What’s a Soapberry?

If you’ve never heard of the soapberry, it’s probably because while you can find it in some foods, for example in Indian ice cream, soapberry cosmetics have yet to be commercialized in the U.S.

That said, the soapberry actually has a long history of use as a skincare product in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medicines. The fruit, which grows naturally in India and Taiwan, has long been used as a safe, gentle cleanser and as a treatment for skin conditions ranging from psoriasis to eczema.

Not only is it naturally antibacterial, it also produces a natural lather when rubbed, creating a gentle, all-natural soap.

The Roots of Tree to Tub

Tree to Tub co-founder Michael Koh grew up using soapberries as a cleanser in his native Taiwan.

“During my childhood in Taiwan, my grandmother never had to worry about chemicals harming my sensitive, fragile skin,” explains Koh. “She relied on nature – all we used was a fruit called the soapberry. She would trek deep into the forest, harvest the berries, and bathe me in its rich, nourishing lather.”

He teamed up with Brian Quach, a fellow UC Berkeley alum, to create Tree to Tub, an all-natural, cruelty-free, vegan soap made from soapberries harvested from family farms in Taiwan.

These berries are blended with organic ingredients like açai and aloe vera to create five different products, ranging from a facial cleanser to a shampoo reinforced with gotu kola extract to ward against hair loss and chamomile to help with itchy scalp to a shea butter body lotion.

“You’re washing with completely botanical lather that we think can replace all chemical lather in the future,” says Quach.

Tree to Tub is committed to fair-trade business solutions, creating a business model that allows local populations to benefit from the popularity of this berry; the founders travelled to Taiwan to meet the local families and help them with the harvest.

“We’ve become almost family with the farmers,” says Quach. “It’s really a different approach to business. When you do business here, you kind of have this informal contract, like ‘We’re gonna work things out together,’ and ‘We’re here together.'”

An Organic Future

Most of Tree to Tub’s ingredients are certified organic, with one major exception: the soapberries themselves. While the certification has proved a challenge to obtain — mainly because the soapberries are picked from the wild and not grown agriculturally — the team knows how important this certification is and is constantly working towards this all-important label.

“Right now it’s more of a fact of getting all our ducks in a row and getting ready for the audits,” says Quach. “We’re prepared; it’s really important for us.”

If you’re intrigued by this new, all-natural skincare product, try it out yourself. In honor of its Indiegogo launch, Tree to Tub is offering a discount to EcoSalon readers, so that you can discover the world’s most gentle soap.

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Images care of Tree to Tub

The post All-Natural Soap Does, In Fact, Grow on Trees (Soapberry Trees, That Is) appeared first on EcoSalon.

A.D.O. clothing is all about feminine essentials for spring infused by the works of Monet.

A.D.O.’s Spring Awakening collection is inspired by “fluid and essential silhouettes that capture the core elements of timeless beauty.” Inspired by Monet’s Yellow Nirvana, designer Angelika Krishna infused her own spring line with impressionistic pastel hues derived from turmeric, sandalwood, pomegranate and Indian basil. 100% Organic knits and cottons are then treated to Ayurvedic ingredients to make buttery yellows, summer blues and hues derived naturally, from nature. The end product is a non-toxic, sustainable soiree of comfortable, breathable separates for spring and summer.

Not a stranger to high fashion, Krishna has worked for design houses that include Ralph Lauren and Issey Miyake and she continues to work with and dress celebrities and boutique shoppers worldwide.

Krishna says when she first started A.D.O., the intention was to create a denim line, but after seeing denim workers in factories covered in toxic dyes and in dangerous health conditions, it “broke her heart” enough to bypass the idea. Instead of chemically infused jeans, Krishna started designing non-toxic t-shirts, wraps and now a ready-to-wear line.

“My line is definitely evolving but my ongoing passion is draping. My ultimate dream is to work more with chiffon and silks so right now I’m investigating how to get them organic for future collections,” says Krishna, who says she leans toward a Stella McCartney vibe.

With fabrics sourced from small, hand loom workshops, Krishna is able to capture that vibe in a holistic environment that is amiable for her workers and their families.

With increasing amounts of information being dispensed about the hidden chemicals embedded in most clothing, A.D.O. has become a healthy beacon in a toxic storm. The 5000 year old Indian tradition of Ayurvedic herbal dyeing she employs spares the planet of countless harmful contaminants not to mention her closed loop dyeing process where the brand’s dye waste actually becomes garden compost.

“I approach the chemical free dyeing as an added benefit to the line,” she says, “No matter what you wear, the chemicals will seep into your pores and when you’re talking about something dyed with pomegranate which has healing properties, it makes sense to make better choices.”

To purchase a piece of A.D.O. clothing, go here.

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It’s no secret that air pollution, dust and pollen will block up your nasal passages and potentially cause sinus problems. Sinus problems are painful and expensive (the most frequently diagnosed chronic condition in the U.S.) but thankfully prevention can be easy and inexpensive. Enter the neti pot.

If you’ve never seen one of these things (which looks like a magical little teapot), the idea of running water through your nostrils – nasal irrigation – can be a little disconcerting, but the neti pot stems from ancient Ayurvedic tradition. The pot is filled with lukewarm, salty water (the same salinity as tears), poured into one nostril and allowed to flow out the other. It’s really not as bad as it sounds and feels rather nice once you get used to it.

The importance of cleaning the nasal passages cannot be overstated. After all, nasal hairs and mucus membranes are built especially to filter foreign pollutants, but as with any type of filter, the membranes need to be regularly cleaned.

The Himalayan Institute provides detailed instructions and a short video explaining neti pot use.

Image: Sarah Case

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