Henna (Lawsonia inermis) حِنَّاء‎

Henna fresh leaves and dried leaves powder

Henna (Lawsonia inermis, also known as hina, the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet, is a flowering plant and the sole species of the Lawsonia genus. The English name "henna" comes from the Arabic حِنَّاء‎ (ALA-LC: ḥinnāʾ; pronounced [ħɪnˈnæːʔ]) or, colloquially حنا‎, loosely pronounced as /ħinna/.
The name henna also refers to the dye prepared from the plant and the art of temporary body art (staining) based on those dyes . Henna has been used since antiquity to dye skin, hair and fingernails, as well as fabrics including silk, wool and leather. The name is used in other skin and hair dyes, such as black henna and neutral henna, neither of which is derived from the henna plant.

Historically, henna was used for cosmetic purposes primarily in Ancient India. It was also found to be used in the Arabian Peninsula, South Asia, Carthage and other parts of North Africa, and the Horn of Africa. Bridal henna nights remain an important custom in many of these areas, particularly among traditional families.

Indians would also express themselves with the henna on their feet and hands.


Preparation and application   

Lawsone, an active compound in Henna
Whole, unbroken henna leaves will not stain the skin. Henna will not stain skin until the lawsone molecules are made available (released) from the henna leaf. Dried henna leaves will stain the skin if they are mashed into a paste. The lawsone will gradually migrate from the henna paste into the outer layer of the skin and bind to the proteins in it, creating a fast stain.


Since it is difficult to form intricate patterns from coarse crushed leaves, henna is commonly traded as a powder made by drying, milling and sifting the leaves. The dry powder is mixed with one of a number of liquids, including water, lemon juice, or strong tea, and other ingredients, depending on the tradition. Many artists use sugar or molasses in the paste to improve consistency and keep it stuck to the skin better. The henna mix must rest for 1 to 48 hours before use, to release the lawsone from the leaf matter. The timing depends on the crop of henna being used. Essential oils with high levels of monoterpene alcohols, such as tea tree, cajeput, or lavender, will improve skin stain characteristics. Other essential oils, such as eucalyptus and clove, are also useful but are too irritating and should not be used on skin.


Henna powder

The paste can be applied with many traditional and innovative tools, starting with a basic stick or twig. In Morocco, a syringe is common. In India, a plastic cone similar to those used to pipe icing onto cakes. In the Western world, a cone is common, as is a Jacquard bottle, which is otherwise used to paint silk fabric. A light stain may be achieved within minutes, but the longer the paste is left on the skin, the darker and longer lasting the stain will be, so it needs to be left on as long as possible. To prevent it from drying or falling off the skin, the paste is often sealed down by dabbing a sugar/lemon mix over the dried paste, or simply adding some form of sugar to the paste. After time the dry paste is simply brushed or scraped away.

Henna stains are orange when the paste is first removed, but darkens over the following three days to a deep reddish brown. Soles and palms have the thickest layer of skin and so take up the most lawsone, and take it to the greatest depth, so that hands and feet will have the darkest and most long-lasting stains. Some also believe that steaming or warming the henna pattern will darken the stain, either during the time the paste is still on the skin, or after the paste has been removed. It is debatable whether this adds to the color of the end result as well. After the stain reaches its peak color, it holds for a few days, then gradually wears off by way of exfoliation.

Henna in Ancient  Egypt

Henna has been used as a cosmetic hair dye for 6,000 years. In Ancient Egypt, it is known to have been worn. Henna has also traditionally been used for centuries in other parts of North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Near East and South Asia.

In Ancient Egypt, Ahmose-Henut Temehu (17th Dynasty, 1574 BCE): Henutmehyt was probably a daughter of Seqenenre Tao and Ahmose Inhapi. Smith reports that the mummy of Henutmehyt own hair had been dyed a bright red at the sides, probably with henna.

Henna in Europe

In Europe, henna was popular among women connected to the aesthetic movement and the Pre-Raphaelite artists of England in the 1800s. Dante Gabriel Rossetti's wife and muse, Elizabeth Siddal, had naturally bright red hair. Contrary to the cultural tradition in Britain that considered red hair unattractive, the Pre-Raphaelites fetishized red hair. Siddal was portrayed by Rossetti in many paintings that emphasized her flowing red hair. The other Pre-Raphaelites, including Evelyn De Morgan and Frederick Sandys, academic classicists such as Frederic Leighton, and French painters such as Gaston Bussière and the Impressionists further popularized the association of henna-dyed hair and young bohemian women.

Opera singer Adelina Patti is sometimes credited with popularizing the use of henna in Europe in the late 1800s. Parisian courtesan Cora Pearl was often referred to as La Lune Rousse (the red-haired moon) for dying her hair red. In her memoirs, she relates an incident when she dyed her pet dog's fur to match her own hair. By the 1950s, Lucille Ball popularized "henna rinse" as her character, Lucy Ricardo, called it on the television show I Love Lucy. It gained popularity among young people in the 1960s through growing interest in Eastern cultures.

Henna in Muslims

Muslim men may use henna as a dye for hair and most particularly their beards. This is considered sunnah, a commendable tradition of the Prophet Muhammad. Furthermore, a hadith (narration of the Prophet) holds that he encouraged Muslim women to dye their nails with henna to demonstrate femininity and distinguish their hands from those of men. Thus, some Muslim women in the Middle East apply henna to their finger and toenails as well as their hands.

Cosmetic henna for colouring hair

Commercially packaged henna, intended for use as a cosmetic hair dye, is available in many countries, and is now popular in India, as well as the Middle East, Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States. The color that results from dying with henna depends on the original color of the hair, as well as the quality of the henna, and can range from orange to auburn to burgundy. Henna can be mixed with other natural hair dyes including Cassia Obovata for lighter shades of red or even blond, or with indigo to achieve brown and black shades. Some products sold as "henna" include these other natural dyes. Others may include metal salts that can interact with other chemical treatments, or oils and waxes that may inhibit the dye, or even chemical dyes which are common allergens. Any product that comes in a cream, block, or paste form has some sort of additives.

Use of Henna in Body Art

As with henna in body art, the dried leaf powder should be mixed with a mild acid such as lemon juice, orange juice, or vinegar and left to stand. The resulting paste is then applied to the hair, and covered with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. This paste should be left in the hair for several hours in order for the dye to permanently bind to the hair strands. The paste is then washed away leaving hair that is permanently dyed. Sometimes henna is mixed with hot or boiling water and used immediately. This gives a color that may fade, and which is not as rich or deep.

Health effects

Henna is known to be dangerous to people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD deficiency), which is more common in males than females. Infants and children of particular ethnic groups, mainly from the Middle East and North Africa, are especially vulnerable. Though user accounts cite few other negative effects of natural henna paste, save for occasional allergic reactions, pre-mixed henna body art pastes may have ingredients added to darken stain, or to alter stain color. The health risks involved in pre-mixed paste can be significant. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does consider these risks to be adulterants and therefore illegal for use on skin. Some pastes have been noted to include: silver nitrate, carmine, pyrogallol, disperse orange dye, and chromium. These have been found to cause allergic reactions, chronic inflammatory reactions, or late-onset allergic reactions to hairdressing products and textile dyes.

Henna is cold in the first degree and dry in the second degree.

The Henna tree has two special qualities:

1. Decomposing due to its warm watery essence
2. Constipating due to the cold earthly essence it contains.

Henna dried leaves

USE IN BURNS

Henna in useful in treating burns and soothes the nerves when used as a bandage, as we have stated.

USE IN STOMATITIS, CANKERS AND THRUSH

When chewed; Henna helps treat the cankers and thrush that appear in the mouth. Henna heals Stomatitis (inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth) that appears in child's mouth.

Using Henna to bandage hot tumors helps, and it has a similar effect on open sores (similar to Dragon's blood tree).

USE IN PLEURISY

When Henna is blended with pure wax and rose oil, it will help against the aches of the side (Pleurisy).

USE IN HEADACHES

Headaches could be relieved by vomiting, eating, being calm and idle, using cold rags, cooling the body, elevating the temperature, avoiding noise, etc. Knowing these facts, we should mention that treating headaches with Henna is partial and that it treats some types of headache, if the headache is caused by high fever and not by a spoiled substance that requires extraction. Crushed Henna blended with vinegar and applied to the forehead will relieve the headache. Henna soothes the nerves when used as a bandage. Finally, Henna is not only favorable to relieve headaches, but in addition for the various organs of the body and for the hot tumors and inflammations when used as a bandage.

Henna fresh leaves

USE IN SMALLPOX

When the symptoms of smallpox start to break out on children; and Henna is then applied on the bottom of their feet, the eyes will be immune from the sores that accompany smallpox.

USE IN PROTECTION OF WOOL CLOTH

When the flower of Henna is placed between wool clothes, it will perfume it and will prevent mold or mite.

PREVENTION OF LEPROSY

When the leaves of Henna are submerged in fresh water, then squeezed and drunk for forty days, 20 measures each day with 10 measures of sugar or honey while eating the meat of a young eve (goat), it prevents LEPROSY with its amazing qualities.

HISTORIC STORY ABOUT HENNA WATER MIRACLES

Ibn Al Qayyam wrote about a man who complained from fissuring in his fingers and that he offered monetary rewards to whoever could cure him, but to no avail. Later on, a woman prescribed for him a drink of Henna for ten days but he could not understand the idea. Later on, he soaked Henna leaves in water and drank the water and his fingers were healed and regained their beauty.

Henna when used as an ointment for the fingers, polishes and strengthens them. Henna is useful when blended with butter and then used as a bandage for the hot tumors that drain yellow residue. Henna also benefits against chronic mange, helps the hair grow, makes it stronger and strengthens the head & brain.

USE IN BLISTERS AND PUSTULES

Henna helps against the blisters and the pustules that appear on the legs and feet and the rest of the body in general.

There are three essential factors for healing :

1. Expulsion of fluids from the wounds
2. Cessation of production (of any more fluids)
3. Formation of healthy flesh (tissue    granulation) to fill the gap created in the wound

Henna contains all these three factors and possesses very good healing properties.