An indispensable cosmetic item, henna is popular with women. Aromatic essence is prepared from henna and it is applied to color the nails as also palms. Henna is a medicinal plant, too. The leaves are cooling, diuretic, have tonic value, and are used in cases of impurity of the blood and for reducing swelling.

The flowers have stimulant, narcotic properties and act as a tonic to the heart and nerves.

Some of the medicinal uses are:

Take the fresh leaves of henna, dry them in the shade and get them powdered. Take this powder (10 tolas) , senna leaves (2.5 tolas) and purified sulphur (2.5 tolas. Mix them all together in powder form.

Doses of 2 to 3 grams, morning and evening with honey, water or milk, remove blood impurities, cure scabies, pimples, itching, constipation, burning in the urine, leucoderma, and are useful in the initial stages of leprosy.

A paste, made of leaves, applied on the soles of the feet will give a very soothing and cooling effect to those suffering from smallpox. There is a special medicinal quality in the leaves of henna which gives a cooling and soothing effect to persons having a burning sensation in some part of the body.

Experienced ancient physicians of Maharashtra used to give the powder of the leaves, along with sugar, to cure spermatorrhoea. It stops semen passing through the urine, and makes the semen thick.

It is not a stimulant, but is mild and hence very useful for patients of pitta temperament.

A special preparation known as Tin oxide, banga bhasma, prepared from the leaves of henna, is also useful in cases of spermatorrhoea, genitor – urinary disorders, and it has no side reactions.

The seeds o henna are known as Kamarakasa, and they have a tonic and nutritive value.

In chronic eczema, gout, itching, scabies, chronic wounds and abscesses, the leaves of henna are made into a paste and applied. The paste is also applied in cases of pain and swelling in the joints.

In cases of stomatitis and soreness of throat, the decoction of the leaves is prepared, and gargling of this water helps heal up stomatitis.

Unani hakims prepare a kalpa out of henna to turn grey hair dark. It is better than artificial kalpas because of the beneficial and cooling effect of henna. Henna flowers are used in the preparation of hair oils.

In ancient times, a pillow stuffed with henna flowers was used to induce sleep.

The bark in the form of infusion is given to those suffering from jaundice and enlargement of the liver and spleen. Two teaspoonfuls of the juice, given early on an emply stomach, for seven days, are an efficacious remedy for jaundice. 

The flowers were used for the purpose of distillation, and the fragrant water so prepared was employed by the ancients for bathing purposes.