Lawsonia inermis Henna Presented by Savannah Herdegen Sarah Livingston Quinn Lambert

Overview  Henna is used culturally to decorate the body.  Traditional medicine used henna both topically and internally  In Western medicine, henna shows promise, but is not yet integrated.  There are health concerns surrounding henna impersonators.

Origins  Lawsonia inermis orginiated in Egypt and spread across the Mediterrainian and to India. It is now cultivated in Northern Africa, the middle east, and India.

Production  The leaves of Lawsonia inermis are crushed into a powder and then made into a paste. This paste is applied to the skin in order to dye it. It can also be mixed into a soap (shampoo) for hair health.

Cultural Uses Western (Henna “tattoos”)Traditional (a Vedic custom)vs

Medicinal Uses  Acts as an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiepileptic, antioxidant, astringent  Treats wounds, burns, sore throats, diarrhea, dysentery, stomach ulcers, jaundice and tapeworms  Clinical support for future cancer treatment  Non-medicinal uses include coloring the skin (esp. that of brides) and hair

Warnings  Natural henna is known to be a possible allergen. Mostly, this is a concern in pre-mixed pastes which include adulterants.  There is no such thing as black henna. What is often sold to be henna with a darker dye is indigo with para- phenylenediamine (PPD), which is known to cause severe reactions and scarring. PPD creates sensitivity in your skin toward printer ink, sunscreen, hair dye, and some medications.

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