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Ayurvedic Perspective
Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions
Similar foods and herbs
Impact: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.
Indications / Benefits
Contraindications / Aggravates
Comments and reviews
Neem Leaf Herbal Chopped (Azadirachta indica)Neem's pure bitter taste is famous as a blood purifier, for parasites, and to lower blood sugar levels. |
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
MILD VULNERARY An herb used for the treatment of wounds (antiulcer, connective tissue tonic).
STRONG ANTIFUNGAL Herbs that destroy fungus.
STRONG ANTIMICROBIAL An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.
STRONG ALTERATIVE Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.
STRONG REFRIGERANT An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions.
STRONG CHOLAGOGUE Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.
The reports shared below are part of an educational assignment completed by students at the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda. These represent subjective experiences intended to help students explore principles of Ayurveda through personal observation. In each report below, students ate the selected food for 3 days and self-reported these effects. See other food & herb reports at Joyful Belly.
How did Neem affect your temperature?
| 4 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
| Much colder | Slightly colder | Same | Slightly warmer | Much warmer |
How did Neem affect your sweat quantity?
| 0 |
5 |
12 |
3 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Neem affect the color of your tongue body?
| 9 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
| Paler | Redder | Bluer | No Change |
How did Neem affect the swelling of your tongue body?
| 0 |
5 |
15 |
| More Swelling | Less Swelling | No Change |
How did Neem affect your appetite/hunger?
| 0 |
4 |
10 |
6 |
0 |
| Much less hungry | Slightly less hungry | Same | Slightly hungrier | Much hungrier |
How did Neem affect your digestion speed?
| 1 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
1 |
| Much faster | Slightly faster | Same | Slightly slower | Much slower |
How did Neem affect the amount of gas & bloating?
| 2 |
6 |
7 |
4 |
1 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Neem affect your stool smell?
| 1 |
2 |
12 |
4 |
1 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Tongue: How did Neem affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
| 2 |
9 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
| Much smaller | Slightly less | Same | Slightly larger coating | Much larger |
How did Neem affect the color of your tongue coating?
| 0 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
10 |
| Yellower | Browner | Grayer | Whiter | No Change |
How did Neem affect your urine smell?
| 0 |
0 |
19 |
1 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Neem affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
| 2 |
1 |
14 |
3 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Many more |
How did Neem affect your sweat smell?
| 0 |
1 |
17 |
2 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Neem affect your urine frequency/quantity?
| 1 |
3 |
10 |
6 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Neem affect the cracks on your tongue?
| 1 |
8 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
| Larger/longer/more cracks | Slightly more | Same | Slightly less/smaller/shorter | Much less |
How did Neem affect your energy levels?
| 0 |
5 |
8 |
7 |
0 |
| Much less energy | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more energy | Much more |
How did Neem affect your muscle tension?
| 0 |
5 |
11 |
4 |
0 |
| Much less tension | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more tension | Much more |
How did Neem affect your anxiety?
| 0 |
4 |
12 |
1 |
3 |
| Much less anxiety | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more anxiety | Much more |
How did Neem affect the stillness of your tongue?
| 2 |
14 |
4 |
| More still | No Change | More Trembling / Jittery |
How did Neem affect your appetite/hunger?
| 0 |
4 |
10 |
6 |
0 |
| Much less hungry | Slightly less hungry | Same | Slightly hungrier | Much hungrier |
How did Neem affect your digestion speed?
| 1 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
1 |
| Much faster | Slightly faster | Same | Slightly slower | Much slower |
How did Neem affect the amount of gas & bloating?
| 2 |
6 |
7 |
4 |
1 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Tongue: How did Neem affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
| 2 |
9 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
| Much smaller | Slightly less | Same | Slightly larger coating | Much larger |
How did Neem affect the swelling of your tongue body?
| 0 |
5 |
15 |
| More Swelling | Less Swelling | No Change |
How did Neem affect the color of your tongue body?
| 9 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
| Paler | Redder | Bluer | No Change |
How did Neem affect the stillness of your tongue?
| 2 |
14 |
4 |
| More still | No Change | More Trembling / Jittery |
How did Neem affect the color of your tongue coating?
| 0 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
10 |
| Yellower | Browner | Grayer | Whiter | No Change |
How did Neem affect the cracks on your tongue?
| 1 |
8 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
| Larger/longer/more cracks | Slightly more | Same | Slightly less/smaller/shorter | Much less |
How did Neem affect your stool frequency/quantity?
| 3 |
3 |
8 |
5 |
1 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Neem affect your stool color?
| 0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
17 |
| More yellow | More gray | More green | More orange | Same |
How did Neem affect your stool lightness?
| 0 |
6 |
10 |
3 |
1 |
| Much lighter | Slightly lighter | Same | Slightly darker | Much darker |
How did Neem affect your stool smell?
| 1 |
2 |
12 |
4 |
1 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Neem affect your stool consistency?
| 2 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
2 |
| Much softer | Slightly softer | Same | Slightly harder | Much harder |
How did Neem affect your urine frequency/quantity?
| 1 |
3 |
10 |
6 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Neem affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
| 2 |
1 |
14 |
3 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Many more |
How did Neem affect your urine clarity?
| 2 |
16 |
2 |
| More cloudy | Same | More clear |
How did Neem affect your urine smell?
| 0 |
0 |
19 |
1 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Neem affect your urine lightness?
| 0 |
3 |
12 |
4 |
1 |
| Much lighter | Slightly lighter | Same | Slightly Darker | Much Darker |
How did Neem affect your sweat smell?
| 0 |
1 |
17 |
2 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Neem affect your sweat quantity?
| 0 |
5 |
12 |
3 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Neem affect your temperature?
| 4 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
| Much colder | Slightly colder | Same | Slightly warmer | Much warmer |
How did Neem affect your energy levels?
| 0 |
5 |
8 |
7 |
0 |
| Much less energy | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more energy | Much more |
How did Neem affect your muscle tension?
| 0 |
5 |
11 |
4 |
0 |
| Much less tension | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more tension | Much more |
How did Neem affect your anxiety?
| 0 |
4 |
12 |
1 |
3 |
| Much less anxiety | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more anxiety | Much more |
Note: These exercises are not part of an FDA-regulated study, and were not designed or conducted under a clinical research protocol. They are neither investigational in nature nor scientific findings. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. They are experiential assignments rooted in traditional Ayurvedic education, intended solely for instructional use. No conclusions should be drawn regarding the therapeutic effects of any food, herb, or dietary substance based on these student reflections.
Neem is used in various forms like powder, oil, capsules, and extracts, so the dosage depends on the specific form you're using and the reason for use. For neem leaf powder for general health, generally 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon per day is usually taken with water.
Due to the strong bitterness of neem, Vata, sensitive, and deficient individuals should use a smaller amount.
 |
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Neem Leaf may temper these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.
Neem Leaf may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.
Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a versatile plant with a long history of medicinal use and is known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and detoxifying properties. However, despite its many benefits, neem may not be suitable for everyone, and there are certain contraindications and precautions to keep in mind:Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Pregnancy: Neem is often contraindicated during pregnancy because certain compounds in neem may have abortifacient properties which could potentially lead to miscarriage. Neem oil, extracts, or leaves may stimulate uterine contractions and affect the pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. Breastfeeding: While neem is generally considered safe in small doses during breastfeeding, caution is advised.
Autoimmune Disorders: Neem has immunomodulatory properties, meaning it can either boost or suppress the immune system. For people with autoimmune disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or multiple sclerosis), neem may interfere with the immune system's balance, potentially worsening the condition. It could also suppress the immune system too much if used in large quantities, making the body more susceptible to infections.
Blood Pressure: Neem may lower blood pressure. While this can be beneficial for individuals with high blood pressure, it can cause complications for individuals with already low blood pressure or those on blood pressure-lowering medications. If you have hypotension (low blood pressure) or take medications for high blood pressure, consult a healthcare provider before using neem.
Lowers blood sugar: Neem has been shown to lower blood sugar levels, which may be beneficial for those with diabetes. However, it could also cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if combined with diabetes medication. Diabetic patients should monitor their blood sugar levels carefully when using neem and consult their doctor about potential interactions with their medication.
Fertility: Neem oil and neem extracts may have contraceptive properties. They can influence hormonal levels, especially by altering ovulation or affecting the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus. Neem may potentially reduce ovulation in women, making it harder for them to conceive. These effects are likely due to the presence of compounds like azadirachtin in neem, which has been found to interfere with the normal hormonal balance needed for ovulation.
Surgeries: Because neem can have blood-thinning effects, it is advised to avoid using neem in large quantities before surgery, as it could increase the risk of bleeding. It's best to stop using neem at least two weeks prior to a scheduled surgery to avoid complications.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
