All-natural shampoo

While touring the ancient Nasca aqueducts and spiral wells, my guide Arturo also shared a great deal about the history, geology and botany of the region.

During our own exploration, we happened upon a tree whose fresh leaves were “ground up” and the sap rubbed on the skin as a natural insect repellant. I tried it. There were no insects to repel but the sap was not at all sticky. It smelled vaguely of balsam and lemongrass.

We also found a large bush with a bunch of fuzzy fruit hanging from it. Arturo told me that the fruit is not for eating. Ancient peoples would pick it when it was ripe and use the juices from inside the fruit as an all-natural shampoo, soap and general cleaner.

Since Arturo plucked one of these fruits off the tree to show me, I decided to bring it back to my hostel and put it to the test.