Neem buying: Tips on how to buy quality neem products
Looking for neem? Have you ever been in the market for high quality neem but did not know what to look for? Neem-oil products are starting to become more available, but right now are for the most part only found on the internet or in small beauty shops and specialty stores. Because it is hard to find these products it is easy to grab the first thing you stumble upon just because it says neem on it. So here are some tips that will help you make an informed decision before you actually purchase an inferior product.
Know How The Oil Was Removed From The Neem Seeds There are a few different methods commonly used today to extract the oil from the neem tree seeds. As you might have already concluded, not all extraction process were created equally. The best extraction method that produces the highest quality neem seed oil is called cold pressing. Cold pressed neem oil is the best, because most active compounds remain intact. Cold pressing is also the first and most accepted method of extraction. It uses a mechanical device that squeezes the oil out of the seeds. Always opt for cold pressed neem oil where possible.
The next process uses steam and high pressure. Though this technique gets more oil from the seeds than using a mechanical press, a lot of the active compounds in the neem oil can possibly be destroyed by the exposure to high heat.
A third extraction method is one that most processors use because it gets the most oil. It is called solvent extraction, and in most cases hexane (also known as gasoline) is the solvent of choice. Even though this technique extracts nearly all of the oil from the neem seeds, the chemicals destroy many of the active compounds in the neem seed oil. And along with this and the fact that the chemical being used is poisonous, it is highly recommended that you look for neem products that do not contain solvent extracted neem oil.
Be Sure The Products Do Not Contain Additives Nearly all bath and cosmetic products these days contain chemicals to “enhance” how the product works. At the same time, some of these chemicals can likely cause adverse side effects. Two of the most common chemicals that may be in most products today are Lauryl Sulfates (SLS) and Parabens. SLS’s are commonly used as foam enhancers, because they are inexpensive and work very well. A lot of inexpensive neem oil and soap products use these additives as well. But, these chemicals are a known irritant. The US Food and Drug Administration asks manufacturers not to use them.
Parabens are common preservatives, and though there has been no real studies showing that that they are potentially dangerous, they are starting to be avoided by many. Some organizations feel they should be avoided for the sake of precaution.
Try To Find Certified Organic Ingredients Of course, organic ingredients are always more desireable than ones that are not. These are natural substances, and have not been exposed to potentially dangerous chemical compounds, fertilizers, the like. Look for labels that list certified organic ingredients. If a manufacturer uses them, they will almost always state this selling point somewhere on the packaging.