Home Remedies With Henna And Benefits Of Henna Or Mehndi
Latin Name : Lawsonia inermis.
In India, Henna is called Mehndi. It is also called Hina.
Henna is a small flowering shrub or tree that is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Southern Asia, Africa and Northern Australasia.
Henna powder as well as the paste that is made by grinding dried leaves or fresh leaves of the henna plant is also called henna or mehndi.
Use of henna has been recorded since the Bronze Age and it has also been used in ancient India, Rome, Spain, Syria and Egypt. Henna has a long history of use that extends to almost 6000 years.
Henna has a cooling effect on the body and also dyes the hair and skin from a pale orange to a reddish brown color. When henna leaves are crushed a red orange pigment known as lawsone is released which dyes the hair and skin. Lawsone has an affinity for bonding with protein.
Adding essential oils like tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil or lavender oil will help henna stain better.
Henna has traditionally been used in festivals and celebrations in many parts of the world and in India since olden times, to tattoo the hands, feet, arms and legs especially during marriages and festivals.
Muslims have used henna to dye their hair and beard as a tradition since the times of Prophet Muhammed who enjoined Muslim womenfolk to dye their nails with henna.
Henna is safe to use in pregnant and nursing women, during chemotherapy and radiation. However ensure that you use pure henna.
Inspite of the many benefits of henna FDA has approved its use only on the hair and not on the skin, as according to FDA, other ingredients are added to pure henna to make it produce a product that gives a darker and longer lasting color. This product called black henna is not actually henna and is harmful to health due to the chemical PPD that is toxic and a potential carcinogen.
Henna has been used in hair dyes, cosmetic products, hair products and for making temporary tattoos.
It is used to preserve cloth and leather. Since ancient times henna has been used to dye wool, silk as well as leather.
Henna also repels some insects and mildew. Place henna flowers between folds of woolen cloth to keep moths away.
Henna flowers are used to make perfume.
It is a wonderful conditioner for hair, makes it thick, shiny and more manageable. It restores the natural acid-alkaline balance of the scalp. Being a natural cleanser it does not alter the chemical structure of the hair.
Health Benefits Of Henna
Henna has laxative, expectorant, diuretic, tonic, anthelmintic, anti toxic, anti bacterial, antiviral and anti fungal properties.
It promotes hair growth, relieves bronchitis, asthma, Traditionally henna has been used to treat burns blisters and other skin conditions, headache and migraine, jaundice, amoebic dysentery, stomach and intestinal ulcers, enlarged spleen and even cancer. Henna acts as a good sunscreen,
It is also applied to treat dandruff, fungal infections, eczema and wounds etc.
Some Natural Remedies With Henna or Mehndi
Mouth Ulcers
Soak 50 grams henna powder in 500 ml water. Strain and swish this water around in the mouth for relief.
Alternately, some leaves of henna can also be chewed.
Boils
Boil some henna powder in water and wash the boils with this water.
Burning of the soles of the feet
Apply henna on the soles.
Gum Disease
Boil henna leaves in water. Strain and swish this water around in the mouth.
Cracks, Cuts, Wounds, Injuries
Apply henna paste on the affected area.
Dyeing Hair
Take 50 grams henna powder, 1/2 tsp coffee powder and 25 grams amla powder. Mix these in milk and apply on the head. This will give a golden color to the hair.
Prickly Heat
Apply henna paste on area of the back, neck etc affected by prickly heat. It relieves burning and itching immediately.
Cooling The Body/ Relieving Body Heat
Apply henna paste on the palms and soles. It benefits those with high blood pressure. Henna relieves body heat, induces a feeling of coolness, keeps the mind and head cool and calm.
Fatigue
Sportsmen can benefit by an application of henna paste on the soles of the feet to get relief from fatigue and keep the body cool as well.
About Black Henna or Kali Mehndi
The black henna that is available in the market is not natural henna. It is obtained from the indigo plant and also contains the chemical para phenylenediamine or PPD. Sometimes these are added to henna to produce black henna.
Black henna is extremely dangerous to health since it is a transdermal toxin and a potential carcinogen apart from the fact that it causes allergy in many of those who use black henna.
Getting a black henna tattoo makes the hair sensitive to hair dyes and other chemicals and if a person has had a black henna tattoo and follows it up later with a chemical hair dye, it could even cause a life threatening allergic reaction.
Some Precautions With Henna Use
Henna is safe normally when used externally on hair and skin. Allergic reactions like inflammation of skin and respiratory problems are rare if pure henna is used.
It is considered unsafe for oral consumption.
Henna reacts with Lithium and slows down its excretion. If you are talikg lithium supplementation please note.
Do not use henna in children under 12 years and those with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency as it can cause bursting of the red blood cells even when applied on the skin.
Pregnant women should not take it orally as it might lead to miscarriage. Nursing mothers should also avoid it.
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