HENNA

Basic information on henna here on this page, go to the other pages listed for more in-depht reading. Learn about this beautiful art form and practice it your self if you feel to. Its easyer than you may think : )

Henna (Lawsonia inermis, syn. L. alba) is a plant that flowers, the sole species in the genus Lawsonia in the family Lythraceae. It belongs to tropical and subtropical regions of southern Asia, northern Australasia, and Africa with an arid or at least seasonally dry climate.

Its a shrub growing up to 6 meters tall. The leaves are in opposite decussate pairs, oval, 2 to 4 centimeters long and 1.5 to 3 centimeters broad, with an entire margin and acute apex. The flowers are fragrant, produced in conical panicles 10 to 40 centimeters long, each flower 5 milimeters diameter, with four white petals. The fruit is a dry capsule 6 to 8 milimeters diameter, containing heaps of 1 to 2.5 milimeters seeds.

Henna have a long history of use in Eastern cultures, particularly in the subcontinent, Arabia and North Africa. After centuries of use as a cosmetic adornment in these places, the beautiful art of henna, also called mehndi, has in recent years made a colorful impression on werstern world. Today, henna has developed a cultural importance and is included in many aspects of daily, spiritual and ceremonial life.

The cosmetic use of henna was traditionally and religiously used by various cultures for decorative purposes on the hands and feet, as well as to give color and shine to the hair. Henna has also been used for medicinal purposes, some of which include the treatment of burns, ulcers of the mouth, and the treatment of small pox in its early stages. It is also believed that henna can help maintain healthy nails, increase hair growth, and maintain youthfulness among other things.

According to Vajracharya, Henna was introduced by Muslims and quickly replaced the less known Laksa. The henna plant, said Vajracharya, was easier to find and grow and therefor cheaper. During the 16th century, henna’s popularity expanded through Pakistan and North India by the Moguls. Females used henna to decorate their hands, foots and bodies for ceremonies.

Henna