Beauty is a natural reflection of health and wellbeing; therefore any product that promises beauty must bring overall health to our body. Nature has always excelled in providing the nutrition, vitamins, minerals and solutions the body needs for comprehensive sustenance. Many plants and flowers, seeds and trees have provided medicines to treat, cure and prevent an assortment of diseases, while restoring the natural beauty of the human body.
World renowned cosmetic and personal health care brands such as L’Oréal, Garnier, A. Vogel, Dr. Hauschka, Colgate and Avon have realized the immense advantages of utilizing natural products, particularity neem, and are capitalizing on the benefits of innovation inspired in nature. Such innovation is expected to drive the organic personal care market to an astounding $16 billion over the next four years.
Natural Helpers for Beauty Routines
Source: David Suzuki Foundation (2010).
The neem tree is amongst the most versatile and efficient of them. Discovered in ancient times throughout the Asiatic regions, neem has been recognized and even worshiped for bringing beauty and health to many civilizations. Only now are we beginning to understand why.
Neem has over 250 identified complex chemical compounds including various types of highly specialized and unique molecules such as azadirachtin, nimbin, nimbinin, nimbidin and geduin. This amazing tree also contains minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium, all essential to holistic human health. More than 2,000 scientific papers have been published over the last two decades exploring cosmetic and medicinal advantages of this gift of nature. As a confirmed antioxidant, moisturizer and antibacterial, it has been used to treat and prevent a myriad of skin conditions from the eczema and leprosy diseases to every day wrinkles, spots and blackheads. It is efficient against many skin infections and viral ailments such as candida, ringworm and herpes, due to the tree’s antimicrobial properties that help fight virus, bacteria’s and other pathogens.
Health Risks in Common Beauty Products
Source: David Suzuki Foundation (2010).
Neem has been instrumental in accelerating and enhancing the healing of open wounds. Aiding the process of creation of new blood vessels (neovascularization), skin cells (epithelialization), and scar tissue (fibroplacia). Difficult wounds, like diabetic or bedsores, no longer mean long and painful treatments. The neem leaves and seeds contain Omega 3, 6 and 9, in addition to palmitic and stearic acid, which provide a balanced mix of oil to nourish and moisture skin tissue of all types.
Neem shampoo and conditioners are widely available because of its cleansing capabilities, as well as its capacity to treat and prevent dandruff and other scalp infections and imbalances in a way that help regulate the PH levels thorough the body and promote better and healthier hair growth. The anti fungal properties of neem extracts and products have a great advantage in treating and preventing onychomycosis, a common type of nail fungus that causes pain and itching.
Oral care has also benefited from the antimicrobial and antiseptic compounds within this marvelous tree, creating safe and highly effective solutions to plaque and gingivitis while providing thorough hygiene. Peer reviewed research has shown neem compounds to be as effective and sometimes even more effective than chlorhexidine, the common chemical in mouthwash utilized to treat this conditions. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer effects provide quick and effective solutions to painful oral conditions.
The organic movement that is transforming the way we eat and grow food is expanding to the personal care products that we use every day. Synthetic chemicals have proven unreliable especially when you consider some of their long-term side effects. Today organic, naturally derived and chemical-free cosmetics are satisfying millions of users around the world. Neem has not only proven its potential to aid mankind both in providing sustainable and safe agricultural practices and an alternative treatment for many healthcare issues, but also its various applications in the personal care and cosmetics sector. Neem is quickly becoming a sought after ingredient for many organic producers around the world.