Ancient Cambodian Herbal Hair and Skin Care
Many Khmer women swear by traditional, all natural beauty secrets
Feb 28, 2009
These simple recipes have been passed down through generations, and young Khmers are again embracing them in preference to the sometimes harsh and always more expensive whitening and anti-aging treatments available in shops.
Western research seems to be backing anecdotal evidence of the powers of the key ingredients, including the rich yellow rizome turmeric and the root known as galangal which Europeans are more likely to associate with Thai cooking than smooth skin.
Curcumin, the substance which gives turmeric (also spelt tumeric) its unmistakeable color, has been found by several studies including one in 2005 at Oregon State University to have exciting potential as an anti-inflamatory and antioxidant.
Various species of hibiscus, native to most tropical regions, are used in traditional medicines and lotions around the world and is another plant the West is only just beginning to explore.
The results of a study on hibiscus extract published in the Journal of Human Hypertension (August, 2008) seemed to back claims of its soothing qualities, reporting impressive improvements in blood pressure when administered to patients with Type 2 Diabetes. It is also an astringent, prized for its skin toning properties.
Galangal, like its cousin tumeric, has also been found to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxident properties and is widely used in Cambodian traditional medicine for treating swellings, sprains and other soft tissue trauma.
Kaffir lime is the knobbly-skinned variety of the fruit often used in Southeast Asian cooking, along with its distinctive double jointed leaf. It is traditionally used medicinally to clear the head and cleanse. Its scent is believed to lift spirits and relax and its juice is highly astringent.
Western studies of these herbal properties may be in the early stages, but from the response of Cambodians who have tried these ingredients in combination, there is absolutely something to the ancient beliefs, and they are not waiting for the West to catch up.
The Healthy Skin and Hair Results are Clear, Say Devotees
"We have a lot of customers coming to us now again and again - women of all ages looking for chemical-free solutions to clear, smooth skin and nice hair," says Srei Pov, 18, a seller at one of perhaps a score of kru khmei, or traditional medicine, stalls behind O'Russei Market in the capital, Phnom Penh.
For the basics of a beauty makeover, she immediately produces a basket of tumeric, one of galangal, a bushel of juicy, fragrant kaffir limes and a large bunch of fresh hibiscus leaves. A piece of dried cuttlefish bone is added as an afterthought.
"Ground into a powder and consumed with young coconut juice, cuttlefish bone is normally used in traditional medicine as an antacid to soothe an upset stomach, but women who come here have told me it also cleanses the stomach and helps make pretty skin from the inside out," she says.
"Cuttlefish powder made into a paste with white alcohol or lime juice and honey also makes a good body scrub for exfoliation."
Below are some recipes for treatments recommended by Srey Pov. There are many variations, some of which require herbs not readily available outside of Cambodia, but they all revolve around the same basic ingredients. Some ethnic Muslim Cham in Cambodia might also add coconut oil, although many non-Cham Cambodians shy away from its strong smell.
Cambodian Traditional Pore Cleansing Recipe
Ingredients:
- Generous handful of tumeric, sliced thinly
- Generous handful of galangal, sliced thinly
- bunch fresh hibiscus leaves
- Kaffir lime, cut in halves (optional)
Mix all ingredients together with water in a heavy bottomed saucepan or earthenware pot and bring to boil. When boiling, take off the heat. Cover bowl with a towel and put your head under so steam envelopes the face - exactly the same way you would to decongest a stuffy nose when treating a cold. This herbal steam opens the pores and with regular use eliminates blackheads and rejuvenates tired skin.
Cambodian Traditional Skin Whitening/Anti-Wrinkle Treatment
Ingredients
- Finely grated tumeric
- Finely grated galangal
- Organic honey
Mix all ingredients together with just enough honey to bind the rizomes. Use on the face the same way as a mud mask. The mixture can also be "painted" on the skin or used as an all body exfoliant rub. Be warned - the tumeric will initially stain the skin yellow before wearing off to leave it looking lighter and brighter. Fair skin may retain the yellow stain longer. Not a treatment to try just hours before a formal event, but recommended as a relaxing, fragrant Sunday-at-home treatment.
Simple Cambodian Hair Treatment
This requires nothing more than copious amounts of kaffir lime juice which is rubbed through the hair and left for 15-20 minutes. The juice cleans the hair shafts and scalp of impurities left from conditioners and other commericial treatments, and when it is washed clean, hair is left with a silky glow.
