The Many Uses Of Soapnuts In Ayurveda
Did you know that Soapnuts are actually a fruit called a soapberry? Soapnuts are a popular herb to use in Ayurveda, because of it's cleansing and softening properties. In Ancient India these fruits were used as a naturally produced shampoo for washing hair and for getting rid of dandruff. It was also used for washing fine silks and woolen clothes. This is why some botanists have named the species as Sapindus detergens
In rural parts of India, Ritha foliage can be used as cattle fodder during drought and the whole plant has been used in the treatment of contaminated soil. Moreover, it has also been used for washing and bleaching cardamoms, to help improve colour and flavour.
The fruit is of considerable importance for its medicinal value as well. Ayurvedic, Unani and Tibetan systems of medicine consider it to be useful for treating a number of diseases like common cold, pimples, epilepsy, constipation, nausea, etc.
Soapnuts have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to treat sensitive skin, eczema, hair and scalp problems, as a hair conditioner and to alleviate parasites such as lice. Soapnuts have a mild anti-bacterial and anti-microbial function and because of this they have been used in Ayurveda to treat infections, and to help keep the scalp free from bacteria which may cause dandruff or inhibit the growth of new hair.
Other uses of soapnuts also include cleaning jewellery, l
ike our picture (right) where a Himalayan artisan jewellery maker cleans his jewellery with a soft brush and soapnuts (image courtesy of Kaligarh). While you can use soapnuts for washing practically anything (dishes, floors, vegetables, pets), the most popular use for soapnuts is for washing hair.
Completely free from metals, toxins, additives, artificial colours, preservatives. Our organic wild-crafted Soapnuts are safe for people with sensitive skin, because they do not contain irritants or foaming agents like SLSs or Parabens. It is a common ingredient in most Ayurvedic and herbal shampoos as it is known to make hair shinier and softer with regular use. It is often used in herbal preparations with other ingredients like neem, shikakai and amla. Our Ayurvedic Shampoo Bar & Ayurvedic Herbal Hair Mask were created using Ayurvedic formulas which contain all of these amazing herbs.
