Henna is believed to possess medicinal value. It heals skin diseases, prevents hair from becoming thin and can also be turned into a beverage to get rid of head and stomach aches.
Mehndi flowers produce perfume, and the Egyptians are believed to have made oil and an ointment from them for increasing the suppleness of the limbs. Mehndi has been used to treat a number of ailments due to a brown substance of a resinoid fracture found in it. This has chemical properties which characterise tannins, and is therefore named hennotannic acid. It has been used both internally and locally to treat conditions including leprosy, smallpox, cancer of the colon, headaches and blood loss — especially during childbirth. It can be used for skin conditions such as eczema. The plant can also treat muscle contraction and fungal and bacterial infections.
However, mehndi is not merely a beauty product; it is an iconography of the Eastern heritage. It is a direct connection to a tradition stretching back centuries, through many cultures and countless generations. The art form is now practised globally and this gives new cultures the opportunity to discover this connection, as well as contribute new styles and traditions.
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