Neem oil facts for kids
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Neem oil, also known as margosa oil, is a special oil made from the fruits and seeds of the neem tree. This tree grows naturally in places like India and has been planted in many other warm, tropical areas around the world. Neem oil is one of the most important products from the neem tree. People use it in organic farming and also in some traditional medicines.
Contents
What's Inside Neem Oil?
Neem oil has many natural ingredients. The most famous one is called Azadirachtin. It's a special chemical that helps neem oil work. Another important ingredient is nimbin. Scientists believe nimbin helps neem oil act as a germ-fighter, a fungus-fighter, a fever-reducer, and an allergy-blocker.
How Neem Oil is Used
In Traditional Medicine
Neem oil has been used for a long time in Ayurveda, which is a type of traditional healing system from India. There is some early research looking into its use for skin problems that can happen during certain cancer treatments.
Safety and Warnings
It is not safe to eat neem oil, especially for babies and young children. If swallowed, it can cause serious health problems. Pregnant women or women trying to have a baby should also avoid consuming it. Some people might also get an allergic skin rash if neem oil touches their skin. It's always best to be careful and use neem oil only as directed.
In Coatings and Resins
Recently, people have started using neem oil to make different kinds of plastic-like materials called resins. These resins can then be used to create special coatings, like paints or protective layers, for various surfaces.
As a Natural Pesticide
Neem oil is very popular as a biopesticide, which means it's a natural way to control pests. Farmers who practice organic farming and gardeners use it a lot. It helps to keep away many different kinds of pests, including:
- Mealy bugs
- Beet armyworms
- Aphids
- Cabbage worms
- Thrips
- Whiteflies
- Mites
- Fungus gnats
- Beetles
- Moth larvae
- Mushroom flies
- Leafminers
- Caterpillars
- Locusts
- Nematodes
- Japanese beetles
One great thing about neem oil is that it's generally not harmful to mammals (like humans or pets), birds, or earthworms. It also doesn't usually hurt helpful insects like butterflies, honeybees, and ladybugs, as long as it's not sprayed directly on them or their food in high amounts.
Neem oil can also be used around the house to help control pests like ants, bedbugs, cockroaches, houseflies, sand flies, snails, termites, and mosquitoes. It can work as a repellent (keeping them away) and also stop mosquito larvae from growing.
How does it work? Neem extracts make insects stop eating. They also block a special hormone called ecdysone that insects need to grow and change. Azadirachtin is the most active of these growth regulators. It makes up about 0.2–0.4% of the chemicals found in neem tree seeds.
See also
In Spanish: Aceite de nim para niños
