ARE you looking for a simple cure for diseases of the skin, mouth, urinary and gastrointestinal tracts, diabetes, malaria and more?  Then you are, no doubt, looking for neem.

The neem is a shrub-like tree which bears dark green leaves and tiny yellow berries in local circles. It was initially associated with Hindu religious ceremonies, but has now crossed boundaries to assume the reputation of being a much-sought-after herbal remedy that’s affordable and is being sold in abundance in open market places.
Widely used in India, the fruit, seeds, oil, leaves, bark and roots of the neem tree all have amazing medicinal properties.
In many tropical countries, neem leaf is used to treat leprosy, bleeding nose, intestinal worms, diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease), gum disease (gingivitis), liver problems, diabetes, and malaria. It has also been used to induce abortion.
In Guyana, the neem is rapidly growing in popularity as a wonder-working herb used for the treatment of a variety of illnesses that are common to tropical countries. Neem is known to stimulate immune response, and so works well for many viral diseases.
Neem has captured the attention of herbal practitioners and contemporary households, and is now making a big hit in gold and other mineral extracting camps in hinterland Guyana, where it has come to be accepted as a cure for malaria.
Even though well nigh every conceivable part of the tree is used for various purposes in other countries, in Guyana the emphasis is on using the leaves.

FAWCO advice
The Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO) notes that neem has, for centuries, been used in the traditional treatment of malaria. “Components are effective against malaria parasites, and toxic for resistant strains of malaria”, FAWCO has said, adding that these compounds are at least as effective against malaria as quinine and chloroquine.
FAWCO advises that: “Drinking neem teas or chewing a couple of leaves every day reduces the possibility of contracting malaria.”
When neem is used as a tea, or is taken orally for the cleansing of the blood, liver, or other organs, it must first be dried using natural heat (the sun). Once taken for drinking purposes, it is always better to dry or quail the leaves, since the sap from the leaves is so toxic it can have an adverse effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach walls, as well as on the liver.
Therefore, if used for urinary and gastrointestinal tract diseases, viral diseases or diabetes, attempts should be made to remove some of the sap by drying the leaves.
When making a beverage using the leaves of the neem tree, ensure the leaves are washed before being placed in a pot containing water and boiled for a short while.  After boiling, let the leaves stand in the water overnight, then strain, bottle and refrigerate the beverage, or store in a cool, dry place. When using as a tea, add no milk to the brew.
Local herbal practitioners advise against drinking the herb every day, and recommend it be taken daily for about five days per fortnight when used for purging.
If used on the skin (for ulcers), the leaves may be ground, or the neem oil used for rubbing.

When not to use
However, there are dangers associated with the use of neem, and one should know who should guard against what and at what time. Neem is a powerful medicinal herb, and can sometimes have side effects, depending on the amount used and how it is used.  Dried herbs made into teas are quite safe.  However, medical doctors and herbal practitioners have warned that children and pregnant women should not use neem orally – neither in teas nor in the oil. Neither should a woman trying to have a baby ingest neem in any form, since that would be running the risk of having a miscarriage. Herbal practitioners also warn against giving neem to children with fever or viral illnesses.
Additionally, if one is on medication, one should seek the advice of one’s doctor before using the herb.
Bathing with water into which neem leaves have been placed also makes for a refreshed and revived feeling, and is highly recommended at the end of a stressful day. Portions of the bark of the tree or discarded dried leaves can also be thrown into stagnant pools of water where drainage is poor. It works as a natural larvicide for mosquito larvae.