This hadith supports the benefits of henna very well. Hadiths say, “Cure your old age with henna.” For this is beauty for your faces, pleasantness for your mouths, and strength for your women. It has been said, “Henna is the guardian of the scents of the people of heaven, and henna separates disbelief from faith.”
Henna is scientifically known as Lawsonia and is actually a flowering plant belonging to the Lythraceae (Loosestrife family) (a family of flowering plants containing 620 species). Henna, the only plant species in the Lawsonia genus, is native to Southwest Asia, North Africa and India. The name henna actually comes from Arabic (Hinna).
Henna also gives its name to the dye prepared from the henna plant and the art of temporary tattoos made with these dyes. It has been used for thousands of years in many cultures around the world to create beautiful, temporary tattoos. Henna has also been used to dye skin, hair and nails, as well as fabrics such as silk, wool and leather.
In India, henna is seen as a tool that beautifies women. It is generally used for Mehndi function. This is a traditional process that involves drawing various motifs with henna all over the bride’s hands and legs before marriage.
Henna is a plant known in different forms around the world. Recognized by various cultures, henna is widely used as hair and skin dye.
Henna is known for its small dark green leaves, small pink flowers and fruits. In addition to paint forms, parts such as leaves, bark and seeds are also used in the production of ointments and tinctures. Henna, which has versatile properties, is known as a valuable plant and fruit in terms of medicinal and beauty.
Henna is commonly available in the form of dried seeds, oil, bark, dried leaves and powder for pharmaceutical applications.
Henna Plant
Henna is an intensely scented, slender and multi-branched evergreen, glabrous shrub or small tree growing approximately 1.8 to 7.6 m tall. These small trees can grow in dry, coastal scrubland, in temporarily flooded riverbeds, in river thickets and hillsides, and among broken rocks. It is sometimes seen growing on waterways and in semi-arid regions. Tolerant to low humidity weather and drought conditions, this plant prefers fertile, well-drained or dry soil in a sunny location.
Henna plant is tolerant to poor, stony and sandy soils. It can also adapt to heavy, fertile clay soils. These plants are very successful in adaptation and are resistant to drought. They have grayish brown bark and young, thin and green branches. However, these branches turn red as the plant grows older, and these older branches may become thorny.
Henna Flowers and Fruits
The flowers of the henna plant consist of 4 leaves with a diameter of 1 cm. Its flowers are small, white, fragrant and have a wrinkled appearance. Flowering of the henna plant normally occurs in April and May. Its flowers are in the form of small, brown spheres with a diameter of 4-8 mm, which yield 30-50 seeds per fruit.
The seeds of the henna plant are 3 mm in diameter, have brown seeds and thick shells. The seeds of the henna plant require high temperatures for germination, growth and maximum development.
Benefits of Henna
Although the henna plant is mainly used as a dye, it is also known for its many beneficial medicinal properties. Its leaves are used in traditional medicine in India and many Muslim countries. Henna plant extracts are boiled and used as a gargle for sore throats and it relieves the pain. It is also used as an herbal remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, ulcers, tapeworms and high fever. Let’s take a look at the other benefits of the henna plant.
Prevents Aging
Although the antioxidant effects of henna have not been widely studied, it has been noticed that henna oil tightens the skin. For this reason, many people have started to apply henna water and oil on the skin to reduce the signs of aging and wrinkles. However, it has also been observed that scars and blemishes on the body have disappeared. This shows that henna has antiviral and antibacterial properties.
Protects Nail Health
People often don’t pay much attention to keeping their nails healthy. However, the cuticles and the spaces under the nails are very suitable places for infection and bacterial growth. For this reason, applying henna to the nails helps prevent the formation of bacteria in the nails. Additionally, drinking the juice of henna leaves helps prevent nails from cracking and reduces inflammation. Applying henna directly to the nail beds and nail roots also reduces irritation, pain and infection.
Accelerates Wound Healing
Henna is considered highly effective and beneficial for protecting the skin against infections and eliminating inflammation. It has been applied to burns, wounds, and abrasions for generations, not only because it protects against foreign pathogens and substances, but also because it has natural cooling abilities that properly absorb heat from the skin. Henna, which has similar properties to aloe vera gel, is very useful for sunburns.
Reduces Fever
According to Ayurvedic traditions, henna also helps reduce fever. High fever, which can occur as a symptom of any disease, can lead to dangerous situations and complications as a result of increased temperature. It is vital to reduce the general temperature of the body at these moments, and henna can achieve this by either causing sweat, breaking the fever in the body, or directly cooling and relaxing the body.
Good for Insomnia
Henna oil can treat sleep disorders. For this reason, if you suffer from insomnia or feel chronic restlessness, you can calm your body and have a restful and regular sleep by using henna oil.
Used in Hair Dyeing
Most people do not know the effects of henna on hair and think that it is only used to color hair. However, it has been noticed that henna increases the strength of the hair and has proven itself as a reliable dye that does not affect the health of our follicles. Additionally, henna oil can be applied to the hair to prevent graying of hair.
Helps Detoxification
Consuming the water obtained by boiling the bark and leaves of the henna plant contributes to the improvement of spleen and liver health. The liver is a very important and vital organ for the body. It helps remove toxins from the body. By supporting liver health with henna, you can protect yourself from many diseases.
Relieves Headaches
The juice of the henna plant can relieve headaches when applied directly to the skin. The anti-inflammatory effects of the compounds found in henna help relieve tension and regulate blood flow in the capillaries that cause headaches and migraines.
Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Henna oil can be used for arthritis and rheumatic pain. As we age, cartilage and muscles deteriorate and our joints become painful more often. These conditions can cause inflammation and pain in many parts of the body. By applying henna to inflamed or painful areas, you can get rid of this pain and inflammation, and you can move without too much restriction, even if you are older.
Regulates Blood Pressure
Consuming henna juice and seeds will allow you to see hypotensive effects that reduce stress on the cardiovascular system and effectively regulate blood pressure. Henna water and seeds can help prevent plaque and platelet formation in the heart and arteries. In this way, you will avoid dangerous diseases such as heart attack and stroke.
Good for Rheumatic Diseases
Henna oil is good for rheumatic and arthritis pain. Ground leaves are applied to painful areas to relieve rheumatism.
Dysentery
The bark of the plant is very effective in treating dysentery. The seeds are ground into powder and mixed with ghee (a type of clarified butter widely used in religious rituals and traditional medicines in India and other countries). It is made into small balls and taken with water, making it ready for use for the treatment of diseases.
Prevents Hair Loss
You can promote hair growth by using mustard oil boiled with henna leaves.
Directions:
- 250 grams of mustard oil is heated in a pan
- Add 50-60 grams of henna leaves slowly to the oil and mix.
- After mixing thoroughly and ensuring that they blend together, the remaining oil is filtered with a cloth and placed in the bottle.
- Regular head massages with this oil help hair grow.
Benefits of Henna Stone
Henna stone can be used by turning it into powder. The uses and benefits of henna stone are as follows:
- Makes hair shine
- Strengthens hair
- Prevents dandruff
- Used as tattoo
- Renews skin cells
- Used for natural hair dyeing
- Prevents hair loss
- Repairs the scalp
- Volumizes hair
- Moisturizes hair
- Grows hair faster
How to Use Henna and What Are Its Benefits?
Every form of henna, from its leaves to its seeds, has many benefits. However, there are also traditional ways of using henna in different countries and in different ways. Here are a few traditional methods for you;
- Javanese people in Indonesia turn henna leaves into a paste and use them to remove cracks between the toes and under the feet.
- The wounds are cleaned and washed with the water obtained by boiling the leaves in water.
- It has been used both internally and topically for jaundice, leprosy, smallpox and skin diseases.
- It is said that the Egyptians prepared both oil and ointment from the flowers to make the limbs more flexible.
- It is very useful in protecting the scalp from infections and dandruff.
- It strengthens the hair, increases its shine, stops hair loss, prevents hair thinning and hair breakage.
- It is a natural source of nutrition and prevents baldness
- Henna flowers are good for headaches caused by sunstroke.
- Fights epilepsy
- It can treat dental conditions such as scurvy (bleeding gums) and mouth ulcers.
- Gargles made with water obtained from henna leaves are effective in healing throat infections.
- It is used to treat bronchitis and cough, which can cause respiratory disorders.
- Provides protection against tuberculosis
- Helps relieve blood circulation problems
- It is very useful against skin problems such as eczema, burns, allergies, bruises, psoriasis , abscess and skin inflammation.
- It helps in the treatment of obesity (overweight).
- It improves digestive problems.
- Henna is a very useful herbal remedy for liver enlargement and jaundice.
- Soothes postpartum pain
- Prevents dysentery
- Prevents rheumatic muscle pain and joint pain
- Protects against gonorrhea
- Henna is effective against heavy menstrual bleeding, irregular menstruation and menopause problems.
- Prevents vaginal discharge
- Henna paste prevents inflammation of the feet.
- Henna leaves have been used to treat conditions such as high fever, headache, joint pain and dermatitis .
- Leprosy in the early stages can be treated with henna.
- Henna leaves are also used in the treatment of wounds and herpes.
- Dyeing hair with henna helps kill lice in hair effectively
- To treat toothaches, the bark of the root of the henna plant is chewed in the mouth for 25 minutes and then held between the teeth. It is said that in this way, pain is relieved.
Henna Recipes for Diseases
- Graying of hair: Mix powdered henna leaves with coconut oil. Use this mixture as hair oil or make a paste of henna leaves by adding some water to it. Apply the paste to the hair and wash it after waiting for 6 hours.
- Insomnia:Crush henna flowers and make a paste. Consume half a teaspoon of this paste once a day.
- Jaundice:Take dried henna herb and boil it. Drink 20 ml once a day. It is a traditionally used and effective method for the treatment of jaundice.
- Nail fungus:Crush henna leaves and make a paste. Cover the areas where fungus occurs with this paste.
- Inflammation: Apply the oils obtained from henna seeds to the inflamed area. It helps in reducing the burning sensation and pain.
- Skin problems: Boil henna leaves. It can be taken internally or used externally to relieve skin problems.
- Burn treatment:Apply the paste obtained from henna leaves on the burns. With its cooling and healing effect, it eliminates the burning sensation and helps treat the wound quickly.
- Fractures and dislocations:Crush henna leaves into a paste and apply it on the fractures and wrap them.
- Migraine treatment:Soak henna flowers in vinegar and leave for 10 minutes. Apply to areas where migraine pain is felt.
- Spermatorrhea (involuntary semen flow): Crush fresh henna leaves. Squeeze the juice from the fruits. Drink this juice with milk once or twice a day until the problem disappears.
- Leucorrhoea (vaginal discharge): Extract the juice of fresh henna leaves. Store in a glass bottle. Mix a glass of milk with a teaspoon of henna leaf juice and drink 30 ml a day.
- Rash:Crush a handful of henna leaves and make a paste. Apply the paste to the affected area and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Wash with cold water.
- Hepatomegaly (Liver enlargement):Mix henna powder and a glass of hot water and drink it once a day.
- Hair Problems:Boil henna leaves in mustard oil. After boiling, let it cool. Strain and store in a glass bottle. When you want to use it, you can gently massage your scalp to help your hair grow stronger and longer.
- Eczema:Apply henna seed oil to the eczema affected area. Repeat the process 2 times a day. After a while you will notice that it provides relief.
- Scabies:Gently massage the itchy area with henna seed oil. Repeat the process 2 times a day.
- Vaginal Candida (Vaginal fungal infection): Gently massage the fungal area with henna seed oil twice a day.
- Burning feet:Soak fresh henna leaves in vinegar for 5 minutes. Wrap leaves soaked in vinegar around the soles of your feet. It will help you get rid of the burning feet
- Headache:Obtain a fine paste by crushing henna flowers and vinegar together. Apply it on your forehead and leave it for a while. It will help you get rid of headaches caused by sunstroke.
- Liver diseases:Boil henna leaves, strain and drink 30 ml once a day.
- Dysentery:Mix dry henna powder with purified ghee butter. Roll the mixture into small balls. Consume these balls with a glass of water once a day.
- Antiseptic:Mix 2 tablespoons of dried henna herb powder with half a cup of apple cider vinegar and heat it on the stove for a while. This prepared mixture will act as an antiseptic. Natural antiseptics prevent the growth of microorganisms without damaging the skin and tissue. It is used as a natural wound cleanser.
- Antibacterial:Mix 2 tablespoons of dried henna herb powder with half a cup of apple cider vinegar and heat it on the stove for a while. This prepared mixture will act as antibacterial. Natural antibacterials do not harm the natural probiotics in your body while cleaning your hands.
- Antifungal: Mix 2 tablespoons of dried henna herb powder with half a cup of apple cider vinegar and heat it on the stove for a while. This prepared mixture will act as an antifungal. You can apply it to fungi in your body, especially nail fungus.
- Hair Loss: Soak 8 to 10 Indian Gooseberries in a glass of water at night. Add 2 tablespoons of henna powder to the water you filter in the morning. Apply it to your hair once a week and leave it for 1 hour. It will thicken your hair and make it appear black.
- Dandruff:Dandruff: Mix 3-4 tablespoons of henna leaf powder and water. Add 1-2 tablespoons of beetroot powder and mix well to form a slightly solid paste. Apply to scalp and leave for 2-3 hours. Then wash your hair with shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Apply this process once a week.
- Gray hair starting to turn white:Boil 20 grams of henna leaves in 50 ml mustard oil. Apply to the area with gray hair and hair by massaging it.
- Postpartum problems:Boil 30 grams of Elephantopus Scaber (a tropical species of flowering plant in the sunflower family) root, 20 grams of henna leaves and 25 grams of guava (tropical fruit) leaves in water. Drink 20 ml once a day. It helps regenerate the uterus after pregnancy.
- Curly hair: Mix 4 tablespoons of henna powder, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of cucumber juice and 1 tablespoon of orange juice. Apply this mixture to your hair twice a month. It makes curly hair easy to comb and healthy.
- Mental disorders:Give the sick person henna seeds mixed with 3 grams of honey or you can also boil henna flowers.
- Chickenpox:Crush henna leaves and apply the paste to the bottom of the feet. It will reduce eye problems caused by chickenpox.
- Bloody diarrhea:Grind henna seeds and mix the paste with ghee (clarified butter) and shape into small tablets. Consume these tablets with water twice a day.
Modern Applications of Henna
Henna is widely used in traditional medicine, but in today’s conditions, henna is a highly preferred product due to its reliability and harmlessness, and is a product that we encounter frequently not only in medicine but also in daily life. Applications made with henna today;
- temporary tattoos
- Hair nourishing shampoos and conditioners containing henna
- Skin care products
- natural hair dyes
- Traditional motif tattoos on the body
- Hair tonics containing henna
- Henna essentialoils
How to Use Henna on Hair?
If you are wondering how to add this miraculous ingredient to your daily routine, continue reading our article. You can prepare henna hair masks at home and give your hair a healthy appearance.
Egg and Yogurt Mask with Henna
- Make a paste by mixing 2 tablespoons of henna powder and 1 tablespoon of shikakai (a type of shrub grown as the raw material of shampoo) powder with a little water. Let it sit for 1 night. Add 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of yoghurt to your morning mixture. Apply the mixture starting from the hair roots to the ends and leave it for 45 minutes. Rinse with cold water and shampoo. Repeat this application once a week to add shine to your hair.
Henna and Banana Mask
- Mix 2 tablespoons of henna powder with some water to make a paste and leave it on overnight. In the morning, mash a ripe banana and put it in a different bowl. Apply this mask to your hair to act as a conditioner and leave it for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
Henna and Coffee Hair Mask
- Boil 1 tablespoon of coffee in a small pot by adding some water. Add the still hot coffee to 5 tablespoons of henna. Mix well to avoid lumps, then separate your hair into sections and apply it to the roots and ends of your hair. After application, leave it for 3-4 hours and wash thoroughly with cold water and shampoo. You can repeat this process once a month for dark brown hair and gorgeous curls.
Other Applications
- You can use the paste obtained from henna leaves to dye your hands with henna.
- You can use it for dyeing paint, fabric and hair, as well as painting nails, palms and soles of the feet.
- Henna plants are planted in the vineyards as a shelter to prevent the wind.
- The essential oil obtained from henna flowers can be used in making perfume.
- The branches, fibers and trunk of the henna plant are also used for basket making.
- The body of the plant is used to make toothbrushes.
Henna Harms and Precautions
Henna is a plant that can have both benefits and harms. For this reason, you should read the warnings before using it and be careful when using it.
- Henna should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- The use of henna on the skin is prohibited in many western countries. However, hair dyes and tattoos are not controlled.
- Those who experience an allergic reaction to black henna dye, such as itching or blistering, should consult a doctor.