Use of Neem in Unani & Folk Medicine: Systematic review

Presented By

Dr. Md. Shahjalal Chowdhury Lecturer, Kulliat-e-Advia

Hakim Said Eastern Medical College & Hospital37, Nimtoly, Dhaka-1000.

Email: dr.jalalshorna.bd@gmail.com

IntroductionBakaen/Neem is a Medicinal plant used historically & contemporary in Unani Medicine, as single drugs & National formulary drugs & Traditional Medicine in Bangladesh & worldwide for its various health benefits. Almost every part of the Neem tree is used in Unani Medicine & Ethno-medicine or Folk Medicine in many countries, with some 700 preparations described.

Neem with Botanical Description:

The Name & Mizaaj of Neem plant according to Unani:

Unani name of Neem : BakaenMizaaj (Temperament) of Neem :2nd Degree Hot & Dry

Taxonomic Position of Azadirachta indica (Neem).

Order RutalesSuborder RutinaeFamily MeliaceaeSubfamily MelioideaeTribe MelieaeGenus Azadirachta

Species indica

Parts of used Neem: Unani & Folk Medicine

Barge Neem (Leafs of Neem), Tukhm Neem (Seeds of Neem), Bekh Neem ( Root Bark),Gule Neem (Flower) .

Posolgy:

• Dose of Neem : 6-10 g. • Paste & Juice : one teaspoonful (5gm)

twice daily.• Decoction/Jwosanda: 30 ml twice daily.

Chemical Constituents of Neem:

Tetranor-triterpenoids, Margocin, Nimbidiol, Nimbolicin, Azadirinin. Fixed Oil containing Diterpenoids and Triterpenoids (limonoids); Nimbin, Gedunin ,Azadirachtin; Nimbidinin, Salanin.

Function of Neem: (According to Unani )

• Action: Musaffie Khoon (Blood purifier), Dafe Humma (Antipyretic), Qatile Kirme Amaa (Anthelmintic).

• Therapeutic Action : Amraze Jild (Skin Disease), Fasade Dam (Blood Dyscrasia).

In Unani therapeutics Uses of Neem:

Externally: it is used for Skin disease like Itching, Scabies, Eczema, Lice. Internally: It is used for the treatment (Ilaz) of Deedan (Warm), Ramad (Inflammation of Conjunctiva), Haiza (Cholera), Yarqan (Jaundice), Bawaseer (Hemorrhoids), Zayabetus Sakri (Diabetes Mellitus), Hikkat-ul-mahbal (itching of vagina), Humma-e-aam (Non-specific Fever), Qurooh-o Busoor (Skin Boils), Busoor-e-Labaniya (Pimple & Acne), Mar Gazid Agi (Snake Bit),

Neem Enrich Important product in Unani Medicine:

• Sharbati (Syrup) Mussaffi/Safi (Syrup Safi)• Habb-e Mussaffi (Tab. Safi)• Majoon Musaffi (Semi-solid type Medicine)• Majoon Juzam ,,• Habb-e- Muqil (Tab. Muqil)• Sufoof Habis (Powder Habis)• Kushta Sangajarah ,,• Rowghan Neem Oil (Neem oil)• Marham Neem (Ointment Neem)• Marham Jadeed Ointment Jadeed)• Zimad Nawaseer (Paste Nawseer).

Used of Neem plant & its various parts: ( Traditional or Folk Medicine Concept)

:Allergy, Skin disease, Itching, Scabies, Septic Sore,

Boils. Oral Hygiene, Gingivitis, Dyspepsia, Gastric Ulcer,

Jaundice. Fever, Gonorrhea, Hook worm infestation, Malaria,

Measles, Nail Infection & Wart .Controls Diabetes.

Traditional Prescription of Neem in Health Problems (Example): (Local Healer concept)

For Allergy, Boils:An extract is made with the leaves of the plant by boiling it in water. Hot Bath is advised to have with extract once a day for seven days.For Dandruff/ Head Lice infestation:An extract is made with the leaves of the plant. It is used in hair washing once day for conseucative seven days.

Continue……

For Itching:Cottonseed- sized pills are made with the dried leaves of the plant. It is taken once day for seven days.For Jaundice:Pea sized pills are made with leaves of the plant. It is taken thrice day until the disease is cured.

Side Effects and Warnings

Avoid in people with known allergy or sensitivity to neem (Azadirachta indica) or members of the Meliaceae family.

Avoid using in infants, children, pregnant women, and people who are trying to conceive.

Bibliography Bangladesh National Unani Formulary, May 1993. Uses of Ethno-medicine of Chittagong Hill Tracts

by National Herbarium , writen by Sarder Nasir Uddin,

Common remedies by Unani Medicine published by CCRUM.

Acknowledgement:I wish to express my sincere appreciation & thanks to my talented &

innovative respective authority of Hamdard Bangladesh, Managing Director and Chief Mutawalli, Honorable Dr. Hakim Md. Yousuf Harun Bhuiyan, Chairman Managing Committee (HSEMC) & Director, Information & Public Relation, Hamdard Bangladesh, Kazi Mansur-ul Huq,, Director, Hamdard Foundation, Lt. Colonel (retd.) Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, who for their inspired, guidance & advices to write on such as clinical research article. I would like to convey my heartiest gratitude to my honorable colleague especially I thank to Dr. Md. Khorshed Alam, Acting Principal, Hakim Said Eastern Medical College & Hospital & the Secretariats of 5th National Conference on Neem of Bangladesh Neem Foundation .

Thanking you for attention with me