Soapwort

[ojibwamama]

Has anyone used this, as shampoo or a soap product? My mom said that the elders told her she could wash her hair with it.
If so, what part of the plant would I use, and how would I prepare it?

[Samjm]

I know that Soapwort contains Saponin and it makes a soapy lather when you crush it.

Found this:

As the name suggests, saponaria contains saponin, a gently lathering and mildly soapy cleaning agent. When I have the time I make a decoction by harvesting sprigs of the plant before it has flowered, enough to half fill a large saucepan. I then cover the sprigs with boiling water, allow to seep for half an hour, and strain off the cooled liquid. I use this for washing delicate silks and laces, diluted half a cup of soap mix to two litres of warm water.

The same decoction can be used as a hair shampoo, and to make it extra special toss in a few springs of rosemary for shinier hair. Rinse hair well after shampooing.

Be warned: saponin is toxic if taken internally, which is why it makes an effective addition to home made pesticides. When preparing a chilli or pyrethrum spray simply substitute the water component of your recipe with the soapwort decoction. Its sudsy consistency makes the spray stick to the leaves longer, and also helps to break up colonies of sooty mould on citrus and gardenia leaves.

From here: http://www.echonews.com/927/gardening.html

The roots and stems apparently contain the most saponin.

[ojibwamama]

Thank you Samjm I can't wait until all this snow melts and I can find some, I hope it works well, i like the idea of using something directly from nature.