Rethay ریٹھہ

Description

Rethay at sknatural are Sapindus trifoliatus Linn. It belongs to family “Sapindaceae”. Genrally, people use its fruits. Its temperament is warm and dry in second order. It is native to Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, the Andaman Islands, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, and has been introduced to eastern tropical Africa, Rodrigues, and Trinidad and Tobago. This evergreen tree can reach heights of 25 m (82 ft). Its seeds, rich in saponins, are harvested both from the wild and cultivated for soap production, primarily for washing fabrics.

Other names:

Arabic Name(s): Findaq-Hindi, Sandal limoni, Ritha limoni
Urdu Name(s): Ritha, Aritho
English Name(s): Soap nut

Properties:

Emetic and purgative, irritant, abortive for the dead foetus  and placenta, emmenagogue, antidote for poisons produced in body (due to snake bite) nauseant, expectorant, anthelmintic, externally antidandruff, and as useful application when bruised in vinegar and applied on face for the purpose of making the skin attractive.

Medicinal uses:

The reddish-brown fleshy covering of Soap nut, when bruised and mixed with water, forms a soapy lather that effectively treats common skin complaints. Therefore, people add it in embrocations (Ubtan) for beautification purposes and to alleviate skin disorders like leucodermal and vitiliginous spots. When applied in vinegar on ulcers and bruised for sniffing, it can cause nausea or irritation of the nasal mucosa, which proves effective in treating migraine, epilepsy, headache of cold origin, and facial paralysis. Intake in this manner also induces sneezing, facilitating the expulsion of catarrh through the nostrils and calming the condition.

Moreover, The pericarp or pulp, along with the kernel, serves as an expectorant, purgative, and anthelmintic in colic. Rethay relieve all kinds of spasmodic attacks, fits, hysteria, and epilepsy. Furthermore, Pessaries made from the kernel stimulate childbirth, treat amenorrhoea, and expel the dead foetus. As an antidote, people apply it externally and administer it in water every two hours against toxins, cholera, and diarrhoea.

Recommended dosage:

5 g.