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Vitiligo (Patchy
skin)
Patchy
discolored skin is traditionally and successfully treated with neem.
Vitiligo is often caused by structural defects in the skin due to genetics
or the result of advancing age. In clinical studies of treating patients
with vitiligo, four grams of neem leaves were eaten one hour before meals
for ninety days while neem oil and other herbs were placed on the patchy
skin. In thirty percent of the cases there was complete relief by the end
of the treatment with seventy five percent showing at least some return to
normal skin color. Neem does not color the skin but appears to restore
balance to melanin production.
In several recent cases of people who have
been using neem on their skin, they report that after several months age
(liver) spots had disappeared where they had applied the cream. These
people had not been taking neem leaf internally, only using a neem-based
cream as a moisturizer.
Dandruff
Applied to the scalp, neem extracts and oil are the herb of choice
for controlling dandruff. Usually associated with imbalance in hormones,
infections or diets rich in fats and sweets, dandruff can only be
controlled, not cured. Internally, neem compounds counteract excessive
sweets and seem to provide balance to the body's
hormones.
To treat dandruff, apply a neem-based lotion
to the scalp shortly before bathing. This will loosen the scaly flakes and
soften the scalp. Using a neem shampoo, usually with extract of neem leaf,
will remove the loosened flakes and kill any pathogen that may attack the
scalp. After the bath, apply a very small amount of neem lotion to the
scalp and towel dry the hair to remove any excess. Taking neem leaf
capsules or tincture after an especially fatty or sugary meal will also
help balance the body's glucose and hormone levels which can help prevent
dandruff.
Scabies
Studies using neem lotions found scabies to be effectively cured in
just three days. Treatments with benzyl benzoate and sulpha drugs had
failed to cure these same patients. Scabies is caused by the female itch
mite boring through the skin to lay her eggs and is very contagious. Since
scabies usually affects large areas of the skin, soaking in warm water
steeped with neem leaf powder is recommended. After soaking in the water
for fifteen minutes, a neem-based cream should be used to wash thoroughly.
After the bath, a neem-based cream or lotion should be applied to the
entire body. The itching should be relieved immediately and the scabies
eliminated in a few days. As the scabies mites can infect bedding and
clothing, all clothes should be washed with very hot
water.
Itchy
Scalp
Neem provides
quick and long-lasting relief from itchy scalp. Itchy scalp can be caused
by any number of things, ranging from allergies and dandruff to mites.
Since neem kills mites and has antihistamine and anti-inflammatory
compounds, washing the scalp with a neem shampoo and applying a small
amount of neem lotion will relieve each of these
problems. | 