Long touted as a “wonder oil” due to its amazing properties, Neem oil is a brownish or deep yellow color and has a very intense odor that may remind you of sulfur or garlic. But, that’s all part of it’s goodness!
Neem oil plays an very important role in DERMagic's Skin Rescue Shampoo Bars.
Today, we want to share with you why we love it and how it plays such a critical role in our product development.
The History of Neem Oil
Neem oil is a natural product of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica). This tree is an evergreen variety native to India. The seeds of this tree are collected, dried, roasted, crushed and finally pressed to extract the beneficial neem oil.
You can see the manufacturing of Neem oil in this video from Sri Rangan Oil Mill.
Why Neem Oil Works
Neem oil is naturally high in oleic acids (which help support cell regeneration) and palmitic acid (which can help to restore the skin's natural barrier function).
Neem oil contains hundreds of beneficial components. These include dozens of fatty acids, antioxidants, and fats. Neem oil is naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial, which makes it a wonderful addition to skin care products.
Neem is All-Natural
We always think about our impact on the environment when it comes to ingredients and products. We want to keep our environment as pristine as possible. That's why we do our best to keep our products, manufacturing processes, and even packaging as natural as possible.
Neem is Non-Toxic
Neem oil is non-toxic to birds, bees, animals and plants. It is only toxic when the unprocessed seeds are fed directly to animals.
Neem as Natural Pest Control
Neem oil has a very long history in the world. It has been used for thousands of years as a natural pest control on people, pets and even plants.
This is largely due to a compound called Azadirachtin that occurs in Neem naturally.
Azadirachtin is a "tetranortriterpenoid botanical insecticide of the liminoid class". That’s a fancy way of saying that it can repel and even eliminate tiny insects (like mites) or larger insects (like locusts).
Neem oil works this way because Azadirachtin has the ability to disrupt many parts of an insect, including:
- disruption of the insect growth regulator
- disrupting the ability for insects to feed.
- the oviposition inhibitor (sterilizing the insect).
When azadirachtin is ingested by immature insects, like larvae, it prevents them from developing properly and they eventually die. But, don't look at Neem as a quick solution - neem takes as much as a week to destroy insects.
Azadirachtin even causes female ticks to lay sterile eggs, which can help reduce an infestation (source).
But, like all natural remedies, neem oil can be very dangerous if not used properly.
Never attempt to put neem oil directly on pets or people. It must be used properly or it can cause more harm than good.
Neem as a Natural Fungicide
Neem is also a natural fungicide that is often used on delicate plants, shrubs, flowers and trees.
Clarified hydrophobic neem oil has been shown to retard the growth of powdery mildew. Spores of this fungus require water to initiate growth and infect leaves. It's thought the oil coats the spores and keeps them dry, thereby preventing spore germination.
A study from the University of Connecticut found that, “a one percent neem oil treatment was effective in managing powdery mildew on hydrangeas, lilacs and phlox.”
Neem for Skin Care
Neem oil is wonderful for skin as it is rich in fatty acids and vitamin E. The leaves of neem trees contain plant compounds called flavonoids and polyphenols which offer excellent benefits to skin.
In fact, neem oil is known for its ability to penetrate cracked dry skin and has been used to reduce inflammation from flare-ups of eczema in humans.
Like all natural oils, it’s critical to use this one properly. It requires only a very small percentage to do its job well.
Neem oil should be heavily diluted and only used with other beneficial ingredients. This is why we created our proven skin remedy to treat Alopecia X and Black Skin Disease.
You'll find premium, cold-pressed Neem oil in the following products from DERMagic: