The health benefits of henna
Henna is mostly known for its properties of temporarily tattooing skin or dyeing hair, however, this ancient herb also has many health benefits
Henna’s Healing Properties
Henna has been used as a healing herb in folk medicine for as long as it was used as a dye.
One of the major health benefits of henna is as a sun screen. During the summer, hundreds of people are tattooed with henna paste at fairs, festivals, traditional celebrations and more. Whilst out in the sun, they also tan only to find, five weeks later than the area hennaed did not tan not does it show any sun-contact at all. Henna paste is a natural mixture of, usually, water, henna, lemon juice and sugar, which is a natural and healthier alternative to chemical laden sun screens plus it has the unique ability to temporarily tattoo skin.
Another major benefit of henna is its ability to condition and rejuvenate hair and nails naturally. When dyeing hair and nails with henna paste, the tanins and other Lawsona molecules bind with the keratin in the hair and nail. Henna is known to strengthen hair and nails, prevent fungus in the nail beds, and heal split ends and cracked cuticles.
Many other conditions henna is used to treat include:
- Baldness – when mixed with mustard seed oil, henna is reputed to cure baldness.
- Dysentery – when mixed with ghee
- Liver disorders – specifically the bark of the henna plant
- Headaches – specifically the flowers of the plant mixed with vinegar
- Sore throat – specifically the leaves as a gargle
- Boils, burns and bruises – specifically a poultice of the leaves
- Arthritis, Inflammation and leprosy – specifically the leaves, bruised