Ayurveda refers to neem oil as "Sarva Roga Nivarini", which means curer of all diseases. You can find several products with neem extracts in the market. But do you know that essential oil is much more concentrated and potent than extracts? In this article, we will explore the various benefits of having neem oil at your home.
Not just humans—neem oil can promote the health and well-being of your pets and plants too. We have also curated a list of the ten best neem oil and neem oil products in the market from top brands like Morpheme Remedies, Parachute, TRIXIE, and more. Keep reading!
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Table of Contents
Get acquainted with the various benefits of neem oil from the sections below. You will learn about the benefits of using pure neem oil and products that contain the same for various purposes like promoting skin and hair health, repelling insects, and many more.
Apply a small amount using a cotton ball or your finger on the affected area and wash it off after 30 minutes or leave it overnight. Neem oil's rich fatty acid content, antioxidants, and antimicrobial action make it a popular wound healer too. Non-healing ulcerous wounds, extremely cracked and bleeding heels, and even surgical wounds can be healed using neem oil.
We recommend buying pure cold-pressed neem oil and preparing your own mixture using a carrier oil. This will allow you to experiment with various concentrations and come up with the most potent blend suitable for your skin. If you don't prefer leaving your skin oily, try a skin cream or lotion that uses neem oil as the main ingredient.
Have you been suffering from dandruff or head lice? Neem oil is mostly sought after for its ability to control dandruff and eliminate lice and nits (lice eggs). Its antifungal properties are effective against Candida and Malassezia, the fungi that cause dandruff. You will also get relief from the inflammation and itchiness associated with the condition.
Neem oil contains a compound called azadirachtin, known for its ability to kill lice by disturbing their growth and reproduction. There are anti-lice hair oils and shampoos available in the market, with neem oil as the key ingredient. If you cannot find one, just add 8 - 10 drops of pure neem oil to a dollop of shampoo and lather your hair with it. Wash off after 3 minutes and comb down the dead lice and nits.
Leave the shampoo on your hair longer if you don't see the desired results. You can make your own mixture using neem oil and a carrier oil for your hair too. But for those who want readymade products, you can find many in the market that combine popular herbs and oils like bhringraj, hibiscus petals, amla, brahmi oil, rosemary oil, etc., that can improve your hair and scalp health dramatically.
The same compound that kills lice makes neem oil an effective insect repellent too. Neem oil has a pungent smell, which is not at all pleasing. You can mix it with coconut oil and apply it to the exposed parts of your body. If you are allergic to neem oil, go for an insect repellent fabric roll-on with neem oil as the main ingredient since insects cannot develop resistance against it.
Make sure that your insect repellent doesn't contain N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET). It is the active ingredient in many insect repellents. It can cause skin irritation, rashes, and redness. If accidentally ingested, DEET can cause stomach upset and vomiting, which makes it unsafe to be kept around kids. Insects can develop resistance against DEET, which will make it ineffective in the long run.
You must have guessed already how neem oil can protect plants from pests. Yes, it's the azadirachtin. But do you know how to use it? Neem oil shouldn't be sprayed on plants directly. We could understand from our research that many people add neem oil to water to prepare plant spray. This is not a good practice either. Oils don't mix with water.
Spraying this mixture on plants will leave it unevenly distributed, with some areas getting overdosed with neem oil. This will cause the leaves to burn. To get the maximum benefits with no harm to the plants, use an emulsion of liquid soap, water, and neem oil. Readymade emulsions are also available in the market. You may choose one with a sprayer for gardens or jumbo packs of 1 liter and more for farms.
If you choose to buy pure neem oil for preparing the emulsion by yourself, go for one that comes with a measuring cup. This will ensure that you don't end up using too much. Even neem oil emulsion can cause foliage burn, but only if you keep the plants in direct sunlight after spraying. If your plants are on the ground, the best time to spray is early morning or evening.
There is a study that suggests that neem can have a blood sugar lowering effect on diabetic animals. A general rule of thumb is to mix 1 part neem oil with 10 parts of a dog-friendly carrier oil. Do a patch test to check if your dog is allergic to it. But again, we recommend checking with your vet first.
The fatty acids and vitamin E content of neem oil can make your dog's coat healthy and shiny. There are coat sprays, shampoos, pet soaps, and cleansers with neem oil for this purpose.
₹299.00
Morpheme Remedies Organic Neem Oil is extracted through cold pressing—a method that retains the maximum flavor, aroma, and nutritional value. Since it's organic, you don't have to worry about the presence of any chemicals (from pesticides) either. Remember, pure neem oil is extremely potent. You may use a cotton ball to dab undiluted neem oil on acne, warts, ringworm, etc.
But for skin conditions like eczema, promoting hair growth, and eliminating dandruff, it is best to dilute it with a carrier oil, for example, coconut oil. The oil comes in a dark-colored pump bottle, which reduces the oil's exposure to air and sunlight, increasing its shelf life as a result.
Customer reviews mostly talk about the product's effectiveness in improving skin conditions, reducing hair fall and fungal infections, and improving fine lines and wrinkles.
₹313.00
Urban yog Neem oil is a mixture of several ingredients beneficial for both hair and skin. Since it is not pure oil, there is no need for diluting it with any other carrier oil. Oils of amla, neem, sesame, fenugreek, walnut, brahmi, almond, and herbs like hibiscus petals, cuscus grass, shankhupushpi, and nagarmotha are the main ingredients.
People suffering from an itchy scalp due to dandruff and lice will find this oil to be effective. Ingredients like brahmi oil, nagarmotha, and hibiscus are known for their anti-inflammatory and skin-lightening properties, which can soothe acne and eczema and improve post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
The product comes in a transparent pump bottle, so we recommend keeping away from sunlight as oils could go rancid from oxidation. Customers who used this product are reporting improved hair texture and are happy about its non-sticky nature.
₹583.00
Morpheme Remedies Anti-Dandruff Oil does more than just eliminate dandruff. The combination of pure oils like rosemary, bringhraj, olive, neem, castor, tea tree, and sesame nourishes your hair and works to restore volume and natural color. Tea tree oil (has a higher skin penetration rate) and neem oil help to eliminate dandruff, reduce inflammation and moisturize the scalp.
The ability of rosemary oil to increase blood circulation reduces hair fall and improves hair growth. Rich in vitamin E and omega-6, 9 fatty acids, olive oil, and castor oil strengthens the hair roots and shafts and keeps your scalp healthy. Morpheme Remedies recommend regular usage for best results.
₹89.00
Hair oils require you to leave them on for at least 30 minutes or overnight for maximum benefits. If you find it inconvenient, try using Parachute Advansed Anti-Dandruff hair cream. Make sure to apply from root to tips, so the lemon oil and neem oil present in it can unclog hair follicles and prevent the reoccurrence of dandruff.
Dandruff can also cause inflammation of the scalp. The tea tree oil present in this hair cream will help reduce the inflammation and the associated itchiness. Customer reviews show that the product is non-sticky and gives excellent results without making the hair too oily.
₹140.00
You already know about neem oil's acne-fighting properties. But if the greasiness that oils and creams leave is keeping you away, try KHADI NATURAL pure neem soap. Other than neem oil, the soap contains coconut oil and rose water—both known for their healing and hydrating properties.
The product is suitable for all skin types; it is dermatological tested and clinically proven. It also has GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification issued by the government of India's Ministry of Ayush. Customer reviews show that the soap lathers well but doesn't dry the skin.
₹276.00
Do hand washes make your skin dry? Try VAADI HERBALS anti-bacterial HANDWASH. It's a soap-free formula, meaning no harsh alkalines are present that can strip your skin of moisture and natural oil. The antioxidants in ginger improve skin elasticity and evens skin tone. Neem and ginger work together to enhance the skin's barrier function, thus maintaining moisture balance.
Turmeric extract and tulsi extract are two other main ingredients present in this handwash; both are known for their anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Many customers with sensitive skin and with conditions like eczema are using this product and experience no allergic reactions.
₹300.00
As you already know, neem oil shouldn't be used undiluted on plants since it can cause leaves to sunburn. The application will turn out to be uneven, and heavily dosed areas of the plant could get damaged. OrganicDews Neem Oil Concentrate comes with a 25ml measuring cup. The instructions to mix neem oil, soap, and water to make an emulsion are given on the package.
Since the product is marketed as "for plants", we recommend not to use it on your skin and hair, even though it is 100% pure and cold-pressed. Customer reviews show that the product is effective in eliminating plant-eating insects and fungi. Many noticed that the earthworms don't die from neem oil exposure, which is an indication of its purity.
₹149.00
Neem oil's insect repelling properties are well known. But its potent nature makes it unsuitable for kids' skin. Mother Sparsh Anti-Insect Fabric Roll-on protects your kids from disease-causing insects, fleas., and ants. You don't have to worry about it staining your clothes.
The product is free from N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), a common ingredient in insect repellents known for causing skin irritation, redness, and stomach upset, vomiting, and nausea if accidentally ingested. The company recommends applying four coin-sized dots on your kid's skin. You can even apply it on prams, strollers, or cradles.
₹330.00
Neem oil is not toxic for dogs, and its insect repelling properties help keep fleas, ticks, and parasites away too. Trixie NEEMBAUMOL SHAMPOO is mild and works well in healing dermatitis and stop itching. The product is gentle, so you don't have to worry if your pet has sensitive skin.
Many customers found this product relieving their dog's itching. Reviews show that the shampoo foams well, smells good, and leaves the fur shiny. Make sure you bathe your dog once every week to relieve itching and pain and speed up healing if your dog has skin allergies.
₹440.00
A common problem experienced by people with dry skin is cracked heels. Vedic Line Professional's Foot Massage Cream comes with neem oil, beeswax, castor oil, and tea tree oil to help heal your heels quickly. The anti-microbial properties of neem oil can make even extremely cracked and bleeding heels smooth and soft.
The anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and wound healing properties of castor oil, tea tree oil, and beeswax fight skin irritation too. You may use it after scrubbing your feet for the best results. The recurring of cracked heels is often seen in people with dry skin. Wearing closed heel footwear, losing weight, and regular moisturizing can help.
Oils have found their way into all aspects of our life. Below are links to three articles that discuss heart-healthy cooking oils, beard growth oils, and baby oils. The buying guides will help you choose the right product according to your needs and the top 10 section will recommend the ten best products available to buy online in India. Follow the links below to learn more.
We hope you are well-versed in the benefits of having neem oil or neem oil products at home. In a nutshell, neem oil has numerous benefits when applied diluted and undiluted topically on the skin. Its high antioxidant, fatty acid, and vitamin E content can address a range of skin issues like dermatitis, dry skin, wrinkles, etc.
The antimicrobial properties of neem oil help kill lice and control dandruff. Neem oil has almost the same benefits for your furry friends too. You can ward off insects that destroy your plants by spraying an emulsion made using liquid soap, water, and neem oil. Azadirachtin, the compound responsible for neem oil's insect-repelling attribute, can also protect you from disease-causing mosquitoes.
Author - Arun F Xaviour
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