Natural Radiance—Soothe the skin with Neem

By Heather Armstrong Rowe

Perhaps money doesn’t grow on trees, but the “village pharmacy” does. From the neem tree, native to India and Burma, comes a potent multitasking substance of the same name that can rescue your skin in a variety of ways, as neem oil, neem leaf powder, and neem leaf extract. Neem oil works best in topical application; the leaf variation appears most in supplement form, soaps, and healing salves.

Neem possesses an array of attributes—it treats psoriasis, eczema, diaper rash, and hair loss due to bacterial infection of the hair follicle; relieves mysterious redness and rashes unmediated by other remedies; and even prevents lice and fleas.

“Neem is a healer,” says Milan Mehta, a managing partner of the India-based Neem Tree Co., an exporter of neem products. A mainstay in India, neem restores elasticity to the skin, he says, and also helps to reduce wrinkles and normalize skin tone.

The reason: neem’s emollient properties. “Neem is very rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs), triglycerides, and vitamin E and is a potent anti-inflammatory,” says Autumn Blum, formulator and CEO of Organix-South Inc., a company that produces an extensive line of neem products. Because of its EFAs and vitamin E, neem penetrates deep within the skin to heal the minute cracks brought on by severe dryness. Some research, Blum says, suggests that neem also stimulates collagen production—good news for aging skin. But wait, there’s more: Neem’s anti-inflammatory action heals rashes and redness from allergic reactions to causes known and unknown. And for those who seek an alternative to tea tree oil, neem shines as an antibacterial and antiviral.

On the downside, neem—particularly the oil—smells somewhat sulfurous (think roasted garlic). “The oil is the most efficient emollient but has a pungent odor,” Blum says. Organix-South masks neem’s signature scent in its products with vanilla, sweet orange, and ylang ylang.

“If you are mixing your own neem oil,” says Blum, “add citrus [something like lemon grass, bergamot, or orange oil] to counter neem’s natural scent.”

Neem is the No. 1 remedy in ayurveda for soothing problematic skin. “We don’t know why, but neem works to heal skin issues caused by bacteria, fungus, even yeast,” Blum says. Perhaps neem restores balance: In ayurveda, skin conditions are traced to “sweetness” in the blood; neem, as a “bitter” substance, counteracts that.

Taken internally, neem heads skin problems off at the pass. “I take neem before I travel to prevent stress-related zits,” Blum says. And in soap form, neem helps to bring impurities and toxins to the surface. As with any herbal remedy, Blum recommends taking neem internally for three weeks and then taking a week off to make sure the body doesn’t develop a resistance to it. But to beautify skin, she recommends applying neem daily.

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