Soap nuts belongs to the Sapindaceae family of shrub bearing plants or trees which grow in tropical and temperate climates in different parts of the world. Soap nut is the fruit of the tree which contains a chemical compound known as “saponin” that has soap like foaming quality when it comes into contact with water. Soap nuts are found extensively in India, Nepal, Indonesia, China, Central and South America and other parts of the world with tropical climate. Soap nuts are now commonly used in households, commercially in cosmetics and are also being used for medicinal purposes.
The soap berry is picked when it is orangish in color and after it dries it turns to a reddish brown color. The fruit is then de-seeded and crushed and the powder is used for various purposes. The harvesting procedure is natural and the soap berries are not put through any chemical treatment. The soap nut grows wildly in temperate climates and the ripe berries normally fall off or they are hand picked, thus making it a very tedious and labor intensive task.
It has been proved that soap nuts are effective and organic detergents and can be used in laundering the clothes and also as a dish washing soap. They do not cause any harmful reactions as most other detergents do. It is for this reason, that Soap-nuts are being sold as an organic alternative to detergents and is gaining popularity everywhere. They are used to launder baby clothes, silks, delicate fabrics, cottons and linens. For centuries, soap nuts are used to wash clothes and hair in India as they grow wild, especially in South India.
Medically, soap nuts reduce eczema, freckles and scalp infections as it has insecticidal properties in small amounts and are being used in anti-dandruff shampoos, face washes and other cosmetics. They are also used in cough medicines, to treat migraines, and in medicines prescribed to diabetics. In India, quality soap nuts are used extensively in Ayurvedic medicines because of the healing properties it has. Soap-nuts are also known to curb the growth of viruses thus making it an antimicrobial and useful for correcting soil contamination and recycling waste water.
In a recent consumer survey conducted on natural detergents, among a group of 288 participants, the results showed that 36% of those interviewed knew about natural detergents and their many advantages and 80% of people preferred using products with natural ingredients over chemical ingredients. The reason people choose to use natural detergents is to reduce skin irritations and maintain an ecological balance, all of which are achieved with the use of soap nuts.
People all over the world are becoming environmentally conscious and are moving towards organic produce. For this reason soapnut with its many vital qualities is becoming very popular.
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