Red Soapwort

Alternative names: Saponaria Officinalis, Herbe a Savon, Bouncing-Bet, Soapwort

Found in Central and Eastern Europe, but also in Western Asia, Red Soapwort is used in manufacture for soaps, detergents and shampoos, as a foaming agent in beer or as an additive in the tahini halva. Red Soapwort has white or pink flowers with delicate smell and prefers sandy soils. In the ancient times, it was used as a substitute for soap and detergent.

The root of Red Soapwort, often used for medicinal purposes is a strong irritating agent in the tissues, modifying cell membrane permeability and increasing fluid secretion (biliary secretion, digestive secretion). Containing chemicals able to thin mucus, Red Soapwort relieves cough and people often take it for bronchitis and swollen airways. The plant can be used also to decrease cholesterol or to improve dyspepsia symptoms, Hepatobiliary conditions and renal disease.

Externally, a concentrated decoction obtained from 20 g of rhizomes and roots in 1 liter of water is used in hip baths or irrigation in Helminthiasis (intestinal parasites). The same decoction is used in gargles for granular pharyngitis. Put directly on the skin, Red Soapwort root can treat acne, eczema, psoriasis and poison Ivy.

If you are looking to replace your shampoo (or soap) with a natural, homemade one, you will need just 2 tablespoons of Red Soapwort grated root boiled in 500 ml of water. After 10 minutes, you can filter the liquid and wash your hair. Rinse with lukewarm water. For greasy hair, you can add in the mixture an egg yolk, the juice from a lemon and a few drops of rosemary oil.