The Healing Herb of India: Lawsonia inermis (Henna)

Natural Remedies with Lawsonia inermis 

Heena (Lawsonia inermis, family: Lythraceae) is a much branched glabrous medicinal shrub distributed throughout India. It is chiefly cultivated in Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat. The bark, seeds, flowers and leaves of the plant are used in Unani and ayurvedic medicines. Henna is commonly known as Mehandi, Mehanti, Medhika, Medhini, Madyantika, Giri Mallika, Ban Mallika, Nakhranjani, Cypress shrub & Egyptian priven.

This plant has been used since ages to dye skin, hair, finger nails, leather, silk and wool. In several parts of the World, Henna is traditionally used in various festivals and celebrations. People also cultivate Henna as a Hedge plant. In this post, learn about the traditional medicinal uses and remedies with henna to cure general health problems-

 

Traditionally, Henna is used to dye hands & feet
in various festivals and celebrations.

Traditional Herbal Remedies with Henna 

• Massage with Henna oil over the affected area relieves rheumatic and arthritic pains. Coarsely Henna ground leaves can also be applied to sore flints to ease rheumatism, inflammatory swelling, bruises & leprosy.
• Massaging juice of Henna leaves with mustard oil, relieves pain in the neck.
• To treat dysentery, powder the seeds of the plant & mix with clarified butter. Now prepare small balls of the mixture & have it with water.
• Washing eyes with decoction of henna leaves, cures conjunctivitis and catarrh.
• Gurgling with henna leaves decoction is said to be a useful remedy for sore throat.
• To get relief from prickly heat, ground henna leaves in water and apply over the affected area. Henna leaves are also quite effective in the treatment of skin disorders such as boils & burns.
• Henna leaves mixed with vinegar can be applied onto the soles to treat burning feet.
• Application of a paste of fresh henna leaves on hands and feet cures inflammation.
• Application of a paste of henna flowers prepared in vinegar cures headache due to sun exposure.

  

  The Healing Herb of India: Henna

• To cure spermatorrhea, take a tsp of Henna leave juice with water or with milk twice daily for seven days. The same formulation is useful in cases of leucorrhea in women as well.
• Applying decoction of henna leaves on the scalp cures dandruff effectively.
• To treat baldness, boil henna leaves in mustard oil and massage the scalp with the same regularly.
• Prepare a paste of powdered Henna leaves, Indian gooseberry, reetha (Sapindus emarginatus), shikakai (Acacia sinuata) seeds & fenugreek seeds in water. Leave this mixture overnight. Mix to it 2 tsp curd in the morning & apply the same over the scalp and hair. This is one of the best solutions for graying of hair.
• Prepare a decoction of henna leaves in til oil, & apply over the skin to treat wrinkles.
• Sleeping on a pillow filled with henna flowers brings about a sound sleep.