Home › Catalogue › Three-leaf Soapnut (Ritha / Arishtaka)
Three-leaf Soapnut (Ritha / Arishtaka)
Sapindus trifoliatus
ରୀଠା (Ritha)रीठा (Ritha)Arishtaka
- Family
- Sapindaceae
- Origin
- Southern India
- Plant Type
- Tree
- Habitat
- Outdoor
About the Plant
Medium-to-large deciduous tree with rough ash-grey bark; pinnate leaves with 2-3 pairs of lanceolate leaflets, small greenish-white flowers, and wrinkled saponin-rich 3-lobed drupes.
Traditional Uses
Dandruff, eczema, lice, psoriasis, and snake poisoning
Parts Used
Fruit pericarp, roots
Ayurvedic Properties
- Rasa: Tikta, Katu
- Guna: Laghu, Teekshna
- Virya: Ushna
- Vipaka: Katu
Health Benefits
- Clears dandruff, treats psoriasis and eczema, and cures lice infestations
Precautions
Raw soapnut solution stings eyes intensely; strictly external for hair/skin washing
Interesting Facts
Pericarps are exceptionally rich in natural saponins, forming India's traditional biodegradable laundry detergent