Lis deSousa
There are many ingredients in modern beauty products that were first used by Native Americans.
Here are some interesting plants used for healthy skin and beauty.
Bearberry
Bearberry was used as a remedy for an itchy scalp.
Lis deSousa
Blue Corn
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Corn was very important in ancient Native American life and still is today.
Corn was actually considered a deity in some cultures and a clan symbol for certain tribes.
For the Hopi, it represented the Eastern rising sun and the beginning of life and wisdom.
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Many Native Americans used ground corn to cleanse and purify the skin.
It was rubbed onto the skin before ceremonies to rid the body of impurities.
Ground corn may also be used as an exfoliator.
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Creeping Juniper
Juniper root was traditionally soaked in water to add shine to a horses coat.
Now, it’s often included in haircare formulas for shinier,healthier looking hair.
(It was also used to waterproof rawhide.)
Photo: Yvette Cardozo/Photodisc (Getty)
It also speeds up cellular turnover, leading to improved skin texture and appearance.
Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto was used by Native Americans for hair, scalp and skincare.
Sweetgrass
This flat-leafed bladed grass is considered sacred.
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It is smoked to purify individuals and their surroundings and is used in ceremonies.
It is even handled in a special way to respect its spiritual powers.
Some Native American women decorated their hair with sweetgrass.
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As a wash, sweetgrass was used to attempt to treat windburn and chapped skin.
The tea can also be used as a hair tonic meant to make the hair shiny and fragrant.
Mint was also used in bath water to venture to alleviate itchy skin.
Photo: David McGlynn/Photographer’s Choice (Getty)
Wild Rose Bush
A mash of rose hips was made for skin problems.
The roots of young yucca plants were used for shampoo.
2019 Aug 31;5(8):e02376.
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