Due to popular demand we are reaching into our archives! Today we publish the June 7, 2007 edition of Buckston and Huber’s Alternative.

NEEM is considered one of the most economically viable crops that can be grown in Jamaica that would yield agricultural environmental and health benefits.

It is a plant that has acclimatised itself very well in Jamaica and protects against pests and a host of other parasites. It provides lots of health benefits for the skin and might even be a solution for skin cancers and vitiligo.

Neem is a tropical plant from Myanmar (Burma) and India and is revered in those countries. The word neem means ‘healer’ and ‘illness reliever’. It has been around since 1500 BC and is registered in many religious writings.

The neem tree continues to be an important part of people’s lives in Indian culture, in healing and as a cosmetic agent. A host of scientific research has been done on the leaves and seeds of the plant, and the evidence has shown that the plant treated with neem withstood many types of parasites. Plant eaters and parasites, such as caterpillars, lice, beetles, worms, mites, fungi, bacteria and even some viruses react to ingredients of neem. It gets rid of parasites gradually.

In humans, it can prevent and cure fevers, cold and intestinal parasites, mosquito bites and malaria. It is good for scabies and may be found in preparations for ointments, lotions, soaps and disinfectants. The tree is a member of the Mahogany family, but its wood is by no means red. It exhibits a whitish colour and is parasite free.

The tree is now grown in many African countries and people there are beginning to learn the value of this wonderful shade tree. It grows profusely in Jamaica, as well as in Central and South America, and there are ongoing experiments at the University of the West Indies’ (UWI’s) Cave Hill and Mona campuses.

It is said that neem might be the solution for birth control in men as experiments have shown it can make sperm infertile without affecting sex drive or impeding the sperm count. For Indians, the plant is a sacred one and faithful Hindus take a neem bath on each New Year’s Day for blessing.

Buckston Harrison was well known for his work as a herbalist, especially in western Jamaica. He resided in Sheffield, Westmoreland until his untimely passing on Monday, March 22, 2010.

The healing powers of nature

A stupid move on my part last week has landed me in a position to observe nature’s ability to heal first-hand. I am nursing a knee that is now half the size of a football, and could barely walk a couple days ago.

I have seen water, heat, herb and time work wonders over the past four days. On days like these I am reminded of the true priorities in life. A little something in the pantry, a garden with herbs and vegetables, some clean water and someone around to help you out is worth more than money in the bank.

I guess I am in the lucky 60 per cent of residents who, according to one government official mentioned in the Observer a couple weeks ago, use herbal medicines as a preferred choice. I never see any reason to switch from that mode of treatment.

I did get some very good advice from a doctor recently about treating injuries of this nature. He told me to do as much as I could without causing any pain. I can say though that with the experience of a few serious injuries to go by from my time in martial arts competitions, I can rate this one as being ‘up there’.

It looks serious and as if quite a lot of tissue has been damaged. I can now hop about with one stick, and I haven’t made any big plans for the next few days.

Thomas ‘Bongo Tommy’ Huber is a Swiss national who migrated to Westmoreland’s Retrieve District over 10 years ago. He is a naturalist who lives off the land and is deeply involved in an ongoing effort to create Jamaica’s next generation of exotic fruit trees.