Neem is a traditional medicine used to cure skin disorders, chicken pox, ulcers and an itchy scalp. It is said that if you put a handful of neem leaves in your bathing water every day, it will help keep you away from contracting skin diseases and also cools down the body.
In olden days, neem branches were used to clean teeth. It is still in use in the rural areas of the Indian subcontinent.
Neem leaves are antiseptic, antibacterial and antimalarial in nature. Thinning of hair is a common occurrence in middle-aged women.
The incidence is also seen in women of the younger generation due to increased stress and excessive use of chemicals. It is a versatile herb and can be used in a lot of ways.
If you are looking for a natural treatment to treat any sort of a skin or hair issue, then neem is the best solution for you. It is an affordable herb, grows wild and is also easy to access.
Always use the baby leaves, as they are easy to use and are rich in properties.
So, here are the 10 ways you can use neem for healthy skin and hair, take a look.
1. Anti-acne Neem Face Pack
Soak a few neem leaves in little water for 1 hour and make a paste. Apply this paste on your acne and leave it there for an hour. Wash off with tap water and apply a light moisturiser.
2. Neem Oil For Hair
Take 250 mL of coconut oil and a handful of neem leaves. Boil the coconut oil in a dekchi and once the oil starts boiling, add the neem leaves to it and switch off the gas. Let the goodness of neem leaves get extracted in the oil for around 4 hours. Strain the oil. Every alternate night, massage this oil on your scalp and wash the next day
3. For Healthy Skin
While bathing, add around 10 to 12 neem leaves in your water and let them soak for 5 minutes. Use this water to bathe. This is extremely beneficial in tropical countries like India, especially during summers.
4. Face Pack For Even Skin
Take 1 teaspoon of neem powder, 1 teaspoon of tulasi powder and mix it with rose water to get a thick consistency. This will lighten the under-eye area as well.
5. For Curing Chicken Pox
Boil a few leaves of neem in water and strain after cooling. Take a cotton ball and dab this solution on the boils. Do this twice a day for best results.
6. Neem Hair Mask
Take 1 teaspoon of neem powder and mix it with 2 tablespoons of curd. Apply this on your hair, from the scalp to the tips of the hair. Wash after 15 minutes.
7. For Treatment Of Eczema
Take a bark from the neem tree and soak it in water overnight. Grind it into a smooth paste and apply it on the affected area of your skin. This will calm down the itch in an instant.
8. For Dark Circles
Grind neem leaves. Squeeze out the juice. Soak two cotton pads in the juice for a while and squeeze out the excess. Keep these on your eyes for 10 minutes for a relaxed feeling
9. Natural Hair Conditioner
Grind neem leaves into a thick paste and add a few drops of rose water. Add one teaspoon of honey to it. Just apply it to your hair but not on the scalp. Keep for 1 hour and then wash off thoroughly with water.
10. For Healing Wounds
Mix one teaspoon of neem powder with 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix it thoroughly and apply it on your wounds to heal these effectively and early.