Neem - Herbal Treatments

Neem - Azadirachta indica Native to India, Sri Lanka, and Burma, but now grown in many tropical areas.

Common names:
Sanskrit: nimba, Sarva Roga Nirvani (curer of all ailments), margosa, margousier, nimbaum, neembaum, nem, bead tree, pride of China, nim, holy tree, indiar, lilac tree.

Parts Used:
Root bark, bark, and seed (or nut) are most commonly used, but also fruit, leaves, juice, nut oil, and flowers.

Traditional Uses:

* Use for external parasites, wound healing, skin and dental infections, possibly diabetes.

* The bark, leaves, and seeds are used for a large number of conditions in farm animals. The poultry uses are diarrhea, wounds, tick & lice. Neem has antifeedant, antifecundity, sterilization and growth effects on insects. Various parts of neem tree and its constituents have demonstrated repellent or larvicidal activity against biting midges and mosquitoes. At very high doses it is very effective, but at lower levels it has some inhibiting effects.

* Neem has some positive immune effects. Powdered neem leaves were fed to a flock of broiler chickens that had survived an outbreak of infectious bursal disease. Also a dose of 2g/kg appears to enhance antibody titers against Newcastle's disease antigen.

* Neem twigs have traditionally been used in India for cleaning teeth (not much use for chooks there ).

* Neem is valued for external conditions like wounds, ulcers, eczema, ringworm vulvovaginitis, and leprosy. For these leaf preparations are applied topically. An extract of neem appears effective as a spermicidal contraceptive in humans, primates and rabbits.

* Taken orally for the treatment of those with malaria, fever and intestinal worms.

* Used externally for lice in both people and animals.

* Neem seed oil is most commonly used externally as a stimulant (for rheumatism and some skin problems), and the leaf and bark are usually taken internally.

* Lab studies suggest that neem may improve glucose control. In stressed and normoglycemic dogs a 50% w/v aqueous leaf extract given at 0.15mg/kg intravenously led to a significant decrease in blood glucose levels.

Selected Constituents:
Limonoid triterpenes (including azadirachtin, salannin, nimbin, gedunin), flavonoids, tannins, fixed oil.

General External Use
Dried neem leaf: add 1 cup leaf to 1L of water, and bring to low simmer for 5 min; cool and use as topical spray.
For managing fleas and ticks, clinical experience suggests that Neem spray should be applied every few days.

Dosage for Small Animals:
Dried leaf: 25-50mg/kg, divided daily
Infusion: 5g per cup of water, administered at a rate of 1/4 - 1/2 cup per 10kg, divided daily (optimally 3 times a day)
Tincture (usually 50%-80% ethanol; higher alcohol preparations are more potent) 1:2; 0.25-0.5 mL per 10kg, divided daily and diluted or combined with other herbs.

Clinical Actions:
Antibacterial, antifungal, bitter tonic, insecticidal (antifeedant), anthelmintic, antimalarial, astringent, antifertility, vulnerary (wound treatment).

Toxicity Information:

High doses can lead to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Experimental studies have shown lung, liver, and kidney toxicity when animals are fed high doses. Long-term use has been reported to result in anemia, weakness, loss of appetite, and weight loss. High-dose toxic effects (probably of the oil) have been listed as convulsions, respiratory distress, stupor, coma, death, metabolic acidosis, and seizures.

Contraindications:

Pregnancy, lactation and possibly hypoglycemia

Drug Interactions:

May have additive effects with insulin and oral glycemics.

Source: Wynn, S.G. & Fougere, B.J. (2007) Veterinary Herbal Medicine. Mosby Elsevier. Sydney

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