Siwak

Terres Touareg

The benefits of Siwak

Siwak, also known as miswak or arak wood, is a stick carved from the roots of Salvadora persica, a shrub found in the humid valleys of the Sahara.
Used for thousands of years for oral hygiene, it is deeply rooted in the culture of the Tuareg people and in the Muslim world.

Salvadora persica, a Saharan plant with many virtues

Salvadora persica grows in damp, protected areas along the wadis, sometimes clinging to the cliffs of the Tassili. In Tamahaq, it is known as téhaq. Its leaves and fruit are edible and used in traditional medicine to relieve coughs, fevers, sore throats, stomach aches and rheumatism. Its roots are used to make siwak, a natural tool with remarkable antibacterial properties.

Siwak naturally contains :

  • Fluoride: prevents cavities
  • Silica: cleans and whitens teeth
  • Calcium & phosphorus: strengthen enamel
  • Sulphur & tannins: antibacterial and anti-plaque action
  • Vitamin C: helps healing
  • Alkaloids: anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial

In 2000, the WHO officially recognised the benefits of siwak and recommended its use. Scientific studies have shown that it can be more effective than a conventional toothbrush.

A thousand-year-old practice

The use of siwak dates back to ancient times: Babylonians, Greeks, Egyptians and Romans were already using it. But it was above all in the Muslim tradition that it became widespread, the prophet Mohammed having recommended its daily use, particularly before prayers. Today, siwak is used throughout the Arab-Muslim world, in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and is also increasingly appealing to followers of natural, zero-waste hygiene in the West.

How do you use siwak?

  1. Cut 1 to 2 cm off the bark to reveal the fibres.
  2. Soak in water for a few minutes.
  3. Nibble the end until you have soft bristles.
  4. Gently brush your teeth without toothpaste.
  5. Clean your tongue with the same stick.
  6. Rinse and leave to air dry.
  7. Trim again after a few days’ use.

Beyond its hygienic virtues, siwak embodies an ancient wisdom, a simple, effective and sustainable way of taking care of ourselves. Grown from a tree that is deeply linked to life in the Sahara, it reflects the intimate relationship between the Tuareg people and their environment. A thousand-year-old tradition that has now found its way into our modern bathrooms.

Terres Touareg
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