In an effort to conduct pure research in homoeopathy the R&D department of SBL has completed the drug proving of Azadirachta indica folia (Neem leaves).

The people of India have long revered the neem tree (Azadirachta indica). For centuries, millions have cleaned their teeth with neem twigs, smeared skin disorders with neem-leaf juice, taken neem tea as a tonic, and placed neem leaves in their beds, books, grain bins, cupboards, and closets to keep away troublesome bugs. The tree has relieved so many different pains, fevers, infections, and other complaints that it has been called "the village pharmacy."

Two decades of research have revealed promising results in so many disciplines that even some of the most cautious researchers are saying that "neem deserves to be called a wonder plant."

We as homeopaths are familiar with Azadirachta Indica as mentioned in the Materia Medica. This is the drug picture of the dilutions made from the bark of the tree. The main indication being that of fever with chill and rheumatic pains.

The drug proving with dilutions made from the neem leaves was conducted on 15 provers. The drug picture emerged is as follows:

Grading

1st grade- Bold and underlined- More than 3 provers

2nd grade- Bold and Italic – Seen in at least 2 provers and clinically verified

3rd grade- Plain text- Seen in single provers


DRUG PICTURE

Mind:
Irritability over trifles, Quarrelsome
Hurried, wants to do things fast and quickly.
Loquacity, hyperactive,
Loss of confidence.
Drowsiness in the morning, with dullness no desire to work.

Head:
Pain all over head, feeling as if head is being pushed up.
Frontal heaviness > pressure.
Headache like band around forehead <left side < jerk, < stooping > lying quietly.
Head sensitive to cold air during coryza.

Nose:

Sneezing
Watery discharge from right nostril

Eyes:
Pain in left eye > after sleep,> cold application

Mouth:
Aphthae, lower lip, Aphthae tongue on right side, painful < eating, < talking

Throat:
Hoarseness, Pain in throat < right side.

Neck:
Pain in parotid glands both sides, cramp like pain, sensation of swelling
Sudden cramps in right side of neck, extending to right shoulders and arm < walking while

Face:
Eruptions, pimple like, reddish on forehead, on left cheek then on right.
Painful pustular eruption in nose.< pressure.
Eruptions (papular), painless on face near nose, forehead < before menses.

Stomach:
Hungry after short intervals, eating little fills up.
Loss of appetite at night with feeling of fullness.
Thirst increased at night.

Abdomen:
Flatulance. Fullness lower abdomen < evening, < eating after dinner.

Stool:
Constipation with pain during stool. Ineffectual urge for stool.
Stool passed in small quantities, hard, with straining.
Passage of bright blood in drops.
Cutting pain rectum during defecation. Pain persists after stool for sometime.

Urine:
Offensive, dark coloured urine.
Burning micturition

Back:
Pain in scapular region < by movement, < morning.
Pain and stiffness in lower back (lumbo-sacral) < sitting, > standing, < walking.
Extremities:
Stiffness of shoulders < in the morning
Severe pain in both arms and shoulders < left, < on waking. < movement, <raising arm, picking things up,> by pressure.
Pain in forearm < left side, < pressure. extending to palm
Pain in left finger and toes
Slight pain in gluteal regions. Weak tired feeling
Pain right knee < ascending, < sitting while
Severe pain in right foot < on lifting.
Severe cramps in left leg (calf) on waking >massaging.
Severe cramps in legs and calves (Left to right) on waking.

Female:
Delayed menses.
Dysmenorrhoea, with pain in lower limbs, back, abdominal pain making her bend double,
< standing > lying, > sleep.
Discomfort and pain in lower abdomen and back on 1st day of menses.
Pain in lower limbs.
General weakness, tired feeling on first day of menses

Skin:
Pale spots on arms.

Fever:
Restlessness with slight headache in temporal region< lying down > pressure.
Pain in eyes.
Mild fever, broken down feeling, body ache. Wants to move around.
Lethargy, dullness accompanying feverish feeling
Perspiration:
Increased .sweat on face increased
Sleep
Unrefreshed, confusing dreams

Clinical Application: Azadirachta indica folia (Neem) was found to be useful in the following conditions:

Skin Conditions: Acne, pimples, urticaria, eczema, psoriasis, fungal infection, pale spots

Extremities: Peri arthritis- frozen shoulder (left side), cramps

Measles: treatment and prevention of measles

Female: Dysmenorrhoea