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Lawsonia, Henna, Madayanti

Madayanti (Ayurveda)
Hina, Mehndhi (Unani)
Henna
Blanco, Flora de Filipinas. (1875)

Lawsonia inermis flower
(Photo by Tu7uh) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:
Lawsonia inermis (syn. L. spinosa), L. alba

Parts used:
Leaf, Seed

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. Bitter
"Henna is Cold in the First degree and Dry in the Second degree". (Avicenna)

Uses:
1. Clears Heat and Toxin:
-chronic and obstinate skin diseases (leaf decoction; used internally and topically)
-itching, scabies, pruritus, eczema, leprosy, syphilis
-"Its decoction is useful in hot, phlegmatic and inguinal swellings". (Avicenna)

2. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-Bleeding from Trauma
-"It is said that its effecton Wounds is similar to that ofthe Dragon's Blood". (Avicenna)
-"It is useful in Uteralgia". (Avicenna)

3. Clears Liver Heat, Opens Obstruction:
-Jaundice, Hepatitis
-swelling of the Liver or Spleen
-Bark or Seed decoction is most used for this function

4. Externally:
-gargle for sore and inflamed mouth and throat
-burning sensation, a paste of the leaves is applied to the feet (Folk remedy)
-paste is applied to Boils
-paste applied to the head for headache
-applied to heat-type Arthritis and Rheumatism
-the infused oil is applied to obstinate skin diseases including Leprosy (Ayurveda)
-Wounds and Ulcers, apply an ointment of the leaves
-"applied in case of Bone fracture". (Avicenna)
-"incorporated in ointments to be used in Paralysis". (Avicenna)
-as a hair wash to promote healthy growth of hair
-also as a wash for Dandruff
-widely used to color hair, hands and feet


Dose:
Seed Powder: 2–4 grams
Decoction: 50–100mls
Leaf juice: 10–20mls

Corrective:
1. Milk, Oils

Substitute:
1. Indigofera tinctoria (Unani)
2. Psoralea in skin diseases
3. Henna seed is used as a substitute for Peganum seed

Main Combinations:
1. To clear Heat and Poison from the Blood in chronic skin disease, Henna with Neem leaf and bark, Fumitory, China root (Unani)
2. Hematuria, Henna with Honey and water
3. Bleeding, cooled Henna decoction with Sugar and Honey
4. Leprosy an chronic skin diseases, an Oil prepared from Neem and Henna is applied (Unani)

Major Formulas:
Water to Cleanse the Blood (Arq Musaffi) (Unani)

Cautions:
Not used during Pregnancy. It is regarded as Abortifacient

Main Preparations used:
Oil of Henna leaf