Neem is a tree belonging to the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is native to tropical and semi-tropical regions such as India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Pakistan. The plant has been used for thousands of years in India for a wide variety of medicinal purposes. Anthelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, contraceptive, and sedative properties are all purported to be derived from neem.

Test tube and animal research has demonstrated the neem plant’s anti-cancer activities against multiple cancers. At least 56 recent studies (warning, it’s a PDF) about the plant document these actions. Neem has few side effects, low cost, and easy availability, giving it the potential for worldwide use against the disease.

Neem has multiple active compounds that simultaneously work against cancer in different ways. Neem has been shown to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death). Apoptosis has the added benefit of leaving fragments of cancer cells intact, enabling the immune system more opportunity to learn to identify and mount a response against the cancer. Neem has been shown to significantly increase levels of antioxidants including glutathione, which detoxifies carcinogenic material. Neem, or its isolated compounds, has shown effectiveness against cancer in a number of human cancer cell lines or in animal models of human cancers including colon, stomach, Ehrlich’s carcinoma, lung, liver, skin, oral, prostate, and breast cancers.

Neem has demonstrated pretreatment ability in an animal study that reduced chemically induced tumors in mice by up to 87%. Two animal studies have also demonstrated neem’s ability to reduce side effects of chemotherapy.

Neem does have a short list of rare contraindications. The nursing, the pregnant, and children should not take neem. Neem oil is not used internally. Neem leaf or bark is usually used internally. People with autoimmune diseases or who are taking immunosuppressive drugs should not take neem. Insulin-dependent diabetics as well as those with hypoglycemia must monitor their blood sugar carefully while taking neem. Do not give to children under 100 pounds who have a fever or have been exposed to a fever-causing illness, as neem may increase the rink of Reyes syndrome. Follow directions on the bottle and consider working up the dosage slowly.

There is also some evidence that neem derivatives can kill approximately 500 different pests, including insects, mites, ticks, and nematodes. Neem does not kill pests right away, but rather interferes with their behavior and physiology and causes pests to stop eating the plants. The pests eventually starve to death on their own, leaving the plant unharmed. Amazingly, neem is said to be non-toxic to other animals and most beneficial insects. This gives potential to reduce the use of toxic chemical insecticides.

More info:
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Disclaimer: This article does not contain any medical advice. This website contains opinion and is for informational purposes only. If seeking medical advice, consult a licensed physician.

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