Meet
The Loofah - by Caroline Sposto
First impressions can be deceiving. When I first met the
Loofah, (sometimes spelled Luffa or Lufa), I thought it was an
exotic variety of sea sponge. Surprisingly, these versatile
scrubbers are actually the fibrous skeletons of fast-growing annual
plants that are distant cousins of the cucumber. The old fashioned
name for "Loofah" is "Washrag Gourd" or "Dishcloth Gourd."
Loofahs typically mature to about 12 inches in length, but in 1997,
Guinness recorded the largest Loofah Gourd ever grown as measuring
20" by 16" x 5." Immature Loofahs are edible, while mature ones
yield sponges.
In addition to being the only plant that can be used as a sponge,
Loofahs are also used for insulation and pillow stuffing. Before
WWII, most American grown Loofahs were used as filters in the
boilers of large ships because they are incredibly heat resistant
and durable.
If you haven't tried one in the bath or shower, you're missing
something wonderful! They clean, exfoliate, and stimulate
circulation, and massage tired muscles all at once. A slice of
Loofah is a wonderful tool in the kitchen. They scrub dishes and
pans without scratching. Your kitchen Loofah is dishwasher safe, so
it is easy to keep it disinfected.
When soap and water alone won't do the job, Paisley prescribes a
quality natural Loofah.
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| We are the caretakers of others, and we can only be good caretakers if we take care of ourselves. |
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