The most important health benefits of henna may include its potential ability to relieve headaches, detoxify the body, improve nails, protect the skin, boost hair health, cool the body, reduce inflammation, and speed healing.
What is Henna?
The word ‘henna’ is understood by people around the world in many different ways. A majority of people probably associate it with the dark-red/brown dye for hair and skin that is traditionally used in many cultures, but the name also applies to the flowering plant from which the dye is derived.
As the sole species in the Lawsonia genus, henna has many different names across the globe, including Hina and Egyptian privet, but they are all describing the same remarkable plant, which has the scientific name Lawsonia inermis. You can identify a henna plant with its small white or pink flowers, as well as the small fruit it bears. [1]
It can be used in a wide variety of ways, including its dye form, as well as in aqueous extracts, tinctures, and salves, composed of bark, seeds, or leaves. This versatility makes henna a very valuable element in traditional medicines, particularly Ayurvedic practice.
Henna oil, bark, and seeds are the most common forms of medicinal benefits, and the high concentration of chemicals and nutrients in the plant might give it anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, antibacterial, astringent, and antiviral effects. Most of these properties have not been fully explored through clinical trials and are either anecdotal or documented in Ayurveda books.
Henna is available in the market as a powder made by drying and milling the leaves. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Health Benefits & Uses
Let’s take a more in-depth look at the many potential health benefits and uses of henna.
Hair Color
Heena is mainly used as a plant-based natural dye for hair. It will dye hair red or shades of it but many use it with a combination of indigo or cassia to achieve a dark red or a neutral color respectively. [2]
Hair Health
Although most people associate henna’s effect on the hair with dying its color, it might play many roles in that part of our body too. Henna may increase the strength of the hair and, therefore, can represent a safe dye that doesn’t permanently affect the health of our follicles. It might help seal the hair cuticle, preventing breaking, and increasing the shine and appearance of the hair. It might also help prevent dandruff. [3]
Might Reduce Hair Loss
For people suffering from hair loss or baldness, henna might inhibit this from happening. The traditional mixture is putting henna juice or oil into curds and then mixing this into your hair, as it might increase the efficiency of the treatment.
Might Improve the Nail Quality
People often forget about maintaining healthy nails, but the cuticles and space under the nails are prime locations for infection and bacterial presence; therefore, treating your nails with henna might be a wise choice. Drinking the water in which leaves have been steeped may help prevent nails from cracking and might reduce inflammation. Applying a poultice directly to the nail beds might clear up irritation, pain, and infection in the nail beds. [4]
May have Anti-aging Properties
Although the antioxidant capacity of henna has not been widely studied, the oil has maybe an astringent, which has led some people to use its juice and oil on the skin to reduce the signs of aging and wrinkles, as well as the unsightly appearance of scars and other blemishes. This is complemented by the possible antiviral and antibacterial effects that can protect the body’s largest organ, skin! [5]
Might Heal Wounds
One of the most notable uses of henna is for the possibility of protecting the skin against infections and eliminating inflammation. It can be applied to burns, wounds, and scrapes for generations, not only because it might add a protective layer against foreign pathogens and substances, but also because it might have natural cooling abilities that suck the heat from the skin. This might make it very useful for sunburns, in a similar capacity as aloe vera gel. [6] [7]
Might Reduce Fever
Henna also might bring down fevers due to its possible antipyretic properties, according to Ayurvedic traditions. When people are suffering from very high fevers as a secondary symptom of another condition, that rise in temperature throughout the body can be dangerous for organ function and metabolic processes. Bringing the overall temperature of the body down is essential, and henna might be able to accomplish this by either inducing sweating and effectively breaking the fever, or simply cooling the body and providing some relief. [8] [9]
Might be Anti-inflammatory
The juice of the henna plant is not always praised as being particularly beneficial, but in fact, the juice of the plant can be directly applied to the skin for fast relief from headaches. The possible anti-inflammatory effects of the compounds found in henna might help it reduce that tension and promote healthy blood flow in the capillaries, which is a common cause of headaches and migraines. A rat model revealed that the anti-inflammatory effect of the henna extract was similar to the drug phenylbutazone, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. [10]
May Reduce Sleep Issues
Henna oil may help alleviate certain sleep disorders, so if you are suffering from insomnia or chronic restlessness, adding a bit of this oil to your herbal regimen can get you back into a regular, restful schedule of sleep by soothing the body and mind into a relaxed state before sleep. [11]
Detoxification
By soaking the bark or leaves of the henna plant in water and then consuming the consequent liquid might have been connected to improved spleen and liver health. The liver works as a crucial level of protection for the body and helps to eliminate the toxins that accrue in the body. By optimizing its function and ensuring its health, you can prevent a wide range of other health conditions. However, it is advisable to check with your health advisor or a licensed herbalist before ingesting any henna product. [12] [13]
Is Henna Safe?
Most varieties of henna are perfectly safe and non-toxic, but black henna does have some allergenic potential, as evidenced by skin rashes and internal discomfort by some users. Also, hair dyes that claim to be henna-based occasionally contain other chemicals that those with sensitive skin may not appreciate, so read the labels carefully. Also, exercise caution before ingesting henna water or seeds. Pregnant women should avoid its usage as a study reveals that it may have teratogenicity properties that can trigger a miscarriage. [14] [15]
Before adding any new herbal remedy to your routine, it is best to check with your medical practitioner or an herbalist.
