Neem and Tulsi were two herbs that I identified from pubmed literature in 2011, based on what was published then. They fitted the profile that I was looking for to correct the bacteria shift as I understood it then. Some people have reported significant improvement from taking them. It is time to update to the current knowledge about it:
“Indigenous uses of Azadirachta indica A. juss (Maliaceae) (locally known as neem) leaves in different parts of India for curing gastrointestinal disorder such as diarrhea and cholera is wide spread…The results obtained in this study give some scientific support to the uses of neem employed by the indigenous people in India employed for the treatment of diarrhea and dreadful disease cholera.” [2007]
Azadirachta indica mitigates behavioral impairments, oxidative damage, histological alterations and apoptosis in focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model of rats[2013] “Our data revealed that ASE has potent antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, and may be explored for its active constituents against neurodegenerative diseases.”
Decoction of leaves is taken for digestive and gastric problems[2015]
“The antibacterial activity of an ethylacetate neem cake extract (NCE) against bacteria that affect meat quality, namely Campylobacter jejuni, Carnobacterium spp., Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus sakei and Leuconostoc sp., is reported.” [2015]
Effect of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) leaf extract on resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and Schistosoma mansoni worms[2015]. “Neem leaf ethanolic extract presented inhibitory effect on MRSA biofilm and planktonic aggregation formation, and anthelmintic activity against S. mansoni worms.”
“Among various extracts, only ethanolic extract of Azadirachta indica … were found to have potentially promising activity against test microorganisms..On the whole ethanolic extracts exhibited maximum antimicrobial effect than their corresponding aqueous and n-hexane extracts, when compared with standard antibiotics i.e., Streptomycin and Tetracycline..” [2014]
Leaf extract of Azadirachta indica (neem): a potential antibiofilm agent for Pseudomonas aeruginosa [2013].
In vitro antiviral activity of neem (Azardirachta indica L.) bark extract against herpes simplex virus type-1 infection [2010]. “These findings open a potential new avenue for the development of NBE as a novel antiherpetic microbicide.”
“A. indica showed strong activity against tested bacterial strains… six bacterial strains–Pseudomonas testosteroni, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus morganii, Micrococcus flavus.” [2007]
” Azadirachta indica (bark)…exhibited a bactericidal effect against M. smegmatis” [2007]
“There was a clear indication that both tablet suspensions from the leaf and bark possess antimalarial activity and a suspension from the former is relatively more effective than the bark.” [2003]
” an aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica stem bark was shown to enhance the immune response of BALB/C mice to sheep red blood cells in vivo.” [1999]
“Azadirachta indica (stem bark and leaves), and Spilanthes mauritiana (roots and flowers) were tested against 105 strains of bacteria from seven genera (Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Mycobacterium). The minimum inhibitory concentration reached by 50% (MIC50%) and 90% (MIC90) of the strains for the extracts of E. abyssinica, T. spinosa, X. caffra, and A. indica (stem bark) ranged from 0.13-8 mg/ml and from 0.5 to > 8 mg/ml, respectively. T..It is concluded that plant extracts with low MIC and MBC values may serve as sources for compounds with therapeutic potency.” [1998]
“It is concluded that these plants contain compounds with antimicrobial activity against H. pylori.” [1996]
“These data suggest that Neem stick extract can reduce the ability of some streptococci to colonize tooth surfaces.” [1996]
Bottom Line
Neem is effective against a very wide range of bacteria – from H. Pylori to Vibrio cholerae (Cholera). For myself, I went up to 8 “00” capsules per day of organic Neem and Tulsi powder (purchased in bulk and making my own capsules). Both Neem and Tulsi have been used a very long time in Asia for digestive issues.
Side Note:
I spotted this ranking, obtaining these (and verifying they are safe to use) would not be easy….
“, the most effective 10 plants against uropathogens could be arranged in decreasing order as follows: C. tora > A. acuminata > Schleichera oleosa > Pterocarpus santalinus > Eugenia jambolana > Bridelia retusa > Mimusops elengi > Stereospermum kunthianum > Tectona grandis > Anthocephalus cadamba.” [2013]
Cassia tora > sickle senna, sickle pod, tora, coffee pod, tovara, chakvad and foetid cassia.[
Acacia acuminata > raspberry jam tree, fine leaf jam, “raspberry jam” or jam tree, i
Schleichera oleosa > soapberry
Pterocarpus santalinus > red sanders, red sandalwood, and saunderswood,
Eugenia jambolana > jambul, jambolan, jamblang or jamun,
Bridelia retusa >
Mimusops elengi > Spanish cherry,[1]medlar,[1] and bullet wood
Stereospermum kunthianum >
Tectona grandis > Teak
Anthocephalus cadamba. burflower-tree, laran, and Leichhardt pine,[
