Common name: Henna, Mehendi मेहेंदी (Hindi), Hena pambi (Manipuri), மருதாணி Marudaani (Tamil)
Botanical name: Lawsonia inermis
Family: Lythraceae (Crape Myrtle family)
Introduction: Henna, or Menhdi as it is called in
Hindi, is a symbol of festivity in India. It is especially associated with
marriage in north India. Its leaves produce the henna or alhenna of the Arabs
(cyprus of the ancients), a yellow die which is used in Egypt and elsewhere by
women to color their nails, and by men to die their beards, and for other
similar uses including horses manes and tails. It is known in the West Indies
as "Egyptian privet", and sometimes as "reseda". It is the
camphire of the authorized version of the Bible. A member of the Lythraceae,
along with Crape Myrtles and Mexican Heather. Among the most fragrant flowers
on earth. Widely cultivated in tropical countries but probably native to North
Africa and Asia. It is best grown as a tender outdoor container tropical or
annual and can be propagated by cuttings or seed. The fragrance is best from a
distance when mixed with air.
Geographical distribution
Geographical distribution
The plant occurs throughout the country
and cultivated as a hedge.
Chemical composition
It contains lawsone, flavonoids,
phenolic acid, fatty acids and tannins. Other constituents are gallic acid,
white resin, sugars and xanthones.
Therapeutic uses
The leaves of plant are alterative,
astringent, prophylactic against skin diseases, refrigerant and soporific. The
leaves are also useful in blood dysentery, boils, burns enlargement of spleen,
headache, heart trouble, insomnia, sore throat, jaundice, burning sensation of
feet, calculous affection, typhoid, haemorragia and spermatorrhoea.
Folk medicinal uses
The juice of fresh leaves in doses of
two to four gm. is given in spermatorrhoea. The leaf decoction is given in
jaundice. 12 gm. leaves of Tamarix dioca are mixed with 12 gm. leaves of
Mehndi and boiled in 250 ml water. When it is left to one forth, it is taken
for 40-50 days continuously. It is claimed that the leprosy is cured by this
treatment.
Preparations
Madayantadi-churna.
Flowers and Fruits: June-October
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