More about Lotus Powder

[Flaxen]

Yay, the package arrived today but the baklava I also ordered was out of stock.

Steady, Flaxen.

Okay, to make a long story short, I discovered that lotus powder also goes by the name Persian sedr; also spelled sidr, seder, sedre, or sedar. When I began to search for it that way, I had more success.

It is the ground up leaves of the tree, zizyphus spina christi, and it is used as a washing and lengthening(!) agent for hair, for washing silks, and also for washing the body in preparation for burial in Muslim tradition. It does not darken hair. Good news for blondes!

I actually found two new sites from which to purchase the powder, and I went with the lowest price at Shahrzad International, a market in Georgia. They have online ordering, but the credit card number must be called in or faxed. The man with whom I spoke said he would try to get my order out on Monday, and it arrived today, Thursday.

So here then, are places to order lotus powder/sedr:
EveryDay Mehndi - Lotus Powder Plus(with other herbs) for conditioning 2.8oz. $8.50 & Shampoo Powder with lotus 2.8oz. $9.00.

Persian Grocery - Rezaeyeh brand lotus powder. It looks like the container reads 8(?)oz. $3.99

Sadaf Store - Sadaf brand Persian Seder(Lotus) 4oz. $2.99

Shahrzad International - Shahrzad brand Persian Seder 9oz. $3.99

For washing, I found instructions that say to make a thin paste. I believe it's meant to be very thin. To start, I would try 1 tablespoon in 1 cup of warm water, and let it sit for a while so the powder is fully softened. Pour the "paste" over wet hair, let sit for the length of the shower, and then rinse well. Condition or not, as desired. Adjust the proportions, if needed, and if it cleanses the length too much, the hair could be oiled first. For those advanced herb users who already make their own mixes...well, just go to town with the lotus powder.

Edited: I removed the part about a yellow dye because I can not find where I read that. Also, I did find one reference to "an application of the leaves" being said to darken hair. I suspect this means an application like that of henna. Where lotus is described for washing hair, there is no mention of darkening.

[joyinc]

i always thought lotus powder was a treatment... its used for cleaning too?

how did you find this stuff? is it worth getting?

[Meg_Evenstar]

Thanks Flaxen. I have not had a chance to try mine yet, but I am very excited about it.

Meg

[Flaxen]

Originally Posted by joyinc

i always thought lotus powder was a treatment... its used for cleaning too?

Every Day Mehndi's Lotus Powder Plus is a treatment. I found out that, used alone, lotus powder is for cleaning. I haven't tried it alone since starting the water only experiment. Before that, I used it after an egg shampoo as a conditioning rinse. I didn't know then that it could be used for cleaning.

how did you find this stuff?

I search engines and a good challenge.

is it worth getting?

Well, I like it. It left my hair very soft that one time.

[Flaxen]

Originally Posted by Meg_Evenstar

Thanks Flaxen. I have not had a chance to try mine yet, but I am very excited about it.

Meg

Hi Meg
You're welcome.

[Koala Kim]

Thanks for posting this Flaxen!

$8.50 vs. $3.99? Guess where I'll be buying my lotus powder next time...

[Ali]

Originally Posted by Flaxen

[color=navy]It is the ground up leaves of the tree, zizyphus spina christi

Thank you so much! My herb supplier was looking at me cross eyed when I asked for lotus powder, but his website lists it by this name!!

[nastasska]

Originally Posted by Ali

Thank you so much! My herb supplier was looking at me cross eyed when I asked for lotus powder, but his website lists it by this name!!

Ali would your herb supplier be interested in another customer
What's his website

[brunette]

Found a forestry site that has more of it's common names:
kurna, nabak, nabbak, nabdag, nubak, siddir, christ thorn,
sidr (Arabic); jujube (English); epine du Christ (French).

Jujube - now where do I know that name from?

*ETA* also had the following about it's leaves' properties:

The leaves contain various alcaloids, including ziziphine, jubanine and amphibine, alpha terpinol, linalol and diverse saponins. In the Sahel region, the roots are used to treat headaches, while the spines or ashes of this species are applied to snake bites. Boiled leaves are applied to various surface wounds, and also have antihelminthic and anti-diarrhetic properties. In Egypt and the southern Sahara, a narcotic beverage is made from the fruits and which is considered to be a tranquilliser and sedative. In Morocco, the fruits are used as an emollient and astringent agent. It also is reputed to reduce abscesses and boils while a cataplasm of young leaves is also used to reduce eye inflammations.

[Dianyla]

Originally Posted by brunette

Jujube - now where do I know that name from?

Well there was that one Seinfeld episode...

ETA: Here's a link about the Jujyfruit candies:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujyfruits

[Ali]

Originally Posted by nastasska

Ali would your herb supplier be interested in another customer What's his website

http://www.nadanherbcomp.com.au/

He is a wholesaler (normally sells by the kilo), but he was willing to sell me smaller amounts while I was getting to know what herbs I need. He's very friendly and so knowledgeable! Last time I went to visit him on my lunch break and that wasn't enough time to pick his brains

I don't think his complete list is on his website so you can probably email him if you don't see what you want.

HTH!

Ali

[nastasska]

Originally Posted by Ali

http://www.nadanherbcomp.com.au/

He is a wholesaler (normally sells by the kilo), but he was willing to sell me smaller amounts while I was getting to know what herbs I need. He's very friendly and so knowledgeable! Last time I went to visit him on my lunch break and that wasn't enough time to pick his brains

I don't think his complete list is on his website so you can probably email him if you don't see what you want.

HTH!

Ali

Ooooh Ali Thank you I did notice he's out of Brahmi though.I didn't know there were such great herb suppliers here

[Honey Mane]

Thank you, Flaxen! Your hard work is much appreciated!

How often should Lotus powder treatments/cleanings be done?

[nastasska]

I use my Lotus Powder Plus once a month as I don't want to over protein It does wonders for myy hair

[brunette]

Originally Posted by Dianyla

Well there was that one Seinfeld episode...

ETA: Here's a link about the Jujyfruit candies:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujyfruits

hehe thanks, but it's not that cos I never watched Seinfeld

Maybe it was a previous lifetime