Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
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Neem
Azadirachta indica
- Traditional use
- A tree central to Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India. Twigs, leaves and oil have been used for skin problems, for cleaning teeth and gums, and as an insect repellent.
- How people take it
- Leaf or seed oil applied to the skin or used in soaps and creams, twig chewed or neem-based toothpaste and mouthwash for the gums, leaf teas and capsules, and neem oil sprays as a repellent. Neem oil is not meant to be swallowed.
- What the evidence shows
- Evidence is limited. Small studies have looked at neem for skin conditions, gum health and as an insect repellent, but there is not enough good-quality research to show that it works or to say what a safe amount is for people. Check NIH NCCIH and Mayo Clinic for their current information.
- Cautions and interactions
- Neem oil taken by mouth has caused serious poisoning in young children, so keep all neem products away from children and never give it to a child. Avoid neem in pregnancy and when trying to conceive. Neem may lower blood sugar, which matters with diabetes medicines, and it may affect the immune system, so ask your doctor first if you take immunosuppressants or have an autoimmune condition. It is for short-term use only. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it, and get emergency care right away if someone has swallowed neem oil.
More herbs
Where to read more
The information here was written for this site as a plain-language overview. For current, detailed and regularly reviewed information, check the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Mayo Clinic, which both have herb and supplement fact sheets. Your pharmacist can also check your medicines for interactions. Research changes over time, so these sources are always the better place to confirm the latest guidance.
Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
