Neem Oil - how to use it - Making Soap NaturallyMaking Soap Naturally

Neem Oil – how to use it

Neem Oil Uses

Tips on how to use Neem oil

As a rule of thumb when using Neem Oil on your skin your dilution should be between 2 and 5 %.

Some of the recipes below are more than 5%…..just keep an eye out for skin irritation

· Cuts, wounds, minor skin disorders and mosquito and insect repellant

o Mix or a carrier oil such as Olive Oil in a ratio of 1:5 and apply to affected area.

· Athlete’s foot

o Add 15 ml to warm water and soak your feet

· Head lice

o Mix 50/50 with a carrier oil and massage into hair and scalp. Leave for 1 hour and shampoo. Repeat once a week for 3 weeks or as long as needed

· Dandruff and itchy scalp

o Add a few drops to your regular shampoo.

· Psoriasis, cold sores, eczema, athletes foot, skin ulcers and other fungal skin conditions

o Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) with 4 ounces (120 ml) carrier oil such as jojoba or grape seed and apply twice a day to affected skin. Should skin irritation occur, discontinue use, or make mixture with less Neem oil, a good alternative would be Neem Cream.

· Pet and livestock spray for ticks, fleas, mange mites and other pests

o Mix 1 ounce (30 ml) oil with 1 gallon (3.8 liter) water and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid (to emulsify the oil). Place mixture into a spray bottle or other type of sprayer, and spray animals once every two weeks. (This mixture can be used on indoor and outdoor plants as well as flowers and vegetables.)

· Cleaning the house

o Add to carpet shampoos and spray mattresses to kill dust mites.

· FOR ALL THE ABOVE

o As Neem oil has a rather strong smell you may want to add a few drops of essential oil to your mixture in order to mask the smell. Lavender or lemongrass essential oils work well

o Neem should be stored in a cool dark place, away from sunlight. Neem oil can easily solidify – even at low room temperatures. Should this happen put the bottle in warm water (below 95 degree F) to liquify. Do not place in near boiling water, as it may reduce the effectiveness of the oil.