Plants Used As A Soap Substitute

[Moonraker]

If you prefer natural alternatives which will not leave chemicals behind, then plants containing saponin will provide a soap substitute (some better than others) In Britain the best known are,

the well named;

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)

A soap can be obtained by boiling the whole plant (but especially the root) in water or the best soap is obtained by infusing the plant in warm water. You can also rub the leaves or root with water to produce a reasonable lather. It has the advantage of also being a fungicide and offers some preservation for clothing. Good as a shampoo for dry scalps. Avoid getting it in your eyes or ingesting it as it is an irritant.

the ubiquitous;

Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

With horse chestnut, the saponins can be easily obtained by chopping the seed into small pieces and infusing them in hot water. This water can then be used for washing the body, clothes etc. Its main drawback is a lingering odour of horse chestnuts. Otherwise you can simply rub some leaves vigourously with some water to create a soapy lather,as demonstrated by Ray Mears.

and the common;

Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum)

Another native plant that has a report of being rich in saponins, the rhizome is used (process as for horse chestnut). Be aware that bracken should never be ingested as it has been shown to be carcinogenic (stomach cancer in cattle for instance)

In the past (and still in use in some cultures, notably rainforest tribes) saponin containing plants were used as a fish poison. I posted details of this use before, here;

fallen horse chestnut

For really good info on plants used for soap check out the;

PFAF - Soap Plants

They also have a great list of plants used to make soap containing 113 species! (not all are found in Britain or Europe);

PFAF - Soap - Plants used directly as a soap substitute. (can't link directly so go to this page and scroll down to 'In the bathroom' and then click 'Soap')

If you want to actually make soap then check out;

The Soap Making Page

Lots of info there.

Happy scrubbing

 

[torjusg]

Thanks for the info.

Don't know if it is saponin in it, but birch-leaves can be used to wash if you break it up really well and scrub it between your hands.

Torjus Gaaren

 

[Moonraker]

Thanks for the info.

Don't know if it is saponin in it, but birch-leaves can be used to wash if you break it up really well and scrub it between your hands.

Torjus Gaaren

Yes it does Torjus. There is another (good) list of plants containing saponin English, German & Danish;

Liber Herbarum II: - Saponin

Sorry not Bokmål or Nynorsk but there is another site with quite a few plant names in Botanical Latin, English and Scandinavian languages inc. NO here to help;

Names in 10 languages of selected plant species in Greenland

In the Northwest area of the United States Native American Indians used the bark of the Paper Birch widely, including to made soap and shampoo from birch leaves like you do.

They also make soap and shampoo from Birch Tar Oil, distilled from the bark and roots of birch, although I believe birch tar is currently believed to be potentially carcinogenic but it is a different chemical from saponin,which studies show that the antioxidant properties of saponin, also found in red wine, may aid in reducing the levels of LDL cholesterol and prevent heart attacks. But plants containing saponin can also contain more toxic chemicals too (like horsechestnut for instance) so each plant should be considered individually.

 

[Toddy]

Good thread
I find if I use one of the saponin rich plants, like soapwort, chestnut, birch, mallow, even bladderwrack...in the dyebath too it helps enrich the colour; it's almost as though it helps the colour cleave on.

Now then, which one is best for cleaning out grazes and cuts?

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[JonnyP]

Now then, which one is best for cleaning out grazes and cuts?

Cheers,
Toddy

Yarrow is good for that Toddy, but not sure if it is the best.......

 

[Toddy]

I like yarrow for it too Lavender is surprisingly good, as is the tea made from sticky willie. Meadowsweet is excellent as is woad. This might be another good thread too, what to use for basic cleaning first aid? Sorry Simon, didn't meant to hi-jack

Cheers,
Toddy