Yucca Vs. Soapwort Vs. Aritha/Soapnuts?

[Fethenwen]

Actually, Fethenwen, I think that soapwort does grow in Finland! I think that is where Finoriel is from and she grows it! :-)

Hey nice, I shall check it out

[ratgirldjh]

Mellie - I've kind of given up on the loquat leaves. Every time I try and use them they just don't do much. I've tried making tea - and I've tried boiling them first and then making a paste from the leaves in the blender. I even dried them once and made a powder and made paste. They do make a little foam though - but I just didn't feel the impulse to put any of it on my hair! I have drunk the tea though - and it tastes pretty much just like regular lipton tea! So I guess they do have tannins in them too!

[mellie]

Well you certainly gave it a good try! :-) I like Lipton tea...that's nice that you can make your own!

[tina1025]

Look what I found. Soapnut soap bars.

http://store.naturoli.com/product.ph...tner=sixpoints

[mellie]

Huh! So it's an olive oil soap with soapnut tea and powder! Sounds pretty serious!!

[tina1025]

I think it’s a sopanuts powder soap or Soapnut soap with some oils in it. I guess to hold the soap together and for some added benefits. I just thought it was very interesting.

[Silver & Gold]

I think it’s a sopanuts powder soap or Soapnut soap with some oils in it. I guess to hold the soap together and for some added benefits. I just thought it was very interesting.

My thought was that it is castile soap (soap made with olive oil) that has powdered soapnuts stirred into the batch before it is molded.

[LaCitoyenne]

Just a quick update: the last time I used soapnuts it wasn't too successful so I didn't repeat. On the other hand, some of you initially were quite adamantly against soapnuts and later recanted. So I haven't shelved it yet. I continue to pick up tips from this thread and all over this web site.

[mellie]

Sorry LaCitoyenne! Let me know if I can help troubleshoot! :-)

[ATrixie]

Mellie, I finally managed to track the links! (Sorry, they weren't on the laptop!)

This is what Wikipedia says: (highlighted by me)

The scientific name Saponaria is derived from the Latin sapo (stem sapon-) meaning "soap," which, like its common name, refers to its utility in cleaning. From this same Latin word is derived the name of the toxic substance saponin, contained in the roots even 20 percent when the plant is flowering[1] (Indian soapnuts contain only 15 percent!). It starts producing a lather when in contact with water. The epithet officinalis indicates its medicinal functions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Soapwort
(I don't know where they got their info from, if you're a member you could look it up or ask/dispute? - oh wait, it says 1. book: Farmakognosia, by Raimo Hiltunen (in finnish) - do we have any Finnish members on here who could take a look? )
Maybe it could also be different in different countries, or according to soil/conditions where it grows..?!

I know that purplesage says 5% - I was thinking maybe this applies for the whole plant? dunno! http://www.purplesage.org.uk/profiles/soapwort.htm

Would be interesting to know!

I've found these recipes so far: http://www.ehow.com/how_4838074_make...c-shampoo.html

Dig up enough of the plant to provide you with two large double handfuls of roots, leaves, and stems. Don't worry, once it's firmly established it will regrow fast. Wash in cool water.
Step5: Heat a quart of water on the stove, but do not boil.
Step6: Add the soapwort and continue to heat twenty minutes.
Step7: Let cool. Strain the liquid into bottles.
Step8: Label the bottles (so that nobody drinks them) and refrigerate.

http://www.greenchronicle.com/health...poo_recipe.htm

Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon dried soapwort root (crushed and soaked in 3/4 pint water overnight)
or
5 fresh soapwort stems about 8inches long with leaves
Method
- Boil the soaked root in its soaking water or boil the fresh soapwort in 3/4 pint water then simmer for 20 minutes.
- Cool and strain through a piece of muslin.
- Bottled this ill keep for a wee in a cool dark place.
- It can be perfumed with 2 drops of essential oil such as lavender or rosemary.

And soapwort was discussed here: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/...330227604.html
There's a link to other soap plants too: http://www.pfaf.org/leaflets/soap.php

This is the legend of Bouncing Betty http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Legend...ort&id=1590520
Some interesting info here too: https://www.localssl.com.au/epages/n...iewAction=View (with a more complex recipe, but I tend to stay away from too complex recipes with potentially iffy ingredients & names I can't pronounce.. )

I think I've posted this one before: http://gallimaufree.wordpress.com/20...ut-electricity (no actual recipe but it's interesting!)

Again, not sure how accurate any of the links is (& sorry if I've posted anything else that's already been posted!), but they sure are interesting!