About Henna

Henna is a dye procured from a tree Lawsonia inermis whose leaves when dried and mixed with boiling water stain the skin with a mahogany colour.

The leaves of the tree are gathered green and are placed in the shade to dry gradually. The leaves are then pounded and sifted to obtain a very fine powder. The compound is kneaded to make a paste that is neither fluid nor thick. The henna is then covered and left to rest overnight.

Henna designing is a form of intricate oriental henna painting that has been practiced for thousands of years - since the henna plant was first discovered in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Henna designing is and ancient form of body art which has originated from the Middle East and India.

Chemical Composition

Chemically henna can be isolated in 12 different compounds. Only one of which is responsible for the colour (Lawson) which is yellow in colour and is present in henna at a level of 1%only. It dyes the skin and hair very rapidly.

Medicinal Qualities

Henna has medicinal value too. It is considered an anti-irritant, a deodorant and an antiseptic. It is used by Ayurvedic physicians for the treatment of heat rashes and skin allergies and to cool the body against the intense heat of summers. Because of it's cooling property henna leaves and flowers are made into lotions and ointments to be used externally for boils, burns and skin inflammations, including sores from leprosy.

The clusters of small rosy white flowers that cover a henna bush are very fragrant and used to make perfumes. Sleeping on a pillow stuffed with henna flowers is considered to have a soporific effect on patients suffering from sleeplessness.