Neem

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is one of the most extensively described herbs in this text. Called Nimba in Sanskrit, it is revered as a 'village pharmacy' in India. Every part - leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, seed, root - is medicinally useful. The tree grows 40-50 feet tall and is found throughout India. The bitter taste pervades all parts. It is the premier herb for skin diseases (Kushtha), blood impurities, and parasitic infections. The seed oil (Neem oil) contains numerous bioactive compounds including Nimbidin, Nimbin, and Nimbinin. The text describes its extensive use in Jwara (fever), Prameha (diabetes), Kushtha (skin diseases), Krimi (worms), and Vrana (wounds). Neem bark is also used in malarial fevers. Margosate (derived from Neem oil) has been identified as a potent antimicrobial. The text provides detailed chemical analysis including fatty acid composition of the seed oil.

• Krimighna (anthelmintic/anti-parasitic)
• Kusthaghna (anti-dermatosis)
• Jvarghna (antipyretic)
• Pittashamaka (pacifies Pitta)
• Raktashodhaka (blood purifier)
• Vishaghna (antidote to poison)
• Pramehaghna (anti-diabetic)
• Arochakagna (improves appetite)
• Hridya (cardiac tonic)
• Deepana (kindles digestive fire)

Nimbi Taila – (Neem oil) :ना यु णं न बजं त तं कृ मकु ठकफ णुत ् ॥ ६० ॥ Neem oil – is not very hot (slightly hot) in potency, bitter, anti microbial, useful in skin diseases and mitigates Kapha.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 5: Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

74 पटोलस तला र टशा गे टाव गुजा अम ृताः वे ा ब ृहतीवासाकु तल तलप णकाः म डूकपण कक टकारवे लकपपटाः नाडीकलायगोिज वावाताकं वन त तकम ् कर रं कु कं न द कुचैला शुकलादनी क ट लं के बुकं शीतं सकोशातकककशम ् त तं पाके कटु ा ह वातलं कफ प तिजत ् Patola, saptala, arista (neem leaves), sharngeshta (angaravalli/bharangi), Avalguja (Bakuchi), amruta (Tinospora), Vetra (shoot of vetra), Brhati (Solanum indicum), vasa (Adhatoda vasica), kutill, tilaparnika (badraka), mandukaparni (Gotu kola), Karkota, karavella

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 6: Annaswaroopa Food

Tikta Gana – group of bitters :त तः पदोल ाय ती वालकोशीर च दनम ् भू न ब न ब कटुका तगरा गु व सकम ् न तमाला वरजनी मु त मूवाट पकम पाठापामागकां यायोगुडू चध वयासकम ् प चमल ू ं महा या यौ वशाल अ त वषावचा Patoli, Trayanti – Gentiana kurroa, Valaka, Usira – Vetiveria zizanioides, Chandana – Sandalwood, Bhunimba – The creat (whole plant) – Andrographis paniculata, Nimba – Neem – Azadirachta indica, Katuka – Picrorhiza kurroa, Tagara – Indian Valerian (root) – Valeriana wallichi, Aguru, Vatsaka – Hol

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their

Tikta Gana – group of bitters :त तः पदोल ाय ती वालकोशीर च दनम ् भू न ब न ब कटुका तगरा गु व सकम ् न तमाला वरजनी मु त मूवाट पकम पाठापामागकां यायोगुडू चध वयासकम ् प चमल ू ं महा या यौ वशाल अ त वषावचा Patoli, Trayanti – Gentiana kurroa, Valaka, Usira – Vetiveria zizanioides, Chandana – Sandalwood, Bhunimba – The creat (whole plant) – Andrographis paniculata, Nimba – Neem – Azadirachta indica, Katuka – Picrorhiza kurroa, Tagara – Indian Valerian (root) – Valeriana wallichi, Aguru, Vatsaka – Hol

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their

The wound should be fumigated with the smoke of Guggulu, Aguru, Siddhartha, Hingu (Asa foetida), Sarjarasa, Patu (Salt), Sadgrantha(Acorus calamus) or leaves of Nimba (neem), mixed with ghee; Then a wick prepared from paste of Tila, ghee, honey and appropriate drugs should be placed inside the wound and also covered over.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 29: Shastrakarma Vidhi

The wound should be fumigated with the smoke of Guggulu, Aguru, Siddhartha, Hingu (Asa foetida), Sarjarasa, Patu (Salt), Sadgrantha(Acorus calamus) or leaves of Nimba (neem), mixed with ghee; Then a wick prepared from paste of Tila, ghee, honey and appropriate drugs should be placed inside the wound and also covered over.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 29: Shastrakarma Vidhi