Henna, is an ancient form of body art that has been used for over 5,000 years. The material is created from the "lawsonia inermis" tree, native to north Africa, south Asia and the Middle East. The tree's leaves are collected, ground into powder and then made into paste. The paste can then be used as a natural dye applied to the fingernails, hair and skin. Henna also has medicinal properties.
The natural dies in henna are absorbed into the skin within a few hours, creating bright green, black, orange, burgundy, red or brown coloring, depending on how it is treated. Unlike conventional tattoos, henna is not permanent. This makes it ideal for those who are interested in body art, but are apprehensive or not interested in tattoos. The dye can be removed in two ways. The first is through natural exfoliation. This means that dead skin cells are slowly shed, eliminating the marks with it. However, this can take 21 to 25 days. Alternately, you can use an exfoliating scrub or toothpaste with baking soda. If done several times a day, the henna will disappear in three to seven days.
The henna plant can be applied topically or ingested to treat a variety of conditions. Henna leaves mixed with mustard oil can cure baldness by promoting hair growth. When combined with a natural butter called ghee, henna leaves are effective in treating dysentery.The plant is also ground into powder and swallowed to treat liver problems, such as liver enlargement and jaundice. Henna is an effective remedy for headaches. In this case, the henna flower is mixed with vinegar and made into a paste, which is applied to the forehead. Henna leaves can also be made into a gargle for sore throat. The herb's leaves also provide topical relief for burns, boils, swollen joints, inflammation and leprosy.
In its 5,000 year history, henna gained a reputation as more than simple body art or holistic medicine. Eventually, the dyes were used to mark significant milestone's in a person's life. Henna symbols are used to mark important events like pregnancy, childbirth, puberty and marriage. It also has superstitious properties, specifically as a source of good luck.