetic properties.
This is a good diet option for diabetic patients. Consuming just 250 milligrams of neem leaves in your diet will reduce high glucose levels considerably. The properties in neem leaves work to slow down your body’s glucose metabolism. This reduces the amount of glucose that gets into your bloodstream.
Additionally, neem leaves can increase your body’s insulin level. Its antioxidant properties can accelerate the generation of insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.
Lowers Body Cholesterol
Neem leaves also help to rid your body of bad cholesterol. Its antioxidant properties reduce the amount of triglyceride and creatinine in the body. This ultimately reduces your risk of developing cardiovascular conditions like cardiac arrest and hypertension. It also protects organs like the kidney and pancreas from swelling.
Improves Skin Health
With neem leaves, you don’t have to spend lots of money on artificial skin products. Neem leaves work naturally to keep your skin healthy and attractive.
Its antibacterial properties inhibit skin bacteria like staphylococcus. This prevents skin breakouts like pimples and acne. Little wonder neem leaves are integral properties of anti-acne creams.
You can also apply neem leaves extracts to boils and blisters on your skin. The ancient folks often used decoctions made from neem leaves to treat wounds, eczema, and burns.
Neem leaves also contain antifungal compounds useful in the treatment of bacterial and fungal skin infections.
Protects the Liver
Neem leaves also contain hepatoprotective properties. As a result of these properties, neem leaves can significantly reduce the secretion of liver-inflammatory enzymes in the body.
In addition, neem leaves improve your body’s protein and bilirubin synthesis. High bilirubin and protein levels work to prevent liver damage and other conditions that result from a drug overdose and high toxin levels in the bloodstream.
Improves Dental Health
To pull off a beautiful smile at any time, be sure to make use of neem leaves regularly. The active ingredients in neem leaves such as nimbidin and nimbin are two of the most important components of toothpaste, tooth powders, and mouth wash liquids.
These active ingredients work to get rid of dental fungi and bacteria usually found in the teeth and gum areas. In addition, neem leaves may be useful in the treatment of oral cancers and oral infections. Applying neem leaves and its extracts to your teeth would help to get rid of teeth plaque and gingivitis.
Combats Cancer
Cancer patients are often advised to consume more neem leaves and neem leaves extracts in their diets. This is because neem leaves contain properties that likely inhibit the growth of malignant cells in the body.
Experts suggest that neem leaves have antitumoral phytochemicals that slow down the multiplication of cancerous cells and trigger the death of these cells. In addition, these wonder leaves help to boost the immune system by accelerating the production of white blood cells in the body.
Other chemical properties in neem leaves such as flavonoids and tannins prevent the migration of cancer tumor cells from one part of the body to another.
Clearly, neem leaves have lots of benefits in store for patients of cervical, oral, blood and liver cancers.
Relieves Digestive Issues
With neem leaves, you do not have to struggle with constipation, indigestion and other types of digestive disorders. With its rich amount of antioxidants, neem leaves can provide relief for different types of digestive issues.
These antioxidants also make neem leaves a perfect treatment option for stomach ulcers and gut inflammation.
4 Side Effects of Neem Leaves
Definitely! Like every other thing, there are a few side effects that come with using neem leaves; especially in excessive quantities. Let’s examine a number of them here.
Short Shell Life
Neem leaves and their extracts have a short shelf life, so keeping them for a while may be toxic. Ensure you use them within the specified period
Toxic for Pregnant and Nursing Women
Neem leaves may also be toxic for pregnant and nursing women. It can cause skin allergies, so experts advise that you do a skin patch test before applying neem leaves and its extracts to skin blemishes. Neem leaves may trigger auto-immune diseases due to the presence of properties that make the immune system more active. This is why people suffering auto-immune conditions are advised to stay away from these leaves.
Risk of Infertility
Excessive use of neem leaves may lead to infertility because these leaves contain properties that affect the production of sperm cells. It may also result in extremely low blood sugar levels.
Risk of Infant Mortality
Neem leaves can also cause death in infants, especially if they ingest the oil extract. This may trigger Reye’s syndrome which has no cure and can lead to the death of the infant.
Again, be sure to check in with your local health provider before making use of these wonder leaves in any form.
How to Use Neem Leaves
You can use neem leaves for various purposes. You could ingest neem bark extracts in small quantities over a short period of time. In addition, you can apply neem oil or neem leaves extract gel directly to the surface of your skin as a skin treatment.
For hair treatments, simply add neem leaves extract to your shampoo then rinse your hair with the mixture, thoroughly.
Now that you Know…
Clearly, neem leaves offer a plethora of benefits for your health. It helps you to deal with numerous health conditions as already highlighted. However, be sure to consult your physician before deciding on the best method of usage for this miracle herb.