The sticky viscuous liquid within the bracts of this shampoo ginger, Zingiber zerumbet has been used traditionally by Polynesians as hair shampoo. The whole "cone" would be taken to a river, and upon a light squeeze, the liquid would ooze out and ready to be applied. The chemical is said to impart a lasting shine to the hair. It is apparently effective, some famous (I think) shampoos - like Paul Mitchell and Freeman put it in their products.
More recently, an oil known as Zerumbone extracted from its rhizome is found to have anti-tumour properties as well.
