Capsule Neem Chhal

Latin name: Azadirachta Indica
Family: Meliaceae
Common name: Neem, Nimb
English name: Margosa tree

Habitat: it is found throughout the country up to an elevation of 900 m

Macroscopic identification: A moderate sized to fairly large evergreen tree of height 12-15 m, stout trunk and spreading branches, compound and alternate leaves. Fruit is oval in shape yellowish in color.

Parts used: flowers, leaves, bark, seeds and oil, root bark, young fruit, gum.

Pharmacological action:
Root bark and fruit are astringent, tonic and anti periodic.
Bark is bitter, tonic, astringent, anti periodic and vermifuge
Fruit is emollient, purgative and antihelmentic
Oil is local stimulant, insecticide and antiseptic.
Leaves are antihelmentic
Flowers are stimulant, tonic and stomachic
Gum is stimulant and demulcent
Neem also possess anti spirochaetal and emmanogogue properties

Actions and uses in ayurveda: Jvara, aamsotha, vrana, kustha, prameha, netraroga, krimiroga, visaroga, aruci, vranam, chardi.

Indications:

Photochemical: the bark exudes a clean bright amber colored gum which is collected in small trees or fragments. It contains a bitter alkaloid named margosine in long white needles. Leaves contain a small bitter substance of same chemical character but much more soluble in water. Seeds contain 10-30% of a yellow bitter fixed oil which is extracted by boiling. The oil is deep yellow in color and contains free and volatile fatty acids. The volatile fatty acids contain stearic and oleic acid with a small amount of lauric acid.

The sap contains glucose, sucrose, gums and coloring matter, proteids and ashes, containing potassium, iron, aluminium, caslcium and carbon dioxide.

Properties and action:

Rasa: tikta, kashaya
Guna: laghu
Virya: sita
Vipaka: katu
Karma: vatala, pittanashak, grahi
Preparations: powder and decoction

Therapeutic classification index:

Blood and haemopoeitic tissue: it is a blood purifier and hence is used in all skin troubles. It has a marked action on liver
Central nervous system: it is a nervine stimulator and is used in tetanus
Respiratory system:
Digestive system: it is used in loss of appetite, constipation and belching. It is used as a wormicidal in intestinal worms
Reproductive system
Skin: it is used against malaria, intermittent fever and other paroxysmal fevers, convalescence after fever. It is also use din leprosy, psoriasis, eczema etc.
Genito- urinary system: it is used in leucorrhea, primary secondary and tertiary syphilis.
Musculoskeletal system:
Immunity system:.

Neem as an antioxidant:

Campo Alpha Lipoic Acid is derived from Neem Leaves (Azadrichta indica), by in-vacuum fractionation of the amphillic components of the photosynthethic processes of the Neem leaves.A newly recognized, natural, co-vitamin and anti-oxidant nutrient. Alpha Lipoic acid has been called an "ideal antioxidant" by prominent scientists, and it has multiple applications which include:
1) an adjunct to medical therapy,
2) lowering risk factors in preventive medicine,
3) life-extension and general health,
4) sports and physical training; and as
5) as an topical anti-oxidant

Dose: powder 1-3 gms
Capsule Neem Chhal contains pure and concentrated neem chhal.
Dosage: one capsule twice a day.
Package 60 capsules

References:

Prof P.V Sharma, Dravya Guna Vigyana, Vol II, pg 149-151
Dr.KM Nadkarni, The Indian Materia Medica, Vol.I, pg 776-784
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Of India, Part I, Vol.II, pg 124-125