Tree soap care at home. Soap tree and its amazing composition Where the soap tree grows
Soap tree, or Sapindus - a genus of evergreen trees that grow in the tropics of Asia and America.
The species of soap tree mukorossi (Sapindus Mukorossi) and soap tree trifoliatus (Sapindus trifoliatus) are mainly used as cleaners and detergents.
Trees grow up to 10 meters in height, have smooth light gray bark. The leaves are pinnate, up to 30 cm long and 15 cm wide. Each pinnate leaf consists of 5-9 leaflets, elongated, lanceolate, with a smooth margin. The upper part of the leaf is shiny, and the underside is covered with a weak fluff. They begin to bear fruit only at the age of 10, and these wonderful trees live up to 100 years. Soap tree wood is used in shipbuilding.
The flowers are collected in an inflorescence Panicle, up to 40 cm long, bloom in September, the flower is white, its petals are small, up to 3 mm long, with triangular-ovate pistils and long stamens.
The fruit is a drupe, has a spherical shape, up to 2 cm in diameter, naked and shiny. Inside the drupe there is a spherical black seed, from which oil is squeezed out and buttons and various decorations are made. The fruits ripen in spring. One tree produces from 30 to 100 kg of dry fruits per year.
The drupe is initially soft, when ripe it becomes hard and hard, similar to a nut, so the fruit is called - soap nut.
Soap tree - sapindus mukorossi has larger nuts, so it is in great demand.
Chemical composition
The pulp of the fruit contains up to 38% of saponins, natural foaming agents that are used for the production of toothpaste and detergents. Research scientists have shown. that saponins are hypoallergenic substances, they do not cause either dermatitis or allergic reactions on the skin and do an excellent job of removing dirt, both from dishes and from the surface of fabrics. According to their chemical structure, saponins are divided into steroidal and triterpene.
Application
For many centuries in America and Asia, the fruits of the plant have been used as a natural detergent when washing fabrics and clothes. The fruits of the plant are used in traditional Indian medicine.
Currently, the plant is used in cosmetics and as an environmentally friendly detergent or cleaner. The fruits of some species are used instead of washing powder for hand and machine washing. When washing, they do not leave a smell, retain the color of washed things, and have hypoallergenic properties; after use, they completely decompose in the environment, leaving no pollution.
The seeds have a highly durable shell that is sometimes used to make bracelets, necklaces or rosaries.
In regions with a warm climate, the plant is cultivated as an ornamental.
The effect of soap tree saponins on the human body
Saponins, in doses recommended by medicine, benefit a person, healing his body. Preparations containing saponins are prescribed as an antitussive and expectorant, analgesic, antifungal and tonic.
A slight effect of saponins on the mucous membranes enhances the secretion of all glands, which helps to thin the sputum and clear the bronchi of mucus.
Application of soap tree saponins
1. The ability of saponins to form a thick foam has found its application in the manufacture of fire extinguishers.
2. The medical industry uses saponins to make tablets, suspensions and emulsions.
3. Soap tree saponins are currently widely used in the cosmetic industry for the manufacture of detergents and cleaning products, toothpaste.
soap nut, soapberry
Soap Nut - natural cleanser, soap, shampoo, conditioner and conditioner. soap nut has a low pH level, perfectly cleanses the skin and hair, relieves inflammation, dryness, peeling. soap nut has an antibacterial and cooling effect, heals, nourishes, softens and moisturizes, slightly whitens. soap nut prevents hair loss, eliminates dandruff, makes hair soft, thick and shiny.
The soap nut is the fruit of the soap tree, or sapindus, which is also called the "soap berry". The soap tree is a genus of evergreen or deciduous small trees or shrubs of the Sapindaceae family, native to the tropics of Asia and America.
The name "sapindus" was given to the plant by K. Linnaeus and comes from the Latin words "sapo" - "soap" and "indicus" - "Indian", that is, "Indian soap".
Soap tree - medium to tall tree with leaves 15-40 cm long, with flowers collected in panicles. Soap tree fruits, soap nuts, are berries approximately 1.5 cm in diameter, containing one to three seeds. While soapberries ripen, their surface is soft and velvety. When ripe, it becomes hard, similar to the shell of nuts, hence the name - "soap nuts". Dry soap nuts are dark brown or black, depending on the type of drying.
There are many species of soap tree, among which the main ones are Sapindus mukorossi, Sapindus trifoliatus and Sapindus saponaria. The quality of the soap nut depends on the variety, collection and storage conditions. Sapindus Mukorossi is considered the best variety, it contains the highest content of saponins. These are the largest nuts in terms of size. They grow most often at the foot of the Himalayas in North India, while Sapindus trifoliatus, the second most important variety of soap nuts, is found in South India. It contains a sufficient amount of saponins, although less than Sapindus mukorossi, almost half in size, but outwardly it is difficult to distinguish it from other varieties of soap nuts, which contain much less saponins and, accordingly, are a low-grade product.
soap nut has a high content of saponins (up to 38%), which determines its washing properties. Saponins are also found in other parts of the plant.
The plant has a toxic effect on fish, protozoa and insects.
Soap nuts were used in, their description is contained in ancient Ayurvedic texts.
The hard shell of the seeds was used to make rosaries, bracelets, and necklaces. Soap trees were also cultivated as ornamental plants.
have antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, cooling, softening, nourishing, moisturizing, whitening properties.
- natural, 100% natural cleanser, low pH, chemical-free, non-allergic, replacing shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, and any other detergents. Saponins are natural foaming agents that give easily foaming solutions. Foam is less than when using products containing alkali. After washing, they completely decompose in the environment without polluting it.
The saponins contained in nuts are excellent at dissolving grease and removing dirt. Soap nuts have been traditionally used as a natural shampoo and soap in India for many centuries. In addition, the local population of India has long used soap nuts as a natural detergent for washing fabrics and clothes.
When washing the face and body with soap nuts, the skin gets soft, gentle, while effective cleansing and antiseptic protection for the whole day. Nuts have antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties and are effective for allergies and skin conditions.
When washing with ordinary soap, the protective layer of the skin is removed, it becomes more vulnerable to infections and germs for a while before it restores this layer again. When washing with soap nuts, this does not happen, and in this case, washing does not deprive the skin of natural fat, softening it.
Nuts have a cooling effect, which makes washing especially pleasant in hot weather. Soap nuts maintain the water balance of the skin, nourish the skin, make the skin velvety and soft.
Soap nuts remove impurities from the hair, regulate the activity of the sebaceous glands, cleanse the scalp without degreasing the hair, relieve itching, flaking and inflammation, give a cooling effect and even eliminate headaches and fatigue. Effectively strengthen hair follicles, promote hair growth, increase their density, eliminate dandruff.
After washing with soap nuts, hair becomes soft, fluffy, obedient, easy to comb and style, acquiring additional volume. Hair conditioner is not required for this wash. In addition, it is an excellent prevention against lice and various fungal diseases.
Soap nuts treat brittle hair, give it strength, prevent split ends. Return beautiful natural shine to hair. With regular use, the natural water-fat balance of the skin is restored, as a result of which the hair is less polluted.
Mode of application:
When washing the hair, the hair is first wetted, then a paste or solution of soap nuts is applied to them, rubbed in and washed off. The procedure is repeated once or twice, if necessary, until the hair creaks and foams - signs that the hair is already clean. It is good to wash off the solution not immediately, but to hold it on the head for some time, since it acts as a balm and nourishes the hair roots and the hair itself.
When washing with soap nuts, the laundry does not require a subsequent softening rinse. Nuts are odorless, so laundry smells just like clean laundry. This is very important for people who are allergic to odors. When washed with nuts, colored linen retains its original color for a long time. Soap nuts are particularly suitable for delicate washing of silks and other delicate fabrics.
Whole nuts are placed in a fabric or canvas bag, poured with hot water or boiling water, infused for about half an hour. The result is a finished liquid soap. To obtain a greater concentration, nuts can be insisted for longer. The higher the water temperature, the more saponins they release. After that, the bag is removed and dried to be used next time. When washing, a bag of whole nuts is placed in the washing machine.
A bag of nuts can also be used as a natural washcloth when washing the body.
When buying whole soap nuts, be sure to buy those that have had the seeds removed. If there are seeds in the nut, they must be removed before washing. During the washing process, nuts can crack, and seeds that are not suitable for washing can instantly leave a dark spot on things in contact with them and ruin them.
Soap nut powder is diluted in water until smooth. Small granules formed in such a paste gently exfoliate old skin cells, improve microcirculation and even out complexion, and have a light whitening effect. Such a paste can also serve as a nourishing mask for the skin of the face, toning, softening, rejuvenating it and smoothing wrinkles, as well as a strengthening hair mask applied to clean hair. It's good to hold her face 10-15 min on the hair - from 15 to 40 minutes. Ready-made pasta is used in the same way as cooked pasta, only it is usually a more homogeneous product, without small granules.
Washing with soap nuts is suitable for any skin type, including delicate children's and sensitive, thin, and problematic skin. Ideal for oily skin and hair.
Soap nuts are used in cosmetology due to
- antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties
- moisturizing properties
Retain skin moisture, maintain natural water balance.
- whitening properties
Gently exfoliate old cells, improve blood circulation and complexion, whiten dark spots and freckles.
If ingested, soap nut powder can cause vomiting, it is better not to use it for washing dishes. If it gets into the eyes, the soap nut solution causes severe redness, irritation and burning. Eyes should be properly rinsed with plenty of water. However, the same solution in a small concentration is a good prevention of infections and infections of the mucous membrane, for example, conjunctivitis.
Indian jewelers successfully use soap nuts to clean precious metals and make them shine. To do this, jewelry is placed in a concentrated solution of soap nuts and left there for a while, and then removed and wiped with a cloth.
Soap nut infusion is used both for wet cleaning and for washing cars.
The healing properties of soap nuts are used in medicine for the treatment of skin diseases, digestive disorders, diarrhea, lumbago, asthma.
In medicine, the root and bark of soap trees are also used. They treat skin diseases, eczema and psoriasis, migraine, epilepsy. They have expectorant, sedative and analgesic properties.
In the area of the railway station, about a year ago, I collected seeds from a tree (I really liked the seed pods) and sowed in the front garden. Seedlings sprouted in spring. I decided to find out what kind of miracle Yudo.
It turned out that this tree is called Soap tree or Kelreuteria paniculata.
I dug up a lot of information on the Internet. Just below the description and photos.
Blooms amazing!
The natural range of the soap tree is from China and Japan to India. It is also cultivated in the USA, North Africa. Its seeds germinate quite easily. It is necessary to soak the fruit for a day and plant it to a depth of 2-3 cm.
The tree begins to bear fruit in about 5-7 years. This plant is suitable for growing in central and southern Russia.
In everyday life, his soap balls are a real find. As you know, synthetic detergents, washing our clothes and washing dishes, carry a certain threat, as they contain harmful substances in their composition. And the soap nuts of this tree perfectly replace washing powder, and not only powder, but almost any detergent. This is a vegetable, completely natural and natural "soap". Therefore, it is very pleasant to wash it or wash your hair, knowing that chemistry will not flow into the rivers, and the skin will not be covered with an allergic rash. In a word, a real modern ecological washing is obtained! In addition, the linen is well washed, it becomes soft. Fabrics washed with this soap never fade or fade.
Round yellow-brown soap nuts have a diameter of 2-2.5 cm. It is not the kernels that are valuable, but the shells of the nuts. They contain organic compounds - saponins (glycosides). These are natural natural foaming agents. Saponins are completely biodegradable in the environment and, unlike soap, do not create an alkaline reaction. Soap nuts perfectly wash clothes in the washing machine and during hand washing; wash dishes, including in dishwashers; clean jewelry made of gold and silver; used during cleaning in the house and for washing cars, repel mosquitoes, flies; soap nut emulsion serves as a fertilizer for houseplants. Nuts are hypoallergenic; gently wash the thinnest and most delicate fabrics, retain the colors of the laundry during washing, do not require a softener and rinse aid, completely decompose in the environment; easy to use, multifunctional, economical, reusable. In order for the saponins to stand out from the nuts in the maximum amount, the nut shells are first crushed. Then the shells are placed in a cotton bag, and the bag is placed in the drum of the washing machine along with the laundry. The number of shells needed depends on the hardness of the water and the washing temperature. On average, from 4 to 7 shells will be required (number of applications - 2-3 times).
cosmetic application
The use of soap nuts makes the skin softer and smoother, increases its resistance to infections. Soap nuts have deodorizing properties.
Water with the addition of powder obtained from soap nuts can be used to wash hands, face, body, hair. The powder itself can also be used as a scrub.
Using soap nuts to wash your hair makes your hair thicker, easier to comb, and adds shine. These nuts can be helpful for dandruff and hair loss.
Here is a recipe for making liquid soap: for 50 g of crushed shells (without kernels), take 4 cups of water, bring it to a boil and simmer for about 20 minutes (boiling helps extract saponins and mix them with water). The resulting solution can be used as a shampoo, liquid soap, pet shampoo, dish cleanser and other items. The absence of abundant foam (unlike industrial products) does not affect the effectiveness of the product. The same liquid can also be used as an insecticide. It can also be used as a medicine for various allergic and skin diseases. Saponins, which nuts are saturated with, not only dissolve fat well, but also have bactericidal properties. So, when washing with nuts, you don’t have to worry about disinfection. Linen after washing will smell completely neutral, just clean, delighting people who are sensitive to pungent odors.
Kelreuteria paniculata, with its beautiful yellow star-shaped flowers that appear in early summer, remains fresh until late autumn, when the flowers give way to paper-thin pods.
The Feng Shui tradition highly appreciates the vitality of a tree, and above all because it takes root well on poor soil, endures any weather and even polluted air. Yes, this tree will not disappear on the streets of a modern city, and it can be planted on a bare lawn without doubting the success of such an enterprise.
Keelreuteria paniculata, while the tree is young, have few branches, light brown bark, green leaves that turn yellowish in autumn. The fruits are in a "paper" bubble-pod - these are three black seeds; in autumn the fruits turn bright red. The tree grows surprisingly fast, reaching 10 m (30 ft) in height and crown diameter. Propagated by ripe seeds in October or cuttings cut in March.
Gardeners, followers of the Feng Shui teachings, have been admiring this tree for many centuries, through the mature crown of which sunlight fancifully sifts, delighting the soul of a person and directing beneficial qi to his garden.
When I was a small child who like to ask about everything in the world, I once asked my grandmother what soap is made of. Grandmother answered the following: “Now they make laundry soap from dog fat, and my grandmother made soap from fat and deer horns, even when I went to school myself.” The fact is that my paternal relatives lived in the Altai Territory, not far from the Chinese border, and during the time of my great-great-grandmother, hunting, including deer, was a great help. But to imagine that you can somehow make soap out of horns - it didn’t fit in my head as a child! Therefore, I decided not to raise this issue anymore.
Why this plot? Recently, more and more people are beginning to think about how far we have gone from nature in our development, and this applies to all our daily needs, including the arrangement of our houses and their filling. You can often hear that children grow up with allergies, and often adults also have allergic abnormalities associated not only with the use of citrus fruits, which has always been common, but also with the wearing of synthetic clothing, shoes, etc. An important place in the formation of allergic manifestations is occupied by a variety of detergents. Is the Safeguard magic soap that kills “all bacteria on the spot” so useful, and how useful is the Tide powder? We will return to these questions a little later, but for now we will deal with how people came up with soap in general.
The most amazing thing is that soap was originally given to people by nature, and they didn’t even have to invent anything. Purely empirically, by the method of many years of observation, a person found such plants that gave foamy decoctions or infusions that cleanse the skin and tissues well, help remove stains, and also have an antimicrobial effect. It is noteworthy that such plants belong to different families and are distributed throughout the world, that is, each nation originally had its own “soap tree” or grass.
Most soap plants contain special surfactants called saponins. Turning to the reference book on pharmacognosy (from other Greek Φάρμακον - medicine and γνῶσις - knowledge, i.e. the science that studies medicines obtained from plant and animal raw materials), you can get acquainted with the chemical characteristics of these substances. Saponins are plant substances whose aqueous solutions have a number of characteristic properties: hemolytic activity, toxicity to cold-blooded animals, the ability to give a stable, long-lasting foam when shaken. Steroid saponins have detergent properties, form a complex with membrane cholesterol. Having deciphered this definition, we will understand that hemolytic activity is the breakdown of blood, and the complex with cholesterol is the ability to bind fats. That is, in addition to the therapeutic effect, these plant substances can remove both blood and fat from clothes or from the body.
And the very name of saponins comes from the Latin sapo (genus Case saponis) - soap, that's how it was called by the Romans. The legend says that sacrifices were made to the gods on the sacred mountain of Sapo, and a mixture of melted animal fat and wood ash from the sacrificial fire was washed away by rain into the clay soil of the banks of the Tiber River. Women who washed clothes there noticed that thanks to this mixture, clothes were washed much better. Well, gradually they began to use the "gift of the gods" not only for washing clothes, but also for washing the body. The first soap factories were also discovered by archaeologists on the territory of Ancient Rome, or more precisely, among the ruins of the famous Pompeii.
But still, back to soap plants that existed long before soap making. As already mentioned, these are plants containing saponins in their roots, tubers, bark or fruits. The most widely advertised representatives of soap plants are the American and Chinese soap trees.
The Internet is actively offering soap beans - the fruits of Acacia concinna, which grows in India. The use of the ground fruits of this acacia as a dry shampoo, which is first rubbed into the hair and body, and then washed off with water, goes back to the ancient medical treatise Ayurveda (from the Sanskrit "āyus" - "principle of life", "veda" - knowledge), where shikakai beans are highly recommended for all people with skin conditions.
Together with acacia beans in the vastness of the network, we get acquainted with "soap nuts" - the collective name for the fruits of soap trees belonging to the genus Sapindus (Sapindus) of its own family Sapindaceae (Sapindaceae). Representatives of this tropical family are common in Asia and America, and the scientific name for the plants was given by Carl Linnaeus and comes from lat. Sapo - soap and lat. Indicus - Indian, which literally means "Indian soap". Linnaeus was aware of the Indian use of the fruits of the soap tree (Sapindus saponaria) in bleaching fabrics.
Many people are familiar with the trees of the Spind family. Real soap trees from the genus Sapindus can be seen in the arboretums of Sochi and the Crimea. These are low trees or shrubs with alternate pinnate leaves and small balls of fruits located in groups at the ends of the branches. When I myself first found myself in the Sochi arboretum next to such a tree, I could not resist and pulled the same “magic nuts”.
By itself, when wetted with water, the fruit does not lather, and if you pick it open, then inside you will find a large bone with a small layer of pulp around. It is this pulp that contains up to 38% saponins and is “Indian soap”. In addition to Sapindus, in southern parks you can find another tree from the same family - Koelreuteria paniculata (Koelreuteria paniculata), which contains saponins in the bark. But our closest acquaintance, growing with one of the readers right under the window, is Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum). In modern systematics, this genus either appears in its own family, or in the subfamily Hippocastanoideae of the same Sapindaceae family. Few people know that in addition to valuable medicinal properties, chestnut fruits were used to wash hands and remove stains on fabric.
Another soap tree grows in Chile. Kilaya soap (Quillaja saponaria), an evergreen tree with a "soapy" bark, belonging to its own family Kilaya (Quillajaceae), occurs from 32 to 40 ° South latitude. Large populations of it are concentrated at an altitude of about 2000 meters above sea level. This is a tall, up to 20 meters, evergreen tree with dark bark and thin branches bearing simple alternate leaves 3-5 cm long, somewhat reminiscent of holly leaves - with denticles along the edges. The bark of this wonderful tree has long been used by the Andean peoples for medical and hygienic purposes.
And what about our Slavic ancestors? In addition to clay and ash, which was used to wipe dirt from the body, our great-grandfathers had a large arsenal of herbal soaps. Some are even reflected in the name, such as Saponaria officinalis (soap grass, dog soap, red soap root). The plant received this name due to the fact that when the roots of the soapwort are rubbed with water, a lot of foam is obtained, which does not precipitate for a long time. This plant belongs to the Clove family, together with Smolevka-flapper (Silene vulgaris) and Kalkhedon Dawn (Lychnis chalcedonica) (Tatar soap), the roots of which were also actively used to neutralize fat during washing, especially silk and woolen fabrics, cleaning clothes from greasy stains and easy hand washing. Many are familiar with the healing properties of a decoction of burdock root and nettle herb, which strengthen hair and cleanse the skin of rashes, dandruff, and lichen.
To be continued…
The soap tree is a deciduous tree with yellow or red flowers, originally from East Asia, growing up to 15 m in height and belonging to the Sapindaceae family. The plant prefers to develop in an open, sunny space. It shows high resistance to sudden changes in air temperature, but does not like strong, prolonged frosts, especially late ones.
The substrate is suitable for any, better - fertile. Good drainage is important. Only young plants need to be watered as soon as they are planted in the ground. Mature trees are extremely drought tolerant.
Periodically, the plant requires top dressing, especially with organic fertilizers after planting. With the onset of winter, gardeners are advised to mulch the soil with appropriate organic material.
Propagation by sowing seeds in seed soil in March or October is very popular.
Materials on Soapwood
In this section you will find posts on the care, cultivation, watering, reproduction Soap tree. Community users share tips and secrets among themselves. A huge number of photos.
The purpose of our project is the exchange of experience so that each project participant can learn how to care for a plant at home. .
