One theme in the Trotula is Arabic influences. One influence from the Arabs is steam baths, which Arabs called "hammams". These steam baths were believed to allow the release of heat from one's body as a sense of cleansing for the Southern Italians, and for the Arabs these baths were a place to wash up for their five daily prayers. The Arabs used to do their beauty rituals in these hammams, and that might be why the Trotula starts the Women's Cosmetics section with these steam baths. Another influence was the use of depilatories, creams or lotions that are used to remove hair. Arabs were typically Muslim, and Muslims believed that removing hair that is not on top of the head, to keep the body clean. Finally, there is the Arabic influence from
