Soap nuts have been used in India especially by women to wash hair for centuries. Ancient medical system of Ayurveda used soap nuts for various medicinal uses including for hair. It is in the list herbs and mineral in Ayurveda. Soap nuts also find use in Unani and Tibetan medical system.
Soap nuts are sun dried fruits of Sapindus tree. There are five to twelve varieties of this tree throughout the world, but they are most used in India, Nepal, Indonesia and China. The variety in North India, china and Nepal is Sapindus Mukorossi and in South India and Pakistan Sapindus Trifoliatus. The fruit is 1-2 cm in brown or golden color.
Shampoo is used for hair care; it removes oil, skin particles, dirt, environment pollutants and control dandruff from scalp and hair. We need shampoo which can manage without making hair unmanageable. As shampoo is a surfactant it also removes natural oils (sebum) which are important to lubricate the hair. Hence we use conditioner after shampoo or shampoos with conditioners. The first synthetic shampoo was introduced in 1930.
However, people of many countries like India have been using different formulation of shampoos containing herbs like soap nuts, shikakai, neem, heena, fenugreek, aloe, bael and almond adding aromatic substances like rose, turmeric, jasmine and sandalwood. These formulations have not only worked as natural mild surfactant but also as conditioner. They have medicinal properties that help in controlling dandruff, removing lice and keeping hair healthy and aliment free. As per a report from American Academy of Dermatology, some 30 million women in USA suffer from hair loss in early ages and this number is increasing.
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What causes the hair loss?
ReplyDeleteNormally we loss 50 to 100 hairs per day but more than that is definitely cause of worry. Reasons can also be different for men and women
•Genetics: Most men hair loss is due to genetics, but rarely in women. This is inherited through one’s mother’s genes, causing hair follicles to stop producing hair much earlier.
•Poor eating habits and nutrition is an also a major cause. Balanced diet with proper amount of proteins, vitamins, fats and mineral is required.
•Any major event like child birth, surgery, and trauma can affect hair growth.
•Hair Styling and Treatment like straightening, perm, dyeing, highlighting can increase hair loss. Also ponytail or styles where pulling of hair is done.
•Medicines and illness: Uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid condition, lupus, poly cystic Ovarian Syndrome, stress can cause hair loss. Birth control pills, iostretinoin (used for acne), chemotherapy drug can cause major hair loss.
How Can Soap Nuts Help?
Soap nuts are natural gentle effective cleanser and allergen-free contain approximately 12% of Saponin. Soap nut is antibacterial mild foaming agent, exfoliant and cleanser. Add 6-8 soap nuts (whole shells) to 5-6 cups of water boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain nuts and store liquid in container for future use. This can be used for regular or anti hair loss shampoo. One can also use 1:1 solution of water and vinegar as conditioner. One can see visible results in a few months. Remember these have little leathering qualities and if your hair feels slightly dry after using soap nut anti hair loss shampoo you have most likely used more than required. Only a little qty goes long way. Hair washed with soap nut feels healthier and thicker and it really shines after brushing.
Soap nut can also be combined with other herbs as Shikaki, neem and amla to make more nutritive hair wash. This is hair tonic, anti bacterial, clean the scalp of oil secretion and forms natural leather giving hair a shining look.