Friday, April 12, 2013

Natural Gum Tragacanth ~ Katirah for extreme Hair Care


Iranian Gum Tragacanth (Katirah) from the locoweed shrub (Astragalus sp.) a low-growing shrub containing a valuable sap called 'Gum Tragacanth' a water-soluble polysaccharide used as a thickening agent and emulsifier.



 Gum tragacanth has been used medicinally for thousands of years, dating back several centuries before the Christian era.

In folk medicine it has been used for a laxative, persistent cough, diarrhea, and as an aphrodisiac but the most popular use in Persian lore for this dried sap, is for strengthening hair and stopping hair loss almost overnight, it gives the hair an almost invincible 'armoured' shielding that gives full bodied thickness and volume after the first application.





Externally the gum has been used in traditional medicine for dressing burns, and it is now believed that it might have anti-tumour properties, and could stimulate the immune system. Good for use in cooling drinks. You have to soak a very small piece of the gum in a glass of water and it will swell and turn to a jelly-like substance which is transparent, so that the glass looks as though it is full of chunks of ice.

Leave it to soak until it is very swollen (a couple of hours seems to do the trick) and then drink it with water, ice and lemon juice, or use it topically like a Hair 'Spa' allow it to soak in the hair and scalp for at least an hour. Then rinse hair entirely washing out Gum tragacanth there is no need to use shampoo, you can just add some of your favourite essential oils for fragrance and you have a shampoo directly from natures resources.

 Remember to 'Bless' anything you create, your thoughts hold energy for better healing ~ Be Grateful.

 Due to troubled diplomatic relationships between the United States and Iran, other natural gums have largely replaced the use of Gum Tragacanth in the United States and good quality supplies from Persian sources are dwindling it has become increasingly more difficult to find and prices have increased due to lack of availability even within Iran itself and has become highly sought after for it's Cosmetic and medicinal properties

  Externally the gum has been used in traditional medicine for dressing burns, and it is now believed that it might have anti-tumour properties, and could stimulate the immune system. Good for use in cooling drinks. You have to soak a very small piece of the gum in a glass of water and it will swell and turn to a jelly-like substance which is transparent, so that the glass looks as though it is full of chunks of ice. Leave it to soak until it is very swollen (a couple of hours seems to do the trick) and then drink it with water, ice and lemon juice, or use it topically like a Hair 'Spa' allow it to soak in the hair and scalp for at least an hour.

 Most of what you will find today is a 'psuedo' Gum tragacanth such as guar gum and locust bean gum whose properties have little to do with those of the original and are completely incomparable to the real thing.

We have superior quality available small amount is needed to soak into water overnight and swells to many times its size and volume is like a thick gel to put into the hair for a therapeutic hair pack.

 Gum Tragacanth 
15grams (3-4 times use) $48US