Neem oil is cold pressed from the seeds of neem tree (azadica indica), which grows in India. It has a pungent aroma and a bitter taste. The medicinal properties of the neem tree have been well known to the people of India and Pakistan for thousands of years, although it is little known in the west.

Neem has broad applications to human and animal health, as well as organic farming. Neem is a powerful antiviral and antibacterial. But, it possesses unique qualities that set it apart from other herbs in the class of broad antimicrobials.

Perhaps, its most common use in India is in dental applications. There it is sometimes called “the toothbrush tree,” because it is common for people to pull a twig off of the neem tree, chew the end to form “bristles” and use the twig as a highly effective toothbrush. In the west, neem is added to toothpaste. Although, it tastes as bad as it smells, a small dab of neem oil on sore or injured gums can heal them almost over night.

Neem oil is also commonly added to a variety of creams and salves. It is effective against a broad spectrum of skin diseases including eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, wrinkles, rashes and dandruff. A few drops can be added to hand healing salves and shampoo.

One of the most interesting uses for neem oil is as a birth control method for men. A study was conducted using married Indian soldiers. Several drops of neem oil were placed in a capsule and swallowed by the soldiers once per day. The neem oil did not take effect until after three months, but the results were 100% effective in preventing contraception with no side effects.

It has also been shown to be effective as a powerful spermicide. Neem oil is an ingredient in some natural spermicidal products. Neem does not work on the hormones, but rather it works to inhibit the flagellation of the sperm, rendering them incapable of reaching an ovum.

Neem oil is highly effective as a mosquito repellent. Because of its unpleasant smell, it is best when it is added to a formula with other essential oils, such as citronella.

Neem oil is an effective and environmentally safe pesticide when it is diluted and sprayed on crops through irrigation systems. It is a healthier alternative to artificial chemical pesticides. Neem oil does not harm the soil and it increases yields.

A comprehensive book on the subject, entitled Neem, The Ultimate Herb, by John Conrick, provides more information about the grades of neem oil available, how it is processed and more applications.

Neem oil has a low toxicity level in humans, however, prolonged oral use is reputed to lead to the possibility of liver damage or infertility. Otherwise, it has few contraindications.

Neem oil, which is very biodegradable, is also being currently being considered as a bio-diesel alternative in India.

I came across this charming albeit uninformative video, but it got me curious about oil pulling. I never heard of it so after a little research, I found opinions split about 50/50 whether it is effective at all.

Oil pulling is part of the Ayurvedic tradition of holistic medicine. Basically, you gargle with oil three times a day. It’s called pulling because you need to pull it through your teeth. There are a few theories on the way that oil pulling works. Some say that the movement massages and stimulates the sublingual muscles to excrete toxins stored up in the body. Others say that the production of saliva is the catalyst for the body to excrete toxins.

The type of oil is also something to keep in mind. Sunflower and sesame seed are the recommended oils to use. Cold pressed oils are the highly desirable, refined oils are required.

Oil pulling has been purported to effectively treat gingivitis and whiten teeth. Also skin conditions such as eczema and acne have been reported to improve after sustained use. Reports of lowered blood pressure, cholesterol, and even diminished migraines have been attributed to the practice of oil pulling.

The procedure is quite simple. Take a tablespoon of oil into the mouth on an empty stomach. Swish the oil in your mouth much as you would mouthwash being careful not to swallow the oil. Swallowing a minute amount is not a problem.

Pull the oil through your teeth as well as chomping and moving your jaws in a biting motion. The oil will change in consistency from thick and yellow to thin and foamy. This is because your saliva is mixing with the oil bringing with it toxins being excreted through the tongue.

Swirl and pull the oil through your teeth for 15-20 minutes. At the end of the session spit the pulled oil into the sink or toilet. If you discard the oil in the sink be sure to clean the sink with an antibacterial wipe or soap.

Rinse your mouth with warm water and brush your teeth as normal. You will notice that after a few weeks of this your tongue will become pinker and healthier looking. Your teeth will be whiter and your breath will improve.

Remember this is not a race and you will not get any benefit from rushing. Some say that tilting your head back while oil pulling will ensure that oil is getting all the way to the back of the molars, but this is an advanced technique so don’t try it if you’re just starting out.

It is recommended that you wait an additional 10 minutes before you eat a meal. You may practice oil pulling 3 to 4 times a day if desired making sure to do so on an empty stomach each time.

The primary precaution with oil pulling is to do it on an empty stomach. You run the risk of vomiting if you oil pull after eating. The best time to oil pull is in the morning, after you brush your teeth, but before breakfast.

Being careful not to swallow the oil after pulling is another precaution. After the oil is pulled through your teeth, it will contain toxins extracted from the body. If you do happen to swallow the oil it will be passed through the system.

If symptoms worsen discontinue oil pulling for a week or two and then resume the practice. Some people have very sensitive systems and because of individual physiology may not be able to oil pull. If you notice that symptoms are not subsiding then discontinue permanently.

Reference: Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing

No matter what imbalance you have, in Ayurveda there is a way to restore your body to health. Ayurveda offers natural alternatives to conventional medicines and treatments by using herbs and naturally available substances for treatment.

Here are some remedies for common complaints –

• For acne, grind dried orange peels and make a paste with water. Use this over the affected areas to obtain great results.
• If you suffer from arthritis, vegetable juices will do you good. Carrots, cucumbers, pumpkins and beetroots are excellent.
• Apart from ice packs for back aches, a mixture of ginger juice and honey can be very helpful. Boil ginger in water and strain this solution. Once it cools down, mix it with honey and drink it.
• Ginger also helps keep your cholesterol levels balanced. Include ginger in your daily diet. The flavor does not appeal to everybody, so cook it with your food, even if in small quantities.
• Cold and cough are probably the most common ailments. There are many remedies to ease the discomfort and help fight the infection. Common spices like ginger, cloves and black pepper are most effective. Pepper provides instant relief for dry coughs and congested chests.
• For any kind of cold, cough or congestion, make herbal tea. Boil water for your tea along with ginger pieces, a few cloves, cardamom and powdered black pepper. Add basil leaves to the mixture if you can get hold of some. Strain this water after letting it boil for about 10 minutes. Dip your tea bag and sip this for instant relief. This is a spicy mixture, so milk and sugar can be added to make it mild.
• For another quick relief remedy, extract ginger juice and mix it with honey. Take one spoon of this three times a day.
• For little kids, rubbing a little brandy on their chest when they have a cold will help.
• For external injuries, mix a spoon of turmeric in a glass of milk and drink it. It helps the wounds heal faster.
• For dehydration, mix 4-5 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of salt in a bottle of lukewarm water and drink this frequently.
• For anemia, cook your food in iron vessels and include spinach and other greens in your food.
• Fenugreek seeds work like magic for diabetes. Swallow a spoon of ground fenugreek seeds with water in the mornings.

If you are unfamiliar with Ayurveda, it may seem mystical to you at first; however, it is based on thousands of years of practice. The names of the herbs may sound unfamiliar, but they are not hard to find and give you a concrete way to take charge of your health.

Related Article: Ayurveda For Beauty

The science o Ayurveda aims for holistic health – well being of  the body, the mind and the soul. For a person to be healthy, it is important to get in touch with one’s inner self, one’s spirit. Meditation is about looking into yourself, about realizing who you are and focusing on the positive aspects of life. Many times, we are distracted from what we should really be doing. Our mind wanders and we are not at peace with ourselves.

Meditation has nothing to do with religion. It is a well tested method of improving concentration, practicing self control and focusing energy away from negativity. Meditation fills one with a feeling of well being. It is said that most of the illness and the pain is in the mind. When you focus away from it, it’s not so bad any more. The more thought you give it, the more it’s going to hurt. This goes for physical and emotional pains, both. Everybody has low phases in life but the idea is to find a way to beat it.

Stress is one bane that modern life has brought with it and it is not something you can leave out of the package. As life gets hectic and more competitive by the day, stress levels are on an increase everywhere. People resort to relaxing massages, gym sessions, and jogs etc to distress. Yoga and meditation happen to be one of the most popular retreats.

It seems and sounds unbelievably difficult to sit in one position for a long time. Those who do try it find themselves calculating their electricity bill or working out the next meeting as soon as they close their eyes. All it takes is power of will; and if you lack that, meditation will help you gain it anyway.

There are many simple methods of meditation and focusing and once you get to it, it is the most enjoyable, relaxing and looked forward to event of the day. It makes you realize you don’t have to get worked up about things you usually do, and your attention span increases many times. To start off, you could try sitting outdoors with your eyes closed and thinking about something you like.

Random thoughts will cross your mind. Let them. They will go away when you don’t try to push them away too hard. If you find it difficult to focus on something you like or something beautiful, focus on your breath and try to slow it down as much as possible. Or, if you feel it might help you better, join a meditation class.

The legend of the beginning of ayurvedic medicine is that the one creator, Brahma, taught the theories and practices to one of the animal lords, who taught it to the Asvins — the divine twins. They taught this to the chief of the shining ones, called Indra. These were the deities of ancient verdict times.

As mankind fell victim and suffered from ailments and disease the wise men went to Indra and were taught the ancient remedies and healing cures. This is the knowledge of medicine, which is divided into 8 separate branches of the divine tree.

Kaya chikitsa is the medicine of the internal organs and workings of the body;
Baala is the study of the medicine needed in order to heal children;
Urdhvanga is the original study of the ears, nose and throat (as well as dentistry.)
All surgery, including plastic surgery, is called Salya;
The study of toxicology-stemming originally from the poison extracted from bug bites-is Danstra.
The study of what we now know as Alzheimer’s and other diseases of the age advanced is called Rasayana
The study of pregnancy and gyneocology is Prasuti;
The study of mental illness and demon possession is the treatment called Graha.

The belief is that there are three elements in/of the body which cause disease. These are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha. We will talk about each one in turn.

Vata: We are all made up of space and air, with some light, water, and earth thrown in. Vata transmits perceptions to the mind and body and maintains the body’s natural balance. If this energy which is used to transmit so much of the outside world to our inner selves becomes imbalanced, disease sets in.

Pitta: This is the energy responsible for vision, digestion, heat, hunger and thirst, happiness and intelligence. When this element is out of alignment, it results in depression, weight gain or loss, dehydration, apathy, and digestive problems.

Kapha disease is the result of lack of conserving and stabilizing the body, we commonly call them viruses or “bugs.”

All disease is called Vyaadhi. It is the state of the being when we are full of discomfort or pain, but while all are caused by an imbalance in one of the three elements, they are treated according to the classification of the trauma:

• Adhyatmika: physical and constitutional (physical injury, hereditary, and pre-disposition)
• Adhibhautika: contributed to environment (allergies, etc.)
• Aadhidaivika: contributed to gods or spirits (demons. mental imbalances)

So how does Ayurvedic treatment differ from modern medicine? Practitioners of ayurvedic medicine believe that although antibiotics have their uses (take into consideration post surgery antibiotics to edge out infection or post transplant antibiotics which if not taken will surely cause certain death) ayurvedic doctors would rather see the balance of the body resume as quickly as possible. The drugs used in ayurveda are derived from vegetables and minerals, with plant alkaloids as the active ingredients.

While western medicine relies on this basic principle, the derivatives are often chemically rather than naturally based. Before you study up on this medicine further and decide to grow your own medicinal herbs, be forewarned that where the plants grow have everything to do with their potency and ability to fight infection. You absolutely must have the right balance of alkaline and acid in your soil, as well as stringent water and light conditions.

Some of the remedies might surprise you, as they are virtually the same as Grandma used. The Ayurvedic remedy for a hacking cough? Equal parts honey and the juice from a baked lemon. Grandma probably didn’t know to bake the lemon to increase the acidity, but you get the point.