Looking for neem? Have you ever been in the market for top quality neem products but did not know what to look for? Neem based products are starting to become more available, but as of now are usually only found on the web or in health shops and other out of the way places. These products are not easy to find, so it is easy to grab the first thing you stumble upon just because it says neem on it. Here are some quick tips that will help you make an informed decision before purchasing anything-
Find Out How The Neem Oil Was Removed From The Neem Seeds There are many methods used to extract the oil from the seeds. As you might have already concluded, not all extraction process produce the same quality oil. The extraction process that produces the highest quality neem oil is called cold pressing. Cold pressing neem oil is the best, as the majority of the active compounds remain intact. It is also the oldest way to extract the oil. It uses a mechanical device that squeezes the oil out of the seeds. Always try to get cold pressed neem oil where possible.
The next method uses superheated water and extreme temperatures. Though this method retrieves a larger quantity of oil from the neem seeds than cold pressing, a lot of the active compounds in the neem oil can possibly be destroyed because of the extreme temperatures.
The third process is the most preferred one that most manufacturers use because it yields the most oil. The method is called solvent extraction, and usually hexane (white gasoline) is the solvent that is used. Though this method extracts almost all of the neem oil from the seeds, the harsh chemicals destroy most of the active compounds in the neem seed oil. To add to this and the fact that the chemical is poisonous, it is best that you look for products that do not contain neem oil that was extracted using them.
Be Sure The Products Do Not Contain Additives Most bath and beauty items these days contain chemical compounds to “enhance” them, so to speak. But keep in mind that some of these compounds can likely cause adverse side effects. Two of the most common compounds that are in most products today are Lauryl Sulfates and Parabens. SLS’s are often used as foam producers, because they are not very costly and work very well. A lot of inexpensive neem shampoo and soap products contain these additives as well. But, these chemicals are known to have some side effects. The US Food and Drug Administration asks manufacturers not to use them.
Parabens are often used for preserving, and though there has been no real studies showing that that they are potentially dangerous, they are becoming more and more controversial. Some organizations feel they should be avoided for the sake of precaution.
Be Sure To Look For Certified Organic Ingredients For obvious reasons, organic ingredients are always more desireable than ones that are not. These ingredients are all natural, and have not been exposed to man-made chemicals, synthetic fertilizers, the like. Look for labels that list the ingredients. If a producer uses organic ingredients, they will always state this (it’s a selling point) somewhere on the packaging.