Azadirachta indica 1:1 extract: neem in liquid form
The neem tree grows across the Indian subcontinent, where it holds a place few other trees do. Leaves, bark, flowers and seeds all find a use, which is why neem is sometimes called the village pharmacy in India. Written references to the tree go back thousands of years in Indian tradition. This liquid extract reduces the plant material to a tincture you can measure out drop by drop, with no need to brew or steep anything yourself.
What you get is a 1:1 extract in a 10 ml bottle. That ratio describes the concentration: roughly one gram of plant material has gone into every millilitre of liquid. For comparison, a 2.5:1 extract packs two and a half times as much plant material into the same millilitre. A 1:1 extract therefore stays close to the raw material, and you can taste that. Neem is known for its firm bitterness, followed by a herbal aftertaste that hangs around for a while.
Use and dosage
As with most herbal tinctures, you take a few drops in a glass of water or juice. Shake the bottle before use. Because of that bitterness, many people prefer to stir the drops into a strong tea or a fruit juice rather than taking the tincture straight under the tongue. Start with a small number of drops and work out from there what suits you.
Storage and precautions
Keep the bottle cool, dry and out of direct light, and store it well away from young children. If you take medication, are pregnant or are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor first. At Avalon Magic Plants you will find dozens of other 1:1 extracts in the same category, including nettle, chamomile, ginger, dandelion and ashwagandha.
