Herbal Soap Making

What is Herbal Soap?
Herbal soap is a kind of soap mixed with natural ingredients, juice or extract and vitamins from medicinal plants.

How to Prepare Herbal Soap:
Utensils:
Plastic pail
Wooden ladle or bamboo stick
Glass or cup
Mortar and pestle
Cheese cloth or strainer
Knife
Chopping board
Cooking pot (preferably made of clay, enamel, stainless or glass)
Stove
Plastic molders


Akapulko and Guava Soap:

How to Prepare a Decoction:
1. Wash the leaves thoroughly and chop or cut in small pieces.
2. Measure 1 glass of chopped fresh leaves and 2 glasses of water.
3. Let it boil for 15 minutes (start timing when the water starts to boil).
4. After 15 minutes, remove from fire and strain in a cheesecloth. Set aside and let it cool.

Materials:
1 glass Caustic Soda (NaOH)
3 glasses Akapulko or Guava decoction, cooled
5 glasses cooking oil
coloring powder (optional)

Procedure:
1. Prepare the materials and the utensils needed.
2. Measure 1 glass of caustic soda and 3 glasses of Akapulko or Guava decoction and pour into a plastic pail.
3. Mix well by stirring continuously using a wooden ladle or bamboo stick. Use only one direction in mixing the mixture. Stir until the caustic soda is dissolved.
4. Pour 5 glasses cooking oil into the mixture.
5. Continue stirring until a consistency of a condensed milk is achieved.
6. Pour the soap mixture into desired plastic molders. Set aside and let it cool to harden.
7. After 4-5 hours, remove the soap from the molder.
8. Allow 30 days of ageing before packing. Label the soaps.

Indications:
Akapulko leaves - anti-fungal
Guava leaves - antiseptic for wounds

Kamias, Calamansi, Papaya, Cucumber and Radish Soaps

Materials:
1 glass Caustic Soda (NaOH)
3 glasses water
5 glasses cooking oil
1/2 glass juice or extract

Procedure:
1. Prepare the materials and the utensils needed.
2. Measure 1 glass of caustic soda and 3 glasses of water and pour into a plastic pail.
3. Mix well by stirring continuously using a wooden ladle or bamboo stick. Use only one direction in mixing the mixture. Stir until the caustic soda is dissolved.
4. Pour 5 glasses cooking oil into the mixture.
5. Continue stirring until a consistency of a condensed milk is achieved and add 1/2 glass of juice or extract.
6. Pour the soap mixture into desired plastic molders. Set aside and let it cool to harden.
7. After 4-5 hours, remove the soap from the molder.
8. Allow 30 days of ageing before packing. Label the soaps.

Indications:
Kamias - fruit extract or juice (bleaching soap)
Calamansi - fruit extract or juice (bleaching soap)
Cucumber - fruit extract or juice (moisturizer)
Papaya - extract from fresh leaves (bleaching/moisturizer)
Radish - extract from the stem (moisturizer)

Reminder:
Caustic Soda can harm the skin upon contact. Wash immediately with vinegar or anything sour and then wash it with soap and water.

Caustic Soda is harmful to health and so, make the necessary precaution. Use mask and gloves to protect your body.

Source:www.doh.gov.ph, photo from www.himalayanherbs.net