The neem tree stands in every second courtyard across southern Punjab, and its bitterness has been trusted for a very long time. Laraib takes the seed kernels of that same tree and presses them into a dark, unmistakably pungent green oil. It is not a pleasant-smelling product and was never intended to be — neem has always earned its place by working.
What it is traditionally used for
- Applied to old, slow-healing wounds that have refused to settle on their own
- Massaged into the scalp, where it has long been used to clear head lice and their eggs
- Dabbed on congested, troubled skin as a traditional purifying oil
- Valued for a high antioxidant content that is said to shield the skin from dust, sun and everyday environmental damage
- Taken up as a source of the essential fatty acids and vitamins that keep skin supple
How it is made
Neem seed is gathered from a single growing district, sun-dried, decorticated and cold pressed — never solvent extracted — so the bitter azadirachtin fraction that gives the oil its character survives intact. It is filtered once and bottled dark. Nothing is added: no carrier oil, no fragrance to mask the smell, no preservative.
How to take it
External use only. For the scalp, part dry hair in sections and work the oil right down to the roots, cover with a cloth, leave for one to two hours, then comb through with a fine steel comb before washing out; repeat after seven days. On skin, apply sparingly to the affected area once or twice daily. If your skin is sensitive, dilute it half and half with coconut or sesame oil.
Good to know
- 30 ml bottle, DRAP registration number 0803812149
- 100% pure neem seed oil with nothing else in the bottle
- Strong bitter smell is natural and fades a few hours after washing
- Store away from sunlight; the oil may thicken in cold weather and clears when warmed
Kamran Nawaz (verified owner) –
My father had a diabetic-related sore on his shin that would not close. Under the doctor’s supervision we used this alongside his dressings in Bahawalpur and it improved steadily. Real neem, you can tell from the colour.
Shazia Haider (verified owner) –
It works on my back acne, no argument there. But the smell is genuinely difficult and my husband complains from the next room in Sialkot. I now mix it with coconut oil which helps a little.
Sana Nasir (verified owner) –
Two children, one school, the usual outcome. Used this on both heads in Rawalpindi with a steel comb, twice a week apart, and the problem was finished. Cheaper and faster than the chemist’s lotions.