5 Ancient Herbs for Hair That Still Work Wonders Today (By Mama’s Porch Apothecary & Root Rx)

April 28, 2025

Before there were hair serums and synthetic treatments, there were plants.

Our ancestors understood what modern science is only now rediscovering:
the earth already gave us everything we needed to nourish our roots.

At Mama’s Porch, we honor these ancient traditions — not just because they are old,
but because they are true.

Here are 5 powerful herbs that have strengthened crowns for centuries —
and still work wonders today.

Known as the "nectar of life" in Ayurvedic tradition,
Amla has been used for over 5,000 years to:

Rich in vitamin C and powerful antioxidants, Amla supports not just hair growth, but hair resilience.

(Find it woven into our Root Rx formulas — where strength begins with the soil.)

More than just a candy plant —
marshmallow root is a natural detangler and slip-maker beloved by ancestral herbalists.

It creates a mucilage (a natural "slip" gel) that:

If your hair thirsts for tender handling, marshmallow root is the ancient key.

(It’s the secret behind the effortless glide of our Bare Roots Washday Preparation Elixir.)

Slippery Elm, sacred to many Indigenous American traditions, offers:

It strengthens the hair cuticle naturally, protecting fragile ends and reducing breakage.

(That smooth, touchable softness you feel? That's slippery elm speaking through your strands.)

Used since ancient Egyptian times for healing,
licorice root brings balance and calm to the scalp.

It is known to:

When the scalp is soothed, the roots have the freedom to grow strong.

(You’ll find Licorice Root strengthening the healing base of our Root Rescue Moisturizing Conditioner.)

Used for centuries in India and Southeast Asia,
Soap Nut naturally produces saponins — plant-based cleansers — when soaked in water.

Soap Nut water:

(It’s the sacred cleansing base of our Deeply Rooted Strengthening Shampoo — a true botanical baptism.)

Because truth doesn’t expire.
Because ancestral wisdom outlasts trends.
Because the earth still knows the way home.

At Mama’s Porch and through our Root Rx rituals,
we honor these plants by weaving them into every bottle, every balm, every sacred washday step.

Discover the Root Rx Ritual Collection
and let your roots remember.