Info needed on Nim (Neem?) tree

To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Subject: Info needed on Nim (Neem?) tree
From: Rafe Ronkin <Rafe.Ronkin@P18.F151.N109.Z1.FIDONET.ORG>
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1993 22:13:00 -0400

 > Does anyone on the "network" have information about
 > this tree or can you
 > point us to someone who does?

Bob,

The American Heritage Dictionary, 3d ed. says neem is "a tall,
usually evergreen East Indian tree (Azadirachta indica) widely
cultivated in tropical Asia for its timber, resin, bitter bark,
and aromatic seed oil. [Hindi nim, from Sanskrit nimbah.]"

These days, people are finding all kinds of "promising" and actual
pharmaceutical chemicals in neem. In many rural parts of India,
people chew and brush their teeth with neem twigs (I think the
twigs are full of salicylates) as they walk to work in the
morning. And some Indians believe that neem embodies male
principles (not necessarily pharmacological) in contrast to the
peepul or bo tree, Ficus religiosa.

-Rafe-

R. R. Ronkin
<rafe.ronkin@p18.f151.n109.z1.fidonet.org>
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 * Origin: Rafe's point. (1:109/151.18)