• Noma Nainar is my VP and the webmaster for the MCG.  Her expertise is amazing and I encourage each of you to check out our website: www.malaysianculturegroup.com.  
• Caryl Haxworth is another young committee member who is updating and streamlining our membership procedures, which with our fluctuating membership is a huge job. 
• Susan Thomas will be taking over our recently resurrected Explorers' group.  She has been a very active member of this group since its rise from the ashes last September.
• Last but certainly not least, Gabriela Cabral is taking on the job of EP head which is a fulltime job with the MCG.  Luckily, Gabi has been an active member of the EP team and is familiar with the inner workings of the group. 

• Azizah Mohd. Noor
• Leni Chan
• Hilary Munro
• Nisha Dobberstein
• Renata Greplova
• Suzanne Davey
• Diana Cooper.

I would like to encourage all of you to become more involved in the MCG whether by joining the EP team or Explorers', contributing ideas for interesting talks or events, or simply offering your home as a venue.

Now with the 'business' out of the way, we are busy planning an exciting year for the MCG and we will continue to organise outstanding events throughout the summer as can be seen in this newsletter.

To those of you leaving KL over the summer, Selamat Jalan and I wish you a safe journey. To those remaining here, Selamat Tinggal and enjoy the exciting events we have planned for you.

1ST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH LECTURE SERIES:
Whirling Dervishes: The Search for Spirituality - another aspect of Sufi-ism: 04 June

Last month's speaker, Arshad Ashraf , whet our appetite when he spoke about the search for spirituality via the Sufi path. To help us learn more, our speaker this month, Dr Ghulam, will continue this theme with particular reference to the Whirling Dervishes. Whirling is one of the tools used by Sufis (Islamic Mystics) to come closer to Allah, the vast majority of whom trace their spiritual roots to Jalaluddin Mevlâna Rumi.

The largest Dervish festival is the annual Mevlâna Festival, which is held in Konya, Turkey in mid-December. It culminates on December 17th, the anniversary of Rumi's 'wedding night with Allah' (his death). The festival features numerous performances of the semâ (whirling ceremony). Dr Ghulam will also be showing us a visual presentation of the same, to help facilitate our understanding.

Join us for another fascinating morning!

Since our 'rebirth' we have visited the Money Museum; Pulau Ketam; the Dark Cave at Batu Caves; Yayasan Restu; Bentong, Sin Chew Jit Poh (daily Chinese newspaper); and Datin Leong!  If some of these are unknown to you - that's the point!!!  You can learn more about these events and the Explorers' group on our website: www.malaysianculturegroup.com

Last month we had the pleasure of viewing the Nyonya Kebaya collection at the National Art Gallery. We are going to continue this theme by viewing a collection of antique Nyonya and Malay jewellery including pieces such as the three brooches used to close the kebaya, known as kerosang so essential to complete the Nyonya look. The finely crafted jewellery is made of gold and Intans, the offcuts of diamonds used extensively in Nyonya jewellery of this period. Chan Yue Yee, a collector of this fine Nyonya jewellery, has invited us to her store, Heirloom, to view her collection

Chan Yue Yee started her career as an interior designer. This whet her appetite for beautifully crafted things, and she became interested in antique Kain Songket from the east coast. From textiles she moved on to antique Malay jewellery, and then narrowed her field to Nyonya jewellery and kebayas.

Please join us for this fascinating and informative morning, wearing your kebayas and Nyonya jewellery please!

After the ceremony all participants will adjourn to the Kinta Golf Club, Batu Gajah for tea, coffee and refreshments courtesy of the MPOA. Prof. Khoo Kay Kim, eminent historian known to many of you through his MCG lectures, and Dato' J.J. Raj, formerly of Special Forces, will be giving a talk about that interesting period of history.

Come join us on a visit to the Money Museum of Bank Negara Malaysia, which was opened in 1987 to commemorate the 30^th anniversary of the Bank. The Museum has a fascinating collection of primitive money, barter trade currency; pre-colonial Malay States money, money used during the colonial periods, as well as the later issues and foreign coins used in this country. You will be able to understand the background for some of the currency designs. Puan Rohaya Juli, the curator of the Museum, has kindly agreed to conduct the tour of the exhibition.

As parking is limited within the Bank premises, we are advised that we can park for free at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial at Jalan Dato Onn, another option is the parking at Dataran Merdeka.

It was such a magical evening, with a very auspicious start. The rain gods smiled on us whereby it rained all afternoon and early evening, but stopped when we arrived. With muted lighting, candles and most women dressed in ethnic Indian clothes, the myriad of colours and styles made for a wonderful ambience. Sutra House is a discovery in itself. The architecture and photographic exhibition of Sivarajah Natarajan's works on Odissi complemented the mood for the evening.

A buffet-style Indian meal with hot Dosa's fresh off the griddle was served…..mmmm…… Soon it was time for the main event and we made our way over to the amphitheatre. With its beautifully illuminated trees and plants, it made a stunning setting for the performance.

It's always a treat to watch Ramli dance; his movements are so fluid that sometimes it's hard to distinguish the dancer from the form. His students January, Revathi and Vidhya with a guest dancer from India made up the core group of dancers. What truly enhanced the performance and quite a treat were the musicians from India as you never get to hear a live performance by classical Indian musicians.

After a scintillating performance, we had a short session of Q & A. And soon it was time to call it a night. With our minds and hearts filled with wonderful sounds and sensations we slowly made our way home. Truly a night to remember!
- Nisha Dobberstein

It was a  pleasure to view the exquisite private Nyonya Kebaya collection of Y.A. Bhg. Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood.  Puan Zanita Anwar, curator of NAG, expertly guided us through the modern and heritage pieces that Endon has painstakingly collected over many years.  She is trying to revive this heritage garment in Malaysia and was instrumental in organizing a kebaya-themed competition during the recent KL Fashion Week.  In fact, fashion schools have brought the kebaya back into the syllabus and students are once again learning this craft.

First a little history lesson: the Babas and Nyonyas, also known as Peranankan Cina, are a sub-ethnic group of the Chinese community, whose lifestyle and culture is a fusion of Chinese and Malay influences. It all started in the 15th century when Malacca became a thriving city-state on the main trade route between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Many of these traders came from China and settled in Malacca to create permanent social and commercial ties. It isn't known for certain how the Chinese adopted the ways of the Malays, which sparked the cultural fusion that is the Baba Nyonya culture of today.  For several centuries this group flourished throughout Malaysia and they took great pride in showing their wealth in the clothing and jewellery that they wore and the impressive houses that they built.  The 20th century was not as kind to the Baba Nyonyas, beginning with the rubber crash of the 1920's thru WWII.  Many families had to sell their material possessions just to get by. Through all of this, the Baba Nyonya communities remained strong as is evident by the many events and gatherings organized by the Baba Nyonya associations. This culture has now become quite fashionable with locals and tourists and many Nyonya antique shops and restaurants have sprung up.

During our tour, Zanita explained to us the various motifs, stitches, embroidery and colours used in the kebayas. The type of kebaya worn depended on a woman's age and the event she was attending.  Generally speaking, younger Nyonyas wore brighter colours while older ladies wore more subdued shades.  The more subdued patterns of all white or light blue were reserved for funerals and wakes.  Birthdays on the other hand were an occasion for dragons or other auspicious symbols of longevity.  Accessorizing these beautiful garments was some fabulous jewellery, which are also on display, and are treasured collector's items.

Overall, the Baba Nyonya heritage seems to be well preserved whether it be clothing or jewellery and with increased interest among young Malaysians, the Nyonya kebaya seems to have a bright future.

I sincerely hope that you have seen this extraordinary exhibit, but if not, visit our MCG library and check out the The Nyonya Kebaya by Datin Seri Endon Mahmood.
- Cindy Zeier

For its April meeting, the Explorers' group headed down to the PJ headquarters of the Sin Chew Daily which has the biggest readership of all of the Malaysian papers, even though less than 20 percent of the Malaysian population reads Chinese. So we wanted to find out why Sin Chew was so popular. One of the first things we discovered is that Sin Chew Daily cost RM2.50 a copy to produce but sells at only RM1.20. Nevertheless, Sin Chew makes a profit because the newspaper is stuffed to the gills with advertisements, and advertisers will pay top dollar for a slot in Sin Chew as circulation is so high. We learnt how to type Chinese using a Western keyboard and also how the newspaper is actually printed: Four pages at a time are photographed onto zinc sheets which are then inserted into the rather smelly and very noisy printing press which rolls off several hundred copies a minute. We also met with the group editor, Ms NC Siew, who explained some of the politics of running a newspaper in Malaysia. For starters, the Chinese characters for Sin Chew are actually another name for Singapore. The paper was founded in Singapore (by the same brothers who invented Tiger Balm) back in the 30's and survived the separation of Singapore and Malaysia. But in the 80's, the Malaysian government insisted that Sin Chew be owned by Malaysians, so the paper was sold. Nevertheless it retained its name. Because Sin Chew is in Chinese, the paper has marginally more freedom than the English and Malay papers as most of the top layers of government do not speak Chinese. Still, like all other newspapers in Malaysia, it has to renew its printing licence each year, and in 1987 it was closed for several months in the aftermath of Operasi Lalang mainly because its coverage was considered too risque. The main political issue of the day we visited was SARS and the government's handling of the crisis. Ms Siew said that her newspaper had come under pressure because it was putting SARS information on the front page, and not hiding it discreetly on the inside pages. But she said the paper would continue with its coverage, because it was an issue that its readership felt very strongly about. In fact, Sin Chew's main strength seemed to be the close relationship with its readers. There are two editions of the paper each day and there are more than 500 Sin Chew reporters stationed all round the country, with seven regional editions covering local news. Sin Chew has a charitable foundation and organises lots of public forums on issues of interest, and each day it receives upwards of a hundred calls from readers on various topics. In fact, since the SARS outbreak, calls and letters have been increasing steadily. There was particularly strong opposition to a statement by the health minister in late March that no SARS cases had been confirmed in Malaysia.
- Lorien Holland

For anyone who has lived in Asia for any length of time, you will know that the Chinese are rather superstitious. We all know that the number eight and the colour red are good. But did you know how much more there is to it, even, for example in your everyday Chinese furniture?

Ms Felicia Hiew, Country Manager of the Tomlinson Gallery, gave a wonderful and informative lecture on Chinese auspicious symbols. Held at the Tomlinson Gallery in Ampang, Felicia took us through a selection of symbols and their meanings, pointing out examples in pieces of furniture in the gallery. The old adage of "the more you learn, the less you know" certainly held true here! Nevertheless, below are a few of the things we did learn.

Chinese symbolism was developed as an art form for the illiterate masses, mainly the peasants. As they could not read or write, an illustrative language was used instead to communicate ideas and get the message across. Often, words that sounded the same [homophones] could be shown using pictures. Thus, a picture of a bat communicated the word for fortune, as it sounds the same as the word for 'bat'. These symbols were used in paintings, furniture, ceramics and textiles.

As mentioned before, the bat is a popular symbol in Chinese belief. Whilst in the West, it tends to represent evil, the dark forces or Dracula, to the Chinese it symbolizes good fortune, prosperity and happiness. To represent even MORE fortune, the bat would be painted red. Again, the word 'widespread' or 'huge' sounds the same as the word 'red' - hence the red bat…huge fortune!

To the Chinese, this concept of fortune (fook) is manifested in five things:

• old age (this is good because it means you have good children to take care of you)
• love of virtue
• health
• wealth
• death in peace (die naturally without suffering, sickness or hunger)

On porcelain, it is common to see the 'three friends of winter' - the cherry blossom, bamboo and pine tree. The cherry blossom represents perseverance as no matter how cold each winter is, it always blooms in spring each year. The bamboo symbolizes longevity. This is because it stays green all year round. It also represents a true gentleman's behaviour because when the wind blows, it doesn't break meaning that a gentleman sticks to his principles no matter what. The last of the three friends is the pine tree representing strength and longevity. These auspicious symbols on porcelain are shown below.

Another set of auspicious symbols is The Eight Immortals who are commonly represented in statues of jade or crystal given to people on their birthday. These Taoist figures were real people during the 2^nd century. Each of the eight figures (6 men, 1 woman, 1 unknown) is a patron saint and their motto is that if you work towards what you believe in, you can achieve immortality, as they did. The single female figure, He Xiangu, is the patron saint of housewives - a very important figure as the housewife is the source of happiness for an entire family. She provides the food, takes care of the household, parents-in-law and family whilst the husband works or studies all day. He Xiangu is pictured with a lotus pod. The lotus represents purity as it emerges from muddy water but remains unstained.

The list of symbols is long and for those who are interested, I would strongly recommend that you clear a full morning and go to see Felicia at the Gallery for more fascinating insights. For further reading on this topic, a great book available in the MCG library is Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs by C.A.S. Williams.
- Inge de Boer

Our May lecturer, Dr Arshad Ashraf, explained to us that Sufi-ism represents the essence of Islam, rather than being a separate sect within Islam. Some Sufis believe that external realities are a barrier to being close to God. They want to experience God now, rather than wait until after death. The Sufis focus on the oneness of God. They believe in selfless love of God. All they are concerned with is this love of God. They are not and must not be motivated by the fear of hell or the reward of heaven!

Arshad explained to us how his own interest in Suf-ism developed and he put the development of Sufi philosophy and rational thought in historical context for us. He explained that concepts such as free-will and pre-destination are not answered in the Koran, and the writings of the great Sufi masters, beginning as early as the 8^th century, have taken discussion of these issues and other great philosophical questions to another intellectual plane.

Those wishing to follow the Sufi path to enlightenment must have a mentor or shaykh to guide them and many Muslims today have difficulty dealing with this concept because it implies an absolute trust in another and they feel that there is potential for distortion of the truth along this pathway.

We look forward to further exploring Sufi-ism in our next month's lecture.
- Suzanne Davey

Fine Arts; Graphic Design; Photography; Interior Design; Industrial Design; Music and Textile and Fashion Design are some of the diplomas offered at the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA). With a mission to provide the most conducive learning environment for affordable and quality education in the field of art and design, and encourage the pursuit of creative excellence, IT knowledge and humanity, the MIA is an inspiring centre of learning and creativity. Choong Kam Kow, President and CEO of the MIA welcomed the MCG, and invited us to view the current textile design exhibition by recent graduates in Textile and Fashion Design. Samsuddin Abu Bakar, Fatimah Bte. Chik and Lai Hoo Chu joined Mr. Choong in guiding us in our tour, explaining the different techniques and the design themes. While this field of study focuses on textile design, it was interesting to note that the principles taught in the course can be applied to any surface design, and graduating students go on to work on design in ceramics, gift-wrap, industrial applications, floor coverings and so on.

Designs in the exhibition were grouped into landscape, ethnic and nature themes. Students must provide all their own materials in this course - both the base cloth and dyes when preparing their work for assessment - so the range of colour and fabrics in the exhibition was immediately striking. Silks, cottons, stripes and textured clothes formed the backdrop for unique silk-screened or batik printed designs. Students are taught early in their studies about the basic principles of silk screening and batik and their various techniques. A collection of textile 'templates' was displayed at the exhibition, showing the use of wax, lacquer, cut-out masking and other styles of silk screening.

Being larger in proportion, the landscape designs presented immediate potential as soft furnishings, such as upholstery or curtains. Bold colours used in repeated large designs lent the pieces an international feel. The ethnic collections featured traditional themes such as masks and bamboo, exquisitively detailed batiks, and mixed themes with maps of Sarawak overlaid on repeated patterns. A striking design in the nature collection featured soaring eagles above a jungle, printed black against a white background.

Working from a foundation of more than 30 years' teaching, the MIA and its experienced staff are guiding the next generation of textile designers on their creative journeys. Evidence of this success was reinforced recently when an MIA graduate won the KL Fashion Design Award for 2003. As I viewed the exhibition, I was reminded of globally successful textile designs such as the Australian Mambo and Finnish Marimekko. MIA graduates are producing equally creative and innovative work. The design future of Malaysia is secure!
- Sara Boucaut

Butterfly Lovers, the famous Chinese legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, two lovers separated by wealth and honour, but finally meeting in death as butterflies, is the Temple of Fine Arts (TFA's) latest stage production. Since its first season in Kuala Lumpur in February 2002, it has gone on tour to Colombo, Sri Lanka , Penang, Perth and Chennai. Audience response has been overwhelming, leaving many moved by the experience.

What distinguishes Butterfly Lovers from TFA's previous attempts is the original music composed for the dance drama. The TFA musicians have successfully interpreted the emotions of the poignant tale of the lovers through a combination of Indian, Chinese and Western music elements, arranged dramatically and has won audiences' approval for their dexterous handling of the story. In the same fashion, the dance choreography makes use of our unique blend of classical and contemporary styles drawing inspirations from both Indian and Chinese cultures.

Butterfly Lovers now returns to Kuala Lumpur as a Charity Gala at Auditorium Dewan Sivik, Petaling Jaya, on 28 and 29 May, by popular demand and it is enhanced further with new choreography and dramatic changes to the set design. At the Charity Gala, a sumptuous vegetarian dinner will be provided by their sister organization, Annalakshmi Restaurant, followed by the staging of the musical. This event is to help raise funds for the new TFA building. In keeping with the tradition at TFA, admission is by invitation available from TFA and at Annalakshmi. Dinner 7.30 pm, Performance 8.30 pm.

For enquiries, call the Temple of Fine Arts, 114-116 Jalan Berhala, Brickfields, 50470, Kuala Lumpur.

Telephone 2274 3709, fax 2274 2969.

Whatever culture or race we belong to, we all have special moments when we celebrate, as at times of birth or marriage. These occasions are usually accompanied by music and followed by eating special foods, and are focal points in our social calendars that add brightness to the routine of life. The Malay Muslim 'naming day' is one of those occasions and for Christians can be compared to a Christening.

The 'naming day' traditionally happens after the 44 days when a woman is expected to be confined to her home (after giving birth), but these days, this is often not implemented with the same severity as before. Many women have to have a hospital birth before returning home with their baby and because of this they will already have moved from the place of birth. The 'confinement' period -- dalam hari -- was initially implemented as a way of decreasing the chance of mother and/or baby picking up an illness from outside the home. During this time women were thought to be very needful of additional heat. Perhaps because of blood loss and the stress on the body of breast-feeding, many women complained of feeling cold. Heated stones would be rubbed over their limbs and sometimes the mother would rest on a special large stone platform that had been heated from below. Women who were specially trained would come to the home and give the new mother daily massages. These were supposed to help the body to get back to 'normality' after the birth but would also serve the double purpose of making her feel invigorated and perhaps a little pampered. The food eaten was considered of great importance and had to be 'heaty'. This consisted solely of rice with black pepper (more heat) and grilled fish. No vegetables or fruit were eaten and one can only imagine the discomfort of constipation at this time! Perhaps this could be another good reason for the massages!

There are many ceremonies that used to happen following a birth; some modern Malays still participate in them but others no longer see them as significant for celebration. Naik buaian is when a child is first introduced to his cradle, and jejak tanah is the moment when his feet are introduced to the feel of the earth for the very first time. It is believed that after this moment the baby can leave the house and take in fresh air without the fear of being harmed by evil spirits.

At the end of the 44 days of 'confinement', called habis hari, a token of thanks is usually sent to the mosque and the baby is named in a religious celebration held in the child's home. Relatives and friends are invited, along with a religious person who is often an official from the mosque. In towns this is usually the Iman. This religious official first of all recites a special prayer - berzanji - that praises God and the prophet Mohammed, before the baby is brought to him to be blessed.

Finally, with a pair of scissors, the official cuts a piece of hair from the child's head followed by each of the guests doing the same thing. The clipped hair is kept carefully in a container before being buried. Finally the baby's head is shaved. The burying of all hair is important as to destroy it by burning is associated with being burnt in the fires of Hell. It was once believed that during the birth process the baby picked up all kinds of detritus that had to be got rid of before the child could live a healthy life in the outside world. Shaving the head was a way of 'cleansing' the scalp and believed to be the process by which all the senses (sight, hearing etc) could be enhanced.

The head shaving ritual is called potong jambul and people usually take a money gift for the child, which is the equivalent of the Chinese Ang Pow. Apparently another old custom at this time would be to slaughter a goat or a lamb (one for a girl and two for a boy) so that if the baby died, the animal would carry them to heaven on its back.

After more prayers food is served (usually special foods that are only served at times of celebration) and the assembled guests are able to do what comes naturally on this kind of occasion - ask to hold the baby and tell the new mother what a lovely child she has!
- Jan Thornton

Utpala: The Awakening: 30 & 31 May, 8.30pm
Sutra House welcomes all the way from India, Anita Ratnam & Arangham Dance Theatre, a dance troupe who will perform Utpala, a dance that combines music and contemporary movements together.

Passing: 6 - 8 June, 8.30pm
Choreographed by Wong Kit Yaw, this contemporary performance takes the audience through space and time, focusing on the energy and passion of the dancer.

Temu: 13-15 June, 8.30pm
Works choreographed by Syed Mustapha and Aida Redza of Tandak Dance Theatre and Ramli Ibrahim. Tandak is known for its contemporary works drawing aesthetics and inspiration from Malay dance idiom and culture.

If : The Faces: 20-22 June, 8.30pm
Contemporary dance with a gentle and lyrical quality. Performed by Judimar Monfils, Guna, Weijun and Biljana Kiryazova.

Admission by donation (RM30 minimum). Amphi-Sutra, Sutra House: 12 Persiaran Titiwangsa 3, Kuala Lumpur (Off Jalan Kuantan, beside Istana Budaya). Tel : 03-4021 1092. Open 11am-5pm (Mon-Fri) (weekends by appointment only)

Dancing Up Country: The Art Of Dorothy Napangardi: 20 May - 22 June

Australia's indigenous artist, Dorothy Napangardi, brings a selection of her artwork that echoes the strong cultural and ancestral linkage to the land. Admission is free

The Big Durian : Public Screening: 4 & 5 June, 5pm - 6 June, 9pm

Local writer and filmmaker Amir Muhammad directs this prickly affair about a soldier who runs a murderous amok with an M-16 rifle in Kuala Lumpur's Chow Kit district. This causes a citywide panic amid rumours of racial riots, and in the months to come a chain of events inadvertently affects the lives of many individuals.

The first recorded use of neem is attributed to the ancient East Indian Harrappa culture which added the plant to dozens of health and beauty aids 4,500 years ago. Medicinal attributes of neem were extolled in the oldest Sanskrit writings.

The neem tree is a slow-growing tropical evergreen related to mahogany with an often crooked trunk. Native to east India and Burma, it grows in much of Southeast Asia and West Africa. Its Sanskrit name: arishta, means 'reliever of sickness.' The neem tree does well in sub-humid to semi-arid conditions without irrigation and very little rainfall. One of the world's largest plantations is in Saudi Arabia, where approximately 50,000 trees have been planted on the Plains of Arafat.

To the people of India neem has miraculous powers, and now scientists around the world are beginning to think they may be right. Two decades of research have revealed promising results in so many disciplines that this obscure species may be of enormous benefit to countries both poor and rich. Even some of the most cautious researchers are saying that "neem deserves to be called a wonder plant."

In particular, neem may be the harbinger of a new generation of 'soft' pesticides that will allow people to protect crops in benign ways. Although apparently justified by the evidence, the rising enthusiasm is based largely on exploratory investigations rather than controlled experiments or the widespread use of neem products in modern practice. The results have seldom, if ever, been subjected to the rigors of independent evaluation or use. Once that happens, everything may change.

Neem has been used in India and all of south Asia for thousands of years as the preferred method for maintaining healthy teeth and gums . The people of India chew a neem twig until the end becomes bristles then brush with the natural 'toothbrush' to clean their teeth after meals. The bark and sap within the twig help clean the teeth and protect the mouth from disease. For those not inclined to chew neem twigs, toothpastes and mouthwashes containing neem are now available.

Neem is a herb of choice for skin diseases because of its bitter principles and has proven to be highly effective in treating disorders like psoriasis, acne, eczema, itching, dandruff and warts. According to Ayurveda, a centuries old healing system, the excess of sugary substances in the body causes skin diseases. To counteract them, the opposite of sweet -- bitter -- is prescribed. Neem has been used for treating all sorts of skin problems for thousands of years and is considered to be equal to or even superior to aloe in its healing properties. It is also used for the treatment of acne by killing the bacteria and reducing inflammation. To prevent and heal acne, first wash with neem soap, then use a neem face pack to soothe and tighten the skin. Finally, apply a neem-based cream to moisturise and condition the skin.

To treat dandruff, apply a neem-based cream to the scalp shortly before bathing. This will loosen the scaly flakes and soften the scalp. Using a neem shampoo will remove the loosened flakes and kill any pathogen that may attack the scalp. After the bath, apply a very small amount of neem cream to the scalp and towel dry the hair to remove any excess. Taking neem leaf tea, or using neem leaf capsules after an especially fatty or sugary meal will also help balance the body which can help prevent dandruff.

For mildly dry skin wash with neem soap, then apply a neem lotion as a moisturiser. For severe dry skin, after washing, apply neem cream and repeat several times daily until the skin has recovered its natural balance.

Neem seeds contain up to 40 percent oil. Because it has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties it is a useful ingredient in soaps, disinfectants, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Neem cake, the residue left after extracting oil from the seeds, is an excellent fertiliser, several times richer in plant nutrients than manure. It helps keep nitrogen in the soil and kills damaging nematodes without damaging the environment.

The seeds and leaves yield azadirachtin, a new, non-toxic insect repellent and growth regulator. It is systemic in that it is absorbed into a plant and works from within. Japanese beetles and over two hundred other insect pests, even the desert locust, will starve before they will eat plants treated with the extract. It is safe for humans, pets, birds and beneficial insects. It is pure natural plant extract and biodegrades quickly so is not a pollution hazard. When planted near the home, mature neem trees will repel mosquitoes, gnats and biting flies while the leaf litter repels fleas, ticks and roaches from the yard.

In India, neem is vitally important in cultural and religious events. On the new year day of the Hindu calendar, while worshipping the sun, millions of Indians eat a few tender and fresh neem leaves first thing in the morning.

As with all foods, medicines and botanicals, consult a health care professional before using neem. People with any existing medical condition who are on medication or under a doctors care, should seek medical advice before incorporating neem into their health care program. Pregnant and lactating women should avoid neem entirely unless prescribed by their health care provider. The information in this article is for informational purposes only.