HENNA health benefits
Henna (hina) is a flowering plant with the botanical name lawsonia inermis. It contains a red-orange pigment,lawsone, also known as hennotannic acid. This pigment is released by crushing the henna leaves in an acidic medium.
The lawsome molecules will then have the ability to stain, and when applied to the skin they migrate to the outermost layer or cuticle, and stain them.
Henna has a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity including antibacterial, antiviral, antimycotic and antiparasitic activities.
The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word "Tattau" means to mark and an art needed to be showcased. In India & Pakistan, it is known as Mehndi or Mehandi while in Middle East and North Africa as ‘Henna’ or ‘Hene’.
The beautifying properties of Henna were known even in ancient times. Different tribes & groups have adorned this beautiful & colorful natural product in various ways.Royal family in Persia used it as a body scrub. When Buddhism was flourishing, Henna was believed to bring about success & victory, & was used during religious rituals.
Henna is used in various parts of the world for various reasons & its healing properties.
The use of Henna still thrives in the eastern societies & is considered tremendously important there because people adhere to their customs & heritage. It is necessary in wedding ceremonies & is used to adorn the hands & feet of brides by means of attractive designs & patterns, Oriental poets have also been praising the charm of Henna in their poetry since ages. In ancient times when people used to travel by foot, they kept Henna leaves inside their shoes in order to get relief from the heat & tiredness during the journey.
Henna is considered safe to use on pregnant women, women who are nursing, men and women undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, and children who are 12 years of age or older.
Side effects:-
Henna seems to be safe for most adults when used on the skin or hair. It can cause some allergic reactions such as hives, runny nose, wheezing, andasthma.
Henna is considered to be UNSAFE when taken by mouth. Accidentally swallowing henna requires prompt medical attention. It can cause stomach upset and other side effects.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Children: Henna is considered UNSAFE for use in children, especially in infants. There have been cases of serious side effects when henna was applied to the skin of infants.
Infants with a condition called glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency are at especially high risk. Putting henna on the skin of these infants can cause their red blood cells to burst.
Pregnancy or breast-feeding: It’s UNSAFE to take henna by mouth if you are pregnant. There is some evidence that it might cause a miscarriage. It’s alsoUNSAFE to take henna if you are breast-feeding.
However, applying henna on skin in pregnancy or while breast feeding is safe. Expecting women get belly henna & specifically evil eye design for protection against any evil black magic.
Lithium interacts with henna. Henna might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking henna might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
Getting rid of Henna:-
Daily Exfoliation:- By exfoliating your skin on a daily basis, you help to expedite the process of removing henna. That's because henna effectively dyes the outer layers of your skin. As you exfoliate, you slough away dead skin cells from your body. Those skin cells also remove and help fade the henna color on your skin. Thus, you can remove henna with the added benefits of exfoliating, renewing, and supporting your skin cell turnover process. Try using a loofah in the shower to see how it fades your henna coloring.
Saltwater Scrub:-Another way of removing henna is to use a saltwater scrub. The salt acts as an exfoliant in the scrub to remove the dyed skin. The salt water also helps to lighten the henna coloring, which is why excessive sweat can also fade your tattoos: the salt in your sweat helps lighten the color in the henna. Start by mixing one part salt with one part water and mixing well. Soak a cotton ball in the saltwater mixture, then rub on your skin in circular motions for help in removing henna.
Olive Oil:-
Since the henna marks are actually considered stains on your skin, look for ways to break up the stain to help it fade faster. Olive oil works as an excellent emulsifier for henna stains. Douse a cotton ball with olive oil and apply it directly to your skin where the henna has been applied. Repeat this tactic several times per day until the henna begins to face. Olive oil is also an excellent moisturizer, making it safe and even beneficial for your skin as well as being effective at removing henna.
The lawsome molecules will then have the ability to stain, and when applied to the skin they migrate to the outermost layer or cuticle, and stain them.
Henna has a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity including antibacterial, antiviral, antimycotic and antiparasitic activities.
The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word "Tattau" means to mark and an art needed to be showcased. In India & Pakistan, it is known as Mehndi or Mehandi while in Middle East and North Africa as ‘Henna’ or ‘Hene’.
The beautifying properties of Henna were known even in ancient times. Different tribes & groups have adorned this beautiful & colorful natural product in various ways.Royal family in Persia used it as a body scrub. When Buddhism was flourishing, Henna was believed to bring about success & victory, & was used during religious rituals.
Henna is used in various parts of the world for various reasons & its healing properties.
- Spiritually, Henna is believed to bring happiness, good fortune and benevolence of the Universe.
- Henna is safe and 100% natural.
- Henna is fast, easy and painless. A ticklish and relaxing experience.
- Henna helps regulate women’s menstrual cycle.
- Henna paste calms you by extracting the excess heat in your body.
- Henna also acts as an anti-fungal and a preservative for leather and cloth.
- Henna flowers have been used to create perfume since ancient times.
- Treats dandruff, when applied to the scalp.
- Beneficial for mouth ulcers and blisters in the mouth, when chewed
- Placing its flowers between the folds of wool cloths scent them and keeps moths away.
- 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.
- Another major benefit of henna is its ability to recondition and rejuvenate hair and nails naturally.Henna is known to strengthen hair and nails, prevent fungus in the nail beds, and heal split ends and cracked cuticles.
- When mixed with mustard seed oil, henna is reputed to cure baldness (reason why it is so commonly used by patients undergoing chemotherapy).
- Bark of the plant is known to cure liver disorders & jaundice.
- When flowers of the plant mixed with vinegar, cures headaches.
- When the Henna herb leaves are used for gargle, it soothes the throat & reduces discomfort.
- Henna leaves are used to treat Boils, burns, bruises, Arthritis, Inflammation and leprosy.
- Henna oil induces sleep.
The use of Henna still thrives in the eastern societies & is considered tremendously important there because people adhere to their customs & heritage. It is necessary in wedding ceremonies & is used to adorn the hands & feet of brides by means of attractive designs & patterns, Oriental poets have also been praising the charm of Henna in their poetry since ages. In ancient times when people used to travel by foot, they kept Henna leaves inside their shoes in order to get relief from the heat & tiredness during the journey.
Henna is considered safe to use on pregnant women, women who are nursing, men and women undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, and children who are 12 years of age or older.
Side effects:-
Henna seems to be safe for most adults when used on the skin or hair. It can cause some allergic reactions such as hives, runny nose, wheezing, andasthma.
Henna is considered to be UNSAFE when taken by mouth. Accidentally swallowing henna requires prompt medical attention. It can cause stomach upset and other side effects.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Children: Henna is considered UNSAFE for use in children, especially in infants. There have been cases of serious side effects when henna was applied to the skin of infants.
Infants with a condition called glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency are at especially high risk. Putting henna on the skin of these infants can cause their red blood cells to burst.
Pregnancy or breast-feeding: It’s UNSAFE to take henna by mouth if you are pregnant. There is some evidence that it might cause a miscarriage. It’s alsoUNSAFE to take henna if you are breast-feeding.
However, applying henna on skin in pregnancy or while breast feeding is safe. Expecting women get belly henna & specifically evil eye design for protection against any evil black magic.
Lithium interacts with henna. Henna might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking henna might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
Getting rid of Henna:-
Daily Exfoliation:- By exfoliating your skin on a daily basis, you help to expedite the process of removing henna. That's because henna effectively dyes the outer layers of your skin. As you exfoliate, you slough away dead skin cells from your body. Those skin cells also remove and help fade the henna color on your skin. Thus, you can remove henna with the added benefits of exfoliating, renewing, and supporting your skin cell turnover process. Try using a loofah in the shower to see how it fades your henna coloring.
Saltwater Scrub:-Another way of removing henna is to use a saltwater scrub. The salt acts as an exfoliant in the scrub to remove the dyed skin. The salt water also helps to lighten the henna coloring, which is why excessive sweat can also fade your tattoos: the salt in your sweat helps lighten the color in the henna. Start by mixing one part salt with one part water and mixing well. Soak a cotton ball in the saltwater mixture, then rub on your skin in circular motions for help in removing henna.
Olive Oil:-
Since the henna marks are actually considered stains on your skin, look for ways to break up the stain to help it fade faster. Olive oil works as an excellent emulsifier for henna stains. Douse a cotton ball with olive oil and apply it directly to your skin where the henna has been applied. Repeat this tactic several times per day until the henna begins to face. Olive oil is also an excellent moisturizer, making it safe and even beneficial for your skin as well as being effective at removing henna.