Soap from wild plants

It is the organic compounds called surfactants that can break through oils and fats: saponins that also produce the foaming we associate with soap. Saponins are found in the leaves, berries, seeds and roots of many plants. To follow are details on lplants that contain saponins and some of the most common wild plants with other cleansing properties, from vaious climate zones.

For skin

Plant; Thalictrum genus - Ranunculaceae family: Meadow Rue (buttercup, crowfoot family)

Found; 
Throughout temperate regions

Characteristics; 
Leaves are usually blue-green growing alternately from the stem. White- yellow, green-purple petal like sepals appear and then fall away when the flowers, which are small and petal-less , appear... with long petal like stamens also colourful: from white-yellow, pink - pale purple .

Parts used for soap;
Aerial parts – a gentle soap good for washing hair and bathing.

Prep. Pound gathered plant between two rocks then cover with water and soak in the sun until warm to create a liquid soap, or warm up over a fire. Can also be used cold.

 

Plant; The Sapindacea family: Soapberry - Sapindus saponoria

Found;
Throughout temperate & tropical regions

Parts used for soap; berries

Prep. Crush the berries and infuse into a tee to make liquid soap**

Plant; Yucca – Most species particularly Yucca treculeana

Found;

Mediterranean, subtropical, tropical and arid temperate regions throughout the world.

Characteristics;
Plants grow leaves are single, straight darck green and sword like with sharp pointed needle ends, growing in a rosette from a single upright stem/trunk. Leaves turn brown and remain hanging from the base of the rosette. Eventuall falling away to leave the familiar markings of palm trunk.

Parts used for soap;

Root
Prep. Dig up & remove a section of the yucca plants root. Peel away the dark outer layer of skin. Pound it between to rocks (rounded if possible) massage straight into your hair 7 scalp.

Leaves
Prep. Remove leaves from plant and shred; rub them together in palms of your hand. Add to water to bathe skin with.

Stems
Prep. Peel away the outer stem, pound & soak in water.

 

Wild Plants for Skin  Cleansing

For bathing our skin there are other wild plants with mildly emollient properties that can be added to warm washing water. Alternatively for a stronger solution of the plant properties and infusion can be made by covering the plant in boiling water and steeping them for atleas 5 minutes and no more than 20 minutes. Emollient plants are warming and open the pores and encourage a mild sweat to flush the dirt out of them. They also soften the skin...ideal for the ingrained dirt and dry, weathered skin.

Plant; Elder - Sambucus, flowers

 

Found; Eurasia

 

 

 

Plant; Mayweed - Anthemis cotula -L, Mayweed Stinking chamomile so-named for its resemblance to the true Chamomile

 

Found;
Eurasia, waste ground

 

 

Wild Plants for Skin  Toning

For a tonic to close up all those cleansed skine pores, cuts and grazes, add plants that have astringent properties to your rinse water.

Plant; Field marigold - Calendula arvensis, flowers

 

Found; Central and southern Europe

 

 

 

Plant; Plantain, common - Plantago major-L, leaves

 

Found; Most of Europe to northern and central Asia – fields, meadows, along streams, woodland edges, rocky places, waste ground.

 

 

Tree; Pomegranite - Punica granatum, flowers

 

Found; Temperate, mediterranean, subtropical & tropical regions

 

 

 

Wild Plants for Skin  Healing

Some mildy antiseptic and vulnerary/wound healing will help keep cuts and grazes clean and keep small pests such as ticks and even smaller pests such as bacteria from settling on us. For a stronger solution, prepare an infusion of the plants by steeping them in boiling water before adding them to your bathing water.

Plant; Field marigold - Calendula arvensis, flowers

Found; Central and southern Europe

 

Plant; Mint - Mentha - flowering tops

 

Found; Throughout the world

 

 

 

Plant; Lavender - Lavendula, flowering stems

Found; Africa, Asia, mediterranean

 

Plant; Plantain, common - Plantago major-L, leaves

 

Found; Eurasia

 

 

 

Plant; Yarrow - Achillea millefoium, flower heads

Found;  Northern hemisphere

 

Natural deoderant

Fragrant

Some more aromatic herbs such as wild lavendar and rosemary will leav e you with a lovely fragrance!

Plant; Lavender - Lavendula, flowering tops

Found; Throughout the world native to temperate climates and naturalised due to their popularity.

 

Plant; Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis, aerial tops especially when in flower

 

Found; Eurasia

 

 

Tree, Citrus: Orange and lemon blossoms

 

 

 

 

 

Tree; Pine -Pinus, infusions of needles and resin

 

For more information see; Chapter 7 First-Aid - Insect repellent

 

 

 

For hair

Wild Plants for Hair Cleansing

Plant; Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis, aerial tops especially when in flower

 

Found; Eurasia

 

 

Wild Plants for Hair Conditioning 

Plant; Nettles - Urtica, aerial tops, boiled for at least 15 mins to remove sting

 

Found; Throughout world

 

 

Plant; Aloes: Most species: esp. Aloe Vera - gel from leaves peeled of the outer skin and drained of toxic yellow sap

Found; Semi arid and arid, temperate, subtropical and tropical regions.

 

Plant; Bracken fern - Pteridium aquilinum

 

Found; Throughout the world except Desert regions

Parts used for soap; Root/rhizome.

Prep. A decoction of root was used as a hair rinse and a root paste was rubbed into the scalp to encourage hair growth *

 

Wild Plants for cleaning clothes & kitchen utensils

Removing grease, and heavy ingrained dirt from cloth and kitchen utensils is when saponins really come into their own.

Plant; Hippocasanaceae family: Horse-chestnuts - Aesculus hippocastanum

Found; Throughout the temperate world.

Characteristics; A large deciduous tree, growing up to and above 36 m. Leaves are palmate with 5-7 leaflets (approx.12-30 cm long). When leaves fall they leave a horse shoe shaped piece behind with a little mark left by the 7 or so leaves, giving the appearance of a horse shoe with nail holes.20-50 flowers grow upward on erect stems they are predominantly white often with a small red spot. The fruit grows on these stems after the flowers, covered in a shiny dark brown shell inside a green spiky capsule.

Parts used for soap; Nuts
Prep. Peel the nuts then crush the white flesh to a pulp between two clean rocks, rub the pulp between the palms of your hands to create lather, swirl into slow running pool of water to wash clothes or a bowl of fire heated water for a good dish and pan wash.

 

Plant; Aceraceae family: Maple - Acer

Found; Northern hemisphere: Europe, Africa, Asia, N. America

Characteristics; Mostly deciduous. Leaves are palmate with 3 -9 points, growing opposite each other. Flowers are green, yellow, orange or pink -red, growing in groups. Maple fruits are pairs of yellow-gree keys( commonly called helicopter seeds or whirlybirds).

Parts used for soap; Seeds
Prep. Crush and infuse into a tea for a liquid soap.

 

Plant; Yucca – Most species particularly Yucca treculeana (Spanish Dagger)

 

Found; Mediterranean, subtropical, tropical and arid temperate regions throughout the world.

Characteristics; Plants grow leaves are single, straight darck green and sword like with sharp pointed needle ends, growing in a rosette from a single upright stem/trunk. Leaves turn brown and remain hanging from the base of the rosette. Eventually falling away to leave the familiar markings of palm trunk.

Parts used for soap; Root
Prep. Dig up & remove a section of the yucca plants root. Peel away the dark outer layer of skin. Pound it between to rocks (rounded if possible) Add a little water to it to create lather, rinse into water: a slow running pool to wash clothes, pots, pans and dishes etc.

*Bocek 1984:247, from Harrington's note (on the Ohlone Indians)

**Wild plants of the Sierra Nevada By Ray S. Vizgirdas, Edna Rey-Vizgirdas