Soapberries (Soapnuts) or Aritha for Skin & Kitchen appliances.

Soap nuts or soapberries are potent herbs known scientifically by the name Sapindus mukorrosi belonging to the Sapindaceae family. They are berries & not nuts. They are split, sun-dried has golden shells. These shells are referred to as soap nuts due to the abundant presence of saponins in them. This perfectly removes dirt & oil from clothes in contact with water. Due to these diverse & versatile properties, it can replace any artificial detergents. They are berry-like fruits & does not cause any allergies. They are medium-sized fast-growing trees. They are geographically found in the tropical & temperate regions of Bhutan & India.

Skincare
Soap nuts are regarded as a perfect cleanser for your skin. It is an important ingredient in herbal cleansers & herbal shampoos. It has a very smooth & cooling effect on your skin. It imparts softness to the skin & prevents drying. It is used to retore tenderness of skin & reduce age-related skin changes. It is one of the finest remedies for psoriasis, eczema, acne, & freckles. It is best suited for people with sensitive skin. It has natural moisturizing properties & a conditioning effect on the skin. It cleanses the skin & imparts a unique glow. It also helps to restore the skin tone & complexion naturally without damaging the skin. It removes the excess oily secretion from the skin. Hence it prevents acne & freckles.
The shell contains saponins(10-11.5%) which is the active ingredient responsible for its cleansing properties. It also contains sugure 10 % & mucilage. It contains 6 sapindocytes Mukorozi, Saponin E1,Y1,A,B,C,D,Rusogenin, gitogenin & chlorogenin. Starch, sugar, mucilage & protein is in abundance in seeds.

Hair tonic

It is a wonderful cosmetic as well as a hair tonic. The fruits are a well-known remedy for various ailments in the traditional medical systems. It also has contraceptive, expectorant & anti-epileptic properties. It is very effective in chlorosis & excessive salivation. It is anti-inflammatory & antimicrobial in action. Traditionally it is been used to remove lice from the scalp due to its insecticidal properties. In Japanese & Chinese medicine it is referred to as life-prolonging & non-illness fruit. The leaves are effective in relieving pain in rheumatic disorders. The roots are ideal for gout.

Woundcare
The seed oil is very effective in healing wounds in the skin. The phytosterols present in the seeds are responsible for the anti-inflammatory action. It greatly reduces the redness & swelling that appears on the skin. Arachidonic acid reduces skin inflammations & cools the skin. Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory & anti-microbial properties, it is greatly recommended for the infections of the soft tissue. It enhances the healing of the skin through cell proliferation. It prevents exudates & granuloma formation. It is a powerful antiseptic & hence widely used in cosmetic formulations.

Natural Soap Cleanser
Soapnut berries can replace your chemical body wash. It can be used as a body wash to cleanse & cool your skin. This does not create any damage to the skin. It evens the skin tone & fights eczema. It can be applied to your face as a natural moisturizer. It is non-toxic & does not produce allergies. It can be safely used in diaper rashes in babies. It is highly effective in baby skin too.

For pets- Amazing skin benefits

It is a miraculous medicine not only for human hair but also for pet hair. It can be safely used as a pet shampoo. It can be used as a spray solution. It removes impurities from pet beds & toys. Due to its insecticidal properties, it kills pet lice as well as ticks without causing any damage to pet skin.

Other benefits
Sanitation
It can be wrapped in a cloth bag & thrown into your washing machine. It cleans the dirt & stains efficiently. It is a natural all-purpose cleaner. Add some mashed berries into some quantity of boiling water. Strain the mixture. Now the cleansing solution is ready. Just spray to your kitchen counters, home appliances, floor & dishes. It is odorless, if you need fragrance add some quantity of lavender oil or lemongrass oil.

Caution
Despite its amazing health benefits, soap nuts should be used with much care. It does not have any side-effects on the scalp, hair & skin of humans.  Avoid the contact of the herb with the eyes. Close contact can irritate the eyes. In some cases, it can lead to swollen eyes & allergies. Also, it is very important to observe any itching or irritations following the application of soap nut. If there is any such reaction, it is advised to stop the application. It is recommended to use high-quality soap nuts for maximum benefits.

Cleaning using soap berries is an eco-friendly practice. They are biodegradable & safe for disposal. They are not allergic & does not damage skin, fabric, or even surfaces. These are a natural, cheap remedy to keep your hair in good health. They act as natural conditioners, & imparts smoothness. Because of the anti-fungal & anti-bacterial properties, it eliminates dandruff from the scalp.

References
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333399465_Effects_of_Sapindus_mukorossi_Seed_Oil_on_Skin_Wound_Healing_In_Vivo_and_in_Vitro_Testing
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6567820/