Shikakai Plant its Shrub and Pods:
Shikakai, whose scientific or botanical name is Acacia concinna is basically a herbal plant. It has shrub and its fruits are come out in form of pods. Its native is part of central India and few other places. Shikakai means " fruit for hair “. It is an established herb which is being used under our very own Ayurvedic system of wellness. Shikakai is a part of traditional Ayurvedic system since ages. Most of the time Shikakai used for controlling hair fall and dandruff. Here one important point about is Shikakai is that for hair related problems it can be used alone or it can be blended with few other things. These other things could be Reetha, Amla, Aloeveera,Jatamansi, fullers earth etc.etc.
Shikakai is an ideal base or secondary item for making herbal shampoo. It manages hair fall and prevents dandruff due to its cleansing and antifungal properties. Shikakai, helps hair to shine well and same time it is found useful against greying of hair.
According to the Ayurveda applying Shikakai Powder alongwith rose water or honey to wounds helps in faster recovery or quick healing due to its Ropan or healing property and sita (cold) in nature (taseer).
It is an interesting fact about shikakai that drinking its infusion helps to manage constipation due to its rechana (laxative) nature. Shikakai Powder is also very useful and beneficial if taken for piles problem. It is due to its kashaya (astringent) property.
Thus, basically shikakai or Acacia concinna is a name of plant, where its pods are being comes out as a fruit or fruit shell. Shikakai is basically a climbing shrub with oblong - shaped dark brown pods, bipinnate leaves and pink colour flowers.
Shikakai powder is a natural ayurvedic churn with multiple health friendly uses.
How old is the known history of Shikakai?
Shikakai is one among few other herbs, which has very old known history. Its mention comes in the ancient scriptures, especially in those which are related with the Ayurveda. Shikakai is also known as " Shika" in the Tamil which means a "fruit for hair “. As we already have given an idea that it is a shrub form tree basically produce pods in form of Shikakai. It is found in the tropical woods of the Indian subcontinent. Interestingly, Shikakai has a very old known connection with mankind. Our ancestors use to Shikakai not only for their haircare but also for several another wellness issues like constipation, skincare etc.etc.
What are other names of Shikakai:
Shikakai is very popular medicinal herbal item with several other names too. Few of its aother names are as following.
*Acacia concinna .
* Carmakasa .
* Satala.
* Vimala.
* Vidula.
* Bhuriphena.
* Amala.
* Bahuphena.
*Phenna.
* Dipta.
* Visanika.
* Svargapuspi.
* Putraghna.
* Ban reetha.
* Cikakai or Chikaki.
* Kicchi.
* Kochi.
* Hikakai.
* Saatala,
* Shika.
* Amsikira.
* Kachuai.
* Pasoi tenga.
* Suse lewa.
* Cige.
*Manda- otte.
*Mandashige.
* Ollegise.
* Sage.
* Seegiballi.
* Seegay.
* Shige.
* Sheegae.
* Shige kayi.
* Chinikka.
* Cikkakka .
* Civikka.
* Cheenikai.
* Chinik.
* Chinnikayi.
*Goku.
* Siikaya.
Shikakai Powder:
Now, most important topic under this blog's subject matter comes into the picture. This topic is about shikakai powder.
Shikakai powder is basically made from shikakai plants that part which is known as pods. Whenever we have to use Shikakai for haircare or skincare, its powder form is most appropriate. Shikakai powder gets prepared after very fine grinding of its pods. For such grinding first of all pods needs to be dried and their inside seeds have to be removed. There is a precise process under that shikakai powder is being manufactured.
In the market place there are several shikakai powder are available with different- different brand names . Very few of them are produce high quality Shikakai Powder, one such high quality Shikakai Powder manufacturing brand is brand Havintha. They have very state of the art kind of manufacturing facility with very stringent quality control.
Every partical of Havintha's shikakai powder is a testimony of purity.
Benefits of Shikakai:
Shikakai is basically a medicinal herb. It has more than one or two uses or benefits. Some of the benefits are as under.
* It has antimicrobial property, that helps in treating scalp infections. This property is also useful for preventing hair loss due to infection.
* Shikakai is very good for using as a natural dye.
It gives very good alternative to the chemical-based dyes for coloring our delicate hairs and other important items which needs dye solutions.
* Shikakai is a proven natural remedy for the conditioning of scalp, when scalp gets affected with psoriasis or eczema.
* Shikakai helps to nourish hair and protects them from falling and weakening.
* Shikakai pods can be used after soaking them overnight for the value addition of many edibles.
How to use Shikakai pods and Shikakai Powder?
Shikakai can be used in various ways according to the application.
Following are certain options.
(a) Remove the seeds of Shikakai after crushing the fruit.
(b) Remove the seeds of shikakai after crushing the fruit.
(c) Take ,1/4 glass of this infusion before sleeping to get rid from constipation and piles.
(d) This infusion can also be taken before meals to improve appetite.
Using methods of Shikakai Powder:
To use Shikakai powder as a shampoo there are two techniques. First is that type of technique in which shikakai is being used exclusively without adding any other thing in it.
That method is as following.
*Take 1 Tbsp shikakai powder (or as per use) and mix it in 1 cup of water.
* Boil this for about 5 to 7 minutes.
* Once get cool apply it into the hair and scalp with gentle massage.
* Leave it for about 15 minutes.
* Rinse with plain water, repeat same process once or twice a week for excellent results.
Second Method:
In this method of using Shikakai powder as hair shampoo, few other ingredients also needed.
Following is the process:
(a) Take 1/2 kg of Shikakai, 100 gram of fenugreek seeds, a handful of tulsi leaves and Hibiscus flower petels.
(b) Dry all the ingredients in sunlight for about two days.
(c) Grind the contents to a fine powder.
(d) Store this freshly prepared shikakai powder in an airtight container and use when and where you want to use as an effective homemade hair shampoo and conditioner.
Havintha's Shikakai Powder:
Brand leader Havintha in the field of organic and herbal products is also a leading producer of Shikakai Powder. Havintha's shikakai powder is made from high graded raw material being procured directly from growers. In their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility Havintha's team of experts checks every minute thing to ensure good manufacturing process. Once final product comes out from manufacturing facility quality control team ensures whether prepared product is 100 percent satisfying or not.
If anything, not up to the marks comes in notice they reject entire lot. Thus, double - triple layer quality control assurance gives its final product a testimony of purity.
Conclusion: Thus, after going through this blog our readers may have received some good information about Shikakai Powder its various applications and brand Havintha and its high quality Shikakai Powder.
We have covered various aspects of shikakai in this blog but still if any of our reader feels to know more, they can communicate with us.