Health Remedies
Neem flowers are dried, aged for months, fried and ingested to improve eyesight and treat disgestive disorders, including excessive bile, phlegm and intestinal worms. Practitioners of alternative medicine also mix neem flowers with other parts of the neem tree to treat blood problems, leprosy, itching and other skin conditions. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of neem as a health remedy of any kind.

Neem Flowers

Most parts of the neem tree are awfully bitter, with the exception of its flowers. White and delicate, neem flowers with their off-white buds are almost too pretty to be eaten and unbelievably therapeutic. The flowers have a sweet, almost mystical jasmine like scent at night and blossom once in the afternoon and then again in the evening. During the monsoon, you’ll see a bunch of them scattered right under the tree. Also known as Vepampoo in Tamil, these neem flowers can be used fresh, dried or in a powdered form. They’re used commonly in the South to cook a number of dishes: flower rice, pachadi, rasam, lentils and more. They’re often dry roasted and sprinkled on top of the dish to garnish as well.

Neem flowers can be used to treat anorexia, nausea, belching and intestinal worms. Ayurveda suggests neem leaves are good for the eyes and useful in treating skin disease and headaches. They’re used in aromatherapy because of their calming effect. A 2008 study also found the alcoholic extract of the neem flowers to be an effective contraceptive.