I assure you, medieval people bathed (2019)
Its funny that western history distorts the history of the rest of the world.<p>I hear western kids saying <i>no one</i> used to bathe in the ancient times.<p>As an Indian, it was practically mandatory for each and every individual to take a bath at-least two times a day. Additionally the following customs were very prevalent till recent times.<p><pre><code>  1. Washing legs after coming home from outside.
  2. Washing hands, face and legs before sitting to eat food.
  3. Washing whole body after sex.
  4. Washing legs before entering others homes.
  5. Leaving footwear outside the *gate* of any home before entering it.
  6. A full bath in a river &#x2F; lake &#x2F; house tank *before* sunrise and once *before* sunset.
</code></pre>
Also, body was supposed to be massaged with oil of sesame seeds (once a week), and greengram flour was rubbed on every part of the body. After sitting in the sun like this for a few minutes, the flour was scrubbed off by hand, and then a hot water bath taken.<p>For shampoo, two traditional herbs are recommended. Kunkudukai and shikakai. Both are used as it is without any processing. Kunkudukai would be crushed and mixed with water to form a liquid and then applied on head. Amazingly, it would form a lather when rubbed on the head. I remember doing this type of head bath every sunday, until about 2005. Any shampoo was forbidden in our home. The items were dead cheap too.<p>[Edit]<p>Kinkudukai is also called soapnut.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.stylecraze.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;benefits-of-soapnuts-for-skin-hair-and-health&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.stylecraze.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;benefits-of-soapnuts-for...</a><p>The above site tends to exaggerate the benifits a bit, but it is believed that kunkudukai inhibhits dandruff and is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.<p>By personal experience, it tastes absolutely vomit inducing bitter and will burn your eyes to high hell if as much as a diluted drop enters it.<p>Its a natural, safe and environmentally friendly way of taking a head bath.