Henna

Henna is a very popular, smooth, hairless and much-branched shrub that belongs to the plant family Lythraceae. The leaves are 1.3-3.2 cm. long. They are lanceolate, acute, with a sharp point and a tapering base. The flowers are numerous, less than 1.3 cm. across, fragrant and white or pink in colour in large terminal cymes. The capsule containing many seeds in 6 mm. in diameter, globose, supported by a persistent calyx and tipped with the style. Henna is popular with the women in India and is often used as a fragrant orange dye to colour palms, nails, feet and hair. Some men use it to dye their beards. It is cultivated in large-scale plantation as a commercial dye crop in India, Australia, Sudan, Iran, Egypt and Pakistan.

           
MEDICINAL USE:
*Corns.
*Athlete's foot, a fungal infection.
*Jaundice.
*Hair loss.
*Leprosy- early stage.
*Ringworm.
*Leucoderma.
*Weeping eczema.
*Sore throat.
*Haemorrhoids or piles.

HOW TO USE:
*For the problem of corns on the toes, grind a handful of henna leaves into a very fine paste along
  with 1-2 teaspoon of turmeric powder (Curcuma domestica) and calamus (Acorus calamus) root.
  Apply this paste on the affected areas at bedtime. Used this paste until the corns disappear.
*For athlete's foot, take 1-2 tablespoon of the finely ground paste of henna leaves along with 1
  teaspoon of turmeric powder. Mix this in 1-2 teaspoon of gingelly oil. Apply the paste on the
  affected toes.
*To treat jaundice,soak 2 to 5 tablespoon of the powdered bark of the root in a 2 litre container of
  water  and drink from it frequently.
*For hair loss, boil two cups of gingelly or coconut oil. When the oil is very hot, add a handful of
  henna leaves and allow it to splutter till it becomes red. Removed the burnt leaves from the oil and
  repeat the process three more times. Then allow the oil to cool and share in a bottle. Message the
  head with this oil twice a day.
*For early stage of leprosy, take equal of quantities of the juices of the tender leaves and flowers.
  boil this mixture till the volume is reduced by half. Use 2-3 teaspoons three times a day.
*To take care of ringworm that is caused  by a fungus, grind a handful of cleaned leaves along with
  1-2 teaspoon of mild soap powder into a very fine paste. Apply this on the affected areas and leave
  it on for at least half an hour followed by a cold-water bath.
*For leucoderma, grind the bark of the root  with milk and apply on the affected areas.
*For weeping eczema, powder 2-3 tablespoon of the bark of the root and mix into it 4-5 tablespoon
  of coconut oil and store. Before application, add 1 teaspoon of castor oil (Recinus communis) and
  wait for an hour before applying it into the affected parts.
*For sore throat, boil 1-2 tablespoon of the leaves in 1 tumbler of water. Filter and use the decoction
  for gargling frequently.
*To take care of Haemorrhoids or Piles, grind 1-2 teaspoon of cleaned henna leaves in 1-tumbler of
  water. Strain and allow to  stand for 15 minutes. Drink 1/2 tumbler of this decoction twice a day.

PARTS USED:
*Root bark, flowers and leaves.

DOSE:    
As recommended above.

Normal Dosage For:

Adults: 4 or 5 cups a day.
Aged 6 to 9 years: 2 cups a day
Aged 2 to 5 years: 1 cup a day
1 to 2 years: 1/2 cup a day
Below 1 year: 1/4 or less cup a day

A Useful Table for Quick Measurements:
1 tbsp = 5 grams (green herb)
1 dessertspoon = 2 grams (dry herb)
1 teaspoon = 25 drops
1 cup = 16 tbsp

1 litre = 7 or 8 cups