Neem tree has been long known as a synonym of good health and is a part of the natural health since forever. Ayurveda, a traditional Hindu system of medicine based on the concept of balance in bodily systems and uses yogic breathing, herbal treatment as well as diet, calls neem tree as ‘Sarva Roga Nivarini’ that translated into “the healer of all ailments” in English.
The neem tree can extract oil which have lots of health benefits especially eczema and other skin problems. In Siddha system, another Indian oldest medicinal system, the oil extracted from neem tree is widely used to treat many kind of skin problems.
The oil extracted from neem tree is very rich of flavonoid derivatives, tannins, and other rich lipids which are really good to soothe irritated and dry skin. It is good to not only clears the skin infection but can also rejuvenate and beautify the skin as well, making the skin look fresher than before the usage of the oil.
Health Benefits of Neem Tree Leaves and Oil for Eczema Treatment
As mentioned before, there are many health benefits of neem tree leaves and oil that are good to treat many skin problems such as eczema and this is how you can use it:
- A Nice Neem Oil Water Bath
What to prepare:
- A handful of neem tree leaves
- 10 drops of neem oil
How to do it:
- Boil the handful of neem leaves
- Strain the water to get the neem tree extract and put them into a bowl
- Fill your bathtub with water
- Pour together the 10 drops of neem oil as well as the neem tree extract you’ve made
- Soak in the bathtub water for 20 minutes at the minimum
- Dry yourself and moisturize yourself with a moisturizer (a neem-tree-based moisturizer is highly recommended).
How it works?
One of the most important things in order to treat eczema is to have a hydrated skin and bathing can definitely hydrate the skin. The addition of neem tree oil to the bath then can further increase the ability of the bath to hydrate the skin. Please do note though that the water need to be at least on a lukewarm state since hot water can dehydrate your skin instead. There are even some ice bath benefits that you can get, so, hot bath turns out doesn’t always solve every problems, right?
- Neem Tree and Basil Leaves
What to prepare:
- 1 cup of basil leaves
- 1 cup of neem tree leaves
- 10 drops of neem tree oil
- Water
- Cotton pads
How to do it:
- Put the basil and neem leaves in the water
- Let it boil until the water is reduced into half the amount of the first
- Strain the water to get the neem and basil leaves extract
- Put them in a bottol and add the 10 drops of neem tree oil
- Use a cotton pad to apply the mixture of medicinal herbs to the affected area on your skin
- Leave them at least overnight, the longer it stays the better
- Reapply the medicinal mixture several times throughout the day
- Continue until the symptoms reduced or the skin problem is treated fully.
Why it can work:
The basil and neem tree leaves both have something in common which is an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory materials that are useful to treat the eczema symptoms. There are a lot of health benefits of basil in itself, and the combination of them with the materials of neem tree leaves can help to reduce such as redness, pain, swelling, inflammation and itching that are caused by the eczema.
- Neem Tree and Turmeric Powder
What to prepare:
- A teaspoon of turmeric powder
- A teaspoon of raw honey
- Neem tree leaves
- 3 to 4 drops of neem tree oil
How to do it:
- Dry neem tree leaves under the sun and let them dry
- Crush the now-dried neem tree leaves to get neem tree powder
- Put the neem tree powder and all of the other ingredients into a bowl
- Mix them well
- Apply the medicinal paste into the affected area on your skin
- Let it dry for at 20 minutes
- Wash off and reapply it until the symptoms have reduced or the skin problem is treated fully.
How can it work:
The neem tree and turmeric are both famous with the anti-fungal and anti-bacterial materials, which make them known as well to be great at healing skin ailments. Click here to see further about the benefits of turmeric. Combination of both of these ingredients can help to reduce the itching caused by eczema while the honey can keep the skin moisturize and not dry-out.Â
- Neem Tree and the Raw Papaya
What to prepare:
- 3-4 drops of neem tree oil
- 1 tablespoon of papaya pulp
How to do it:
- Put all the ingredients together into a bowl and mix them well
- Apply the medicinal paste onto the affected area on your skin
- Wash off cleanly after let them sit for at least 20 minutes
- Reapply the paste until the symptoms have reduced or the skin problem is treated fully.
Why it can work:
The neem tree oil and raw papaya pulp both can provide you with their anti-inflammatory materials which are good to soothe the eczema symptoms. There may be a lot of benefits of papaya but the raw ones have more to offer for your skin problems. The health benefits of neem tree leaves and oil can treat the inflammation and infection from the eczema while the raw papaya can reduce the itching caused by the skin ailment.
- Neem Tree and Coconut Oils
What to prepare:
- A tablespoon of coconut oil (unrefined)
- 3 to 4 drops of neem tree oil
How to do it:
- Pour both oils together into a bowl
- Mix them well
- Apply the medicinal oils onto the affected area on your skin
- Reapply until the inflammation caused by the eczema is gone.
How can it work:
The health benefits of neem tree leaves and oil, again, are known for the anti-bacterial materials while coconut oil on the other hand have anti-bacterial materials too as well as anti-fungal materials. Despite many oils out there that may contain the same materials, coconut oil is chosen since it can penetrate the skin easily, thus keeping the skin moisturized.
- Neem Tree Oil Balm
What to prepare:
- Couple tablespoons of shea butter
- A tablespoon of beeswax
- A tablespoon of almond oil
- One and a half teaspoons of neem tree oil
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil
- 5 drops of tea tree oil
- 2 capsules of vitamin E
- A glass container to store the balm
How to do it:
- Put the beeswax, almond oil, and shea butter into a double boiler
- Melt them with a low flame
- Let the melted-mixture cool down
- Pour the capsuled vitamin E oil into them
- Pour the lavender, tea tree, and neem tree oils into the mixture and mix all the ingredients well
- Pour the soon-to-be balm mixture into a glass container
- Let it set before putting it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes
- Make sure to shower first before applying the balm
- Apply them onto the affected area on your skin
- Reapply it until the eczema symptoms have reduced.
How it works:
The anti-inflammatory materials in the balm can help to relieve the itching due to the eczema. Click here to learn further about the health benefits of almond oil. It can hydrate the skin really well and give a soothing feeling for the skin. This balm is also good to suppress other symptoms of eczema from appearing too.
If you’re too lazy or don’t really have time to make the medicinal recipes above, there are some neem-based products at the market that are available for you to use and help treat the eczema too. You can try to look for:
- Metiista Neem Powder
- Dr. Adorable Inc. Neem Seed Butter
- Neem Oil By Naked Neem
- Neem Lotion By Just Neem
- Neem Skin Milk
However, you should note too that even if there are some health benefits of neem tree leaves and oil, it is quite potent, thus it needs to be used in a very careful way or else it can only make things worse. You are not recommended to use the neem tree oil directly on the eczema-infected area on your skin, therefore using the recipes explained above is very urged.
It is worth to note too that the neem oils sold at the market may have been refined and have a decent smell, but the versions of neem tree oil that can work best are actually the raw and cold-pressed ones although yes, they may not have quiet a good smell. This marks the end of all the information you may need in order to treat eczema and other skin ailments using neem tree oil. We hope it can benefits you well and happy trying!