Sep 1, 2008
Organic NZ Magazine - September/October 2008.Soap Nut Tree - Naturally clean
Always on the look out for healthier options, Pam Blowers is eager to inform us about this naturally occurring cleaner
I love it when something new, exciting and natural comes onto the market, especially when it can also be produced here. For the last year or so I have been reading about soap nuts, and itching for some enterprising person to bring them into New Zealand.
They are now fast becoming available from organic shops and suppliers. The soap nut tree belongs to the family Sapindaceae of which it is said there are upwards of 12 species. They grow in countries such as India, China, and the US states of Hawaii and Florida.
It is a deciduous tree and sadly not for the small section, as it can grow from 12 to 20 meters high with a trunk girth of up to 5 metres. The leaves measure to 40cm long with panicles of small, creamy white fl owers, each turning into a small, yellow, leathery skinned fruit that turns blackish when ripe.
The trees prefer a mean annual rainfall of around 1750mm and like deep well drained soils, although they will grow on a sandy loam. The whole tree can be of enormous use to those interested in selfsuffi ciency.
The fruit, comprised of seeds, enclosed in their pericarp (shell), are either collected off the trees or from the ground where they fall. They are dried in the sun, and then the seeds are carefully removed and the outer shell is stored.
The outer covering of the seed contains saponin that is used as a natural detergent and as medicine.
* A surfactant obtained from the fruit pericarp has proved remedial of contaminated soil.
* Leaves can be used as animal feed.
* The seeds contain 32% oil that can be extracted and has been shown to be an environment-friendly source for biodiesel, and the seed cake residue can then be used as fertiliser.
* The black seeds are also recorded in an ancient sutra as making the fi nest Prayer beads.
* The timber is used for building houses being light yellow, compact, close grained and fairly hard.
* In reclamation, trees have proved successful in the afforestation of eroded hill slopes.
Trees are easily grown from seed but will take 9 to 10 years before they produce soap nuts. You can now buy the seeds, but if you buy the shells for soap, you may be lucky enough to fi nd the odd seed in your pack.
Soap nuts are excellent for us (and our pets), leaving the skin with a soft, smooth layer which can also protect against infections (and insects).
* Hair becomes silkier, easy to comb, takes longer to become oily, and there is no longer any need to use a conditioner.
* The use of soap nuts helps remove dandruff: just leave on the scalp for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing.
* It discourages nits and lice with its anti-microbial properties.
One has to get used to a lack of suds that manufacturers have brain washed most into believing is what cleans our hair. “Look at all the rich suds” they say, whether for dishwashing detergent or shampoo, yet if you confront them they will admit that chemical foam agents do nothing towards cleaning anything, but are just a ‘cosmetic’ appearance to sell their product!
I was told 23 years ago by the Wessex Cancer Help Centre in UK that the first thing they told their cancer patients was to stop the use of all detergents, including soaps and shampoos.
Now it has also been reported that sodium laurel sulphate in shampoos contributes to cataracts and no,
you don’t have to get it into the eyes for this to happen.
Soap nuts are excellent for any itching skin complaints, whether psoriasis or eczema, and also for mechanics or cement hands, to clean ingrained dirt and help prevent cracking. Soap nut solution is being tested as a spray to prevent black fl y, blight and aphids, apparently with great success so far. I wonder if it would repel the guava moth. I can’t wait to give that a try as I am losing at least 75% of all fruit and nut crops at present, to this nasty little northern invader.
Recently I tied a bag of seven soap nuts to the cutlery holder in the dishwasher and used apple cider vinegar in the rinse – the glasses absolutely sparkled. The same bag was thrown into the washing machine and everything came out fine.
As our machine is old we can’t programme it to stop at the rinse cycle, but we do whip the bag out when it gets there, if we remember. You do not have to rinse soap nut from clothes, and there is no need to use chemical fabric softeners either.
You should however do a warm wash, about 40 degrees C or a hot wash. Personally I hate cold washes as anything ‘living’ such as bacteria, athlete’s foot, candida etc. will survive and contaminate all the washing in the machine. The soap nuts are sold with bags, or you can pop them in an old sock before putting in the washing machine. The nuts last for several washes but when they go grey and mushy, compost them and start afresh.
Soap nut liquid: A strong solution can be made by boiling 100gms of soap nuts in 1 litre of water for 30 minutes. This will keep several days in the fridge and can be diluted for use. It can be used to wash your hair, clean the car, windows, spray the garden, soak jewellery and hand wash clothes Information is available from suppliers, detailing all the uses of soap nuts; even as a soak to remove up to 95% of chemicals and pesticides on fruits and vegetables.
The washing machine water will of course be fi ne to use in the garden for watering in the summer as would the dish washing water. It makes for a great saving in water costs and no pumping of detergents out into the environment and ultimately the sea.
Using anything grown by nature is always the best choice.
