Botanical name– Lawsonia inermis
Family- Lythraceae
Lawsonia inermis is a much-branched glabrous shrub or small tree 2-6 m in height, which may be spiny. Bark greyish-brown, unarmed when young, older plants with spine-tipped branchlets. Young branches quadrangular, green but turn red with age. Leaves opposite, entire, subsessile, elliptic to broadly lanceolate, 1.5-5 x 0.5-2 cm, glabrous, acuminate; veins on the upper surface depressed. Flowers small, white, numerous; in large pyramidal terminal cymes, fragrant, 1 cm across, 4 petals crumpled in the bud. Calyx with 2-mm tube and 3-mm spread lobes; petals orbicular to obovate, white or red; stamens 8, inserted in pairs on the rim of the calyx tube; ovary 4 celled, style up to 5 mm long, erect. Fruits small, brown, globose capsules 4-8 mm in diameter, many-seeded, opening irregularly, split into 4 sections, with a persistent style. Seeds 3 mm across, angular, with thick seed coat.
Chemical composition-
The traditional plant–derived henna contains the active ingredient called lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), which is an orange-red pigment responsible for the typical coloration. Lawsone interacts directly with the amine or sulfur functional groups of keratin due to its strong affinity. Henna is usually mixed with water or essential oils to make a paste that is applied as a hair dye or to decorate the hands and feet.
Properties–
The Mehndi plant has anti-haemorrhagic property. It is useful for treating inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. The anti-neoplastic nature helps us fight cancer and other invasive diseases. It is an astringent and helps tighten the pores of the skin. It has cardioinhibitory nature that is useful for decreasing the arterial pressure.
Benefits :
Tired of wrinkles and aging marks? Say goodbye to the aging woes as you treat your skin with the goodness of henna. The henna plant is known for possessing antioxidant properties and treating the skin with oil and juice aids in reducing wrinkles and aging signs. It also helps in removing the insightful appearance of scars and blemishes. The antiviral and antibacterial ability of henna safeguard your skin against infections.
A noticeable feature of henna is that it helps in healing the wounds, reducing inflammation. Henna provides a protective layer against the pathogens that cause infection. The cooling abilities of Henna help in curing sunburns by sucking the heat out from the skin.
Henna is an age-old Ayurvedic way of bringing down fever. The cooling ability of Henna helps in curing fever either by inducing sweat thus breaking the fever or by cooling the body and giving it some relief.
. The anti-inflammatory abilities of henna help in reducing tension and stress and promote heavy blood flow in the capillaries thus reducing the headaches.
The anti-inflammatory capacity of henna and its oil makes it a best natural cure of arthritis and rheumatic pains. With ageing, the joints become weak causing paint in the muscles and cartilage. Get rid of painful body inflammation with the application of henna oil on the inflamed affected area. The henna oil aids in creating motion thus enabling you to live an active and healthy life.
For those suffering from insomnia and chronic restlessness adding a little bit of henna oil to your herbal regimen aids in achieving a relaxed state of mind before the sleep. The restful schedule of the body and mind helps in getting a good night’s sleep.
With our unhealthy lifestyle, lots of toxins are present in our body. Detoxify your body by soaking bark and leaves of the henna plant in water and consuming the detox
water. The consequent liquid is good for the liver and spleen. The detox water not just removes the toxins accumulated in the body but helps in optimising the functions of the body thus ensuring a healthy lifestyle.
