I've tried using neem soap on my itching skin. It has been two nights so far, and it does seem to soothe the itch.
Why haven't I heard about it earlier in my life? I asked Jill, my friend from England, and she said that the Chinese people do not usually hear about neem because the tree simply does not grow in China.
However the medicinal effects of neem appear to be well-known – or, dare I say, even ubiquitous – in India. (according to Wikipedia: “Margo soap uses margosa [also known as neem] as its main ingredient.“)
I reproduce the text of three songs in the record 'Mi jardín solitario; Madrigal y cinco canciones sefardíes; Concierto de cienfuegos'. The texts are by Celedonio Romero (1913 – 1996), as translated into English by Susannah Howe.
First, the song 'Soledad!'
Let the horse run free,
don't pull on his reins,
for the day may come
when you want him to run but can't
Don't let your heart
be tainted by evil,
and if love has gone...
let it go, Soledad!