The Tree of Life

 Provides shade
 Removes harmful gases
 Maintains oxygen balance
 Prevents soil erosion
 Endemic to the Indian sub-continent.
 A tropical, ever-green plant.
 Botanical name: Azadirachta indica
 Common names: Neem tree, Nimtree, Indian
Lilac, Margosa tree, Pride of China, Bead Tree,
Holy Tree.
 Part of the mahogonany family, Meliaceae
 Can grow up to 30m tall and 2.5m in girth.
 Neem is one of the most researched trees, as it is
has been found to be able to solve many global
environmental and health concerns.
 It is a medicinal plant with the ability to treat
over 40 different diseases.
 It is a natural air purifier.
 Helps to improve soil fertility.
 Used in the rehabilitation of degraded
wastelands.
 Used in some hypo-glycaemic drugs
 Soaps
 Toothpastes
 Body lotions
 Face masks
 Used to cure ailing plants and livestock
 As a feed for livestock
 A potent pesticide and insecticide
 Used as natural fertilizer for the soil
 For conditions such as high blood pressure
and diabetes. The neem leaf extracts do this
by dilating blood vessels therefore increasing
blood ciruculation.
 Traditional ayuverdic uses include:
 Generally safe.
 Leaves can be used to make herbal teas.
 However, can become unsafe when taken in large
doses or for long periods of time.
 Generally unsafe for infants and small children.

Side effects include:

 Vomiting, diarrhoea, brain disorders,
drowsiness, coma and even death. These side
effects however, normally occur in infants and
small children hours after drinking the oil.
 Miscarriages in pregnant and lactating
women (the bark and oil).

 May harm sperm and result in infertility.

 May cause the blood sugar to go too low.

 Increased symptoms of auto-immune

diseases such as rheumatoid arthirithis.

 In terms of organ transplants, there is a

concern that neem might decrease the
effectiveness of medications that are used
to prevent organ rejection.