Neem oil?

Shinook · Sep 24, 2012

I have been trying to learn more about neem wood, and from what I've found the need oil is extremely useful. Has anyone here used neem oil products for anything? How well do the work? Is pure neem oil any good for use on wood handels?

kronckew · Sep 24, 2012

i use neem soap (it's anti-bacterial + anti-fungal) and neem toothpaste. haven't tried the oil yet.

Element of Darkness · Sep 24, 2012

The only thing I've ever used neem oil for is as an insect repellent/insecticide in organic farming.

Shinook · Sep 24, 2012

How well does it work against insects?

sweetcostarica · Sep 25, 2012

Neem Oil treats nail fungus.
Good against ticks and fleas.
Works for scabies on horses.
It's an active ingredient in home made tick repellent.
Keeps Flies off Cows.
Kills Bed Bugs.
A natural organic Pest Control.
Natural birth control.
Neem oil is helpful in managing dandruff,
Etc.
Oh yea, you can polish your wood floors (or handles) with Neem Oil to keep termites away.
Good stuff!

Shinook · Sep 26, 2012

Wow. I'm going to have to get some.

As for polishing handles, is there anything look out for?

Howard Wallace · Sep 30, 2012

Here's a little article that touches on some of the uses of the neem tree and its constituents. It also hghlights a legal and IP issue that is of great concern to the developing world, and should be of concern to all of us.

http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/pir-ch.htm

Shinook · Sep 30, 2012

Thanks Howard.
It looks like neem in a very special plant. And unfortunate that neem has been exploited by corperations like that. Reading that article, I was reminded of how often both farmers and the public are negatively effected by corperations like Monsanto.
http://www1.american.edu/ted/neemtree.htm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1082559/The-GM-genocide-Thousands-Indian-farmers-committing-suicide-using-genetically-modified-crops.html

abdelhazred · Oct 2, 2012

I was having a great day until someone said Monsanto... I don't even feel like following the links, I know it will contain some cartoonishly evil scheme, and that it's probably entirely true.

Shinook · Oct 2, 2012

abdelhazred said:
I was having a great day until someone said Monsanto... I don't even feel like following the links, I know it will contain some cartoonishly evil scheme, and that it's probably entirely true.

I know how you feel. I often read the reports and feel sick while I wonder how anyone could do the deeds described in the report. I don't like the term evil, but when it comes to Monsanto, I think it sadly fits.

bric · Oct 4, 2012

Thanks for the article Howard. There are some parallels of this situation regarding Mexican food in a new book Planet Taco: A Global History of Mexican Food.