Herbs and Their Uses

[Diamondbell]

chotee... I have heard of ponnanganni keerai, but am not sure how the leaves look like. I know they can be eaten but have not heard so far about them being used for hair. But I am sure you are right. When I find the leaves/leaf pictures and any recipes, I will post them here.

[Diamondbell]

Arappu thool(Tamil), Albizia amara (Botanical name), Ailaa (Hindi)



The synonyms of the shrub, Kaadduch-Cheeyaakkaay indicate the use of its pods in cleaning hair. In fact powdered pods and leaves are used so, in the herbal hair cleaning formulas of Tamil Nadu, India. The powder is green in color.

Arappu is another variation of Shikakai. It is more slippery to the touch and takes that much longer to wash off. It removes oil.The leaves and pods of Albizia amara serve a natural conditioner for the hair while washing hair. It can be used just like Shikakai.

[ljkforu]

Arappu thool(Tamil), Albizia amara (Botanical name), Ailaa (Hindi)



The synonyms of the shrub, Kaadduch-Cheeyaakkaay indicate the use of its pods in cleaning hair. In fact powdered pods and leaves are used so, in the herbal hair cleaning formulas of Tamil Nadu, India. The powder is green in color.

Arappu is another variation of Shikakai. It is more slippery to the touch and takes that much longer to wash off. It removes oil.The leaves and pods of Albizia amara serve a natural conditioner for the hair while washing hair. It can be used just like Shikakai.

I live in Western US above the 45 parallel and we have a tree here that look just like that. We call it Mimosa, the flowers smell like honey. Is it the same thing because the pods just fall all over the ground every year?

[mira-chan]

I live in Western US above the 45 parallel and we have a tree here that look just like that. We call it Mimosa, the flowers smell like honey. Is it the same thing because the pods just fall all over the ground every year?

Bitter Albizia (Albizia amara) is in the mimosa subfamily but it is not a mimosa. It is not native to the US. Mimosa pigra (botanical name) is Mimosa found in the US usually. Please make sure you have the Albizia species not the Mimosa before tryign to use it.

[Diamondbell]

I live in Western US above the 45 parallel and we have a tree here that look just like that. We call it Mimosa, the flowers smell like honey. Is it the same thing because the pods just fall all over the ground every year?

Thanks for your interest ljkforu. As mira-chansays, there are diffent varieties of trees starting with the name"Albizia........." and so you have to make sure if you have the "Albizia amara" because only these leaves are used for hair washing purposes.

[ljkforu]

Thanks for your interest ljkforu. As mira-chansays, there are diffent varieties of trees starting with the name"Albizia........." and so you have to make sure if you have the "Albizia amara" because only these leaves are used for hair washing purposes.

Thanks for the information. Definately answered my question of backyard foraging. Our Mimosas literally grow like weeds. But own how beautiful and the heavenly scent of the flowers. It is so cool to have something so tropical grow in a climate that has light freezes.

[hennared]

This thread is fantastic; thanks so much, everyone! I am experiencing a big shed, and found this all so informative. I tried fenugreek washing, this morning, for the first time. It's left my hair with a better texture than I've had in months! I had no problem rinsing it out the way I did it. Here is what I did:

2 cups of distilled water, bring to boil; add -

~ 2 tablespoons fenugreek powder
~ 1/4 urad dal
~ tablespoon yucca root

I let it all simmer for about 15 minutes. I added a bit more water as the mixture 'swelled'. When it cooled, I poured it into my fine mesh strainer, and forced out as much 'goo' as I could, leaving the yucca and large bits of urad dal behind.
I added a touch of camellia oil to the goo. This was a good bit of material, so I used about a third on my hair and stored the rest. I wet my hair, and smoothed on the fenugreek mixture.
I massaged it into my scalp a bit, gently. I let it sit for about 15 minutes, before rinsing.

I have loved how my hair has felt today! I will definitely try this again. I like to wash every other day, or my scalp gets itchy - this seems like a nice gentle way to wash that often. I hope it helps slow down my shedding.

-Hennared

[Diamondbell]

It is very inspiring to hear that fenugreek worked for you hennared! - Great!!

[Diamondbell]

Shatterstone (English), Keezhanelli (Tamil), Phyllanthus Niruri (Botanical name), Bhumiamla (Hindi), Chanca piedra (Spanish)



Bhringraja (Eclipta alba), Bhumiamla (Phyllanthus niruri) and Giloya (Tinospora cordifolia) are known to correct liver and spleen function. They control excess bile production, which is believed to affect the hair growth.
The plant has been used as a herbal remedy for urinary calculi. It is also used as ingredient in hair oils.
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Balding: The roots of the Keezhanelli are cleaned and cut into small pieces, and boiled in coconut oil and applied on scalp. This helps against baldness and hair will grow.

[Diamondbell]

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (Malvaceae)/Semparuththi (tamil)/Gurhal (Hindi)/Bunga Raya (Malay):




The natives of southern India uses the Red hibiscus for hair care purposes: the red flower and leaves, extracts of which can be applied on hair to tackle hair-fall and dandruff on the scalp. It is used to make hair protective oils. A simple application involves soaking the leaves and flowers in water and using a wet grinder to make a thick paste, and used as a natural shampoo.
Shade-dried and powdered flowers are used for cleaning the hair and to prevent hair loss (alopecia).

Dried hibiscus is used as an ingredient in the Meera Herbal Hair wash powder.

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Hair Oil: (taken from a magazine)
Grind hibiscus flowers and take the juice. Take coconut oil in equal quantity to the juice, and boil together on low flame. Before the smell of the coconut oil comes out, remove from fire. Using this oil daily will stimulate hair growth.
If you use this oil with a few drops of vitamin E oil, and massage scalp and use the hot towel treatment on scalp, and then rinse in plain water (twice a week), the oiliness in the scalp will be reduced and you will have shining hair.
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Hibiscus Hair Pack:
Hibiscus leaves – 10, henna leaves – 20, full Shikakai – 2. Grind all three together and apply on scalp as hair pack. Rinse after 10 minutes. Wash your hair this way once a week. Hibiscus removes the dandruff and makes the hair shiny. The Shikakai cleans the hair.
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Homemade hibiscus leaves-shampoo for silky shiny hair:
Boil 10 hibiscus leaves in water. The leaves will become soft. Discard the leaves, add shikakai to the water and use it to wash hair.
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Prepare a hair oil with the following ingredients: a)Coconut Oil / Sesame oil (Which ever you prefer). Coconut oil is better for long term use. b)Curry leaves c)Shoeflowers

In an iron skillet mix the following ingredients in the 3:1:1 ratio. that is 100 gms of shoeflowers and 100 gms of curry leaves for 300 gms of coconut oil. Heat on medium flame till it stops forming bubbles. Do not heat beyond this point. Remove from the fire. Cool and strain into a clean bottle using a muslin cloth.

Apply this oil using your finger tips or using cotton swabs on ur scalp. Massage gently for 10 minutes with your fingers. Do not hurt you scalp with your nails while massaging. Wash with cool water after an hour. You can use any mild herbal shampoo or herbal hair-wash powders, while washing.


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Hibiscus Hair tonic:
Hibiscus flowers = 10 gm, cinnamon stick – 10 gm, fenugreek – 5 gm, dried champak flowers (Michelia Champaca) – 5 gm. Put them in ½ liter of coconut oil and keep in the sun daily. After a week, the essence will blend into the oil.
Use this oil daily. Hair will be clean, and will start growing well. Hair will be fragrant.