Henna
OTHER NAME(S): Alcanna, Egyptian Privet, Hennae Folium, Henne, Jamaica Mignonette, Mehndi, Mendee, Mignonette Tree, Plante du Paradis, Reseda, Smooth Lawsonia, Lawsonia inermis, Lawsonia alba, Henné
Overview
Henna is the powdered leaf of a certain plant. It is used to make medicine.
Don't confuse henna with henna root (Alkanna tinctoria), also referred to as alkanna root.
Henna contains substances that might help fight certain infections. There is also some information that henna might decrease the growth of tumors, prevent or reduce spasms, decrease inflammation, and relieve pain.
Henna is used for stomach ulcers, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis), bed sores, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. There is also concern that using henna is unsafe when taken by mouth.
In manufacturing, henna is used in cosmetics, hair dyes, and hair care products. It is also used as a dye for nails, skin, and clothing.
Henna contains substances that might help fight certain infections. There is also some information that henna might decrease the growth of tumors, prevent or reduce spasms, decrease inflammation, and relieve pain.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- An adverse skin reaction caused by cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy-induced acral erythema). Early research suggests that applying henna to the skin improves chemotherapy-induced acral erythema in people receiving the cancer drug capecitabine.
- Nerve damage in the hands and feet caused by cancer drug treatment. Early research in adult females shows that applying henna powder to the hands and feet reduces the symptoms of nerve damage caused by the cancer drug oxaliplatin.
- Skin reactions caused by direct contact with a substance (contact dermatitis). Early research shows that applying henna powder may reduce pain and itching in people with contact dermatitis from prosthetic legs. But it may worsen redness.
- Bed sores (pressure ulcers). Early research shows that applying henna powder once to bed sores improves healing when compared with olive oil or no treatment.
- Wound healing. Early research in patients that required a surgical cut at the opening of their vagina as part of childbirth shows that applying henna 2% ointment to the surgical wound for 2 weeks might reduce pain and redness by a small amount.
- A type of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis).
- Bed sores (pressure ulcers).
- Cancer.
- Dandruff.
- Enlarged spleen.
- Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
- Headache.
- Itchy skin infection caused by mites (scabies).
- Severe diarrhea caused by parasites called amoebas (amoebic dysentery).
- Ulcers in the stomach or intestines.
- Yellowing of the skin in infants (neonatal jaundice).
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of henna for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Henna is UNSAFE when taken by mouth. Accidentally swallowing henna requires prompt medical attention. It can cause stomach upset, muscle breakdown, kidney failure, destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia), and death.
When applied to the skin: Henna is LIKELY SAFE for most adults when used on the skin or hair. It can cause some side effects such as redness, itching, burning, swelling, blisters, and scarring of the skin. Most often these allergic reactions are due to an ingredient added to henna. This added ingredient is most common in "black" henna.
Rarely, allergic reactions can occur such as hives, runny nose, wheezing, and asthma.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Henna is UNSAFE when taken by mouth. Accidentally swallowing henna requires prompt medical attention. It can cause stomach upset, muscle breakdown, kidney failure, destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia), and death.
When applied to the skin: Henna is LIKELY SAFE for most adults when used on the skin or hair. It can cause some side effects such as redness, itching, burning, swelling, blisters, and scarring of the skin. Most often these allergic reactions are due to an ingredient added to henna. This added ingredient is most common in "black" henna.
Rarely, allergic reactions can occur such as hives, runny nose, wheezing, and asthma.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE to take henna by mouth if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. There isn't enough reliable information to know if henna is safe to apply to the skin when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: Henna is UNSAFE when taken by mouth. It is POSSIBLY UNSAFE to apply henna to a child's skin.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency: Applying henna to the skin of infants and children with G6PD deficiency can cause their red blood cells to burst.
Henna allergy: If you are allergic to henna, avoid contact.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Lithium interacts with HennaHenna might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking henna might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of henna depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for henna. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
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- Majoie IM, Bruynzeel DP. Occupational immediate-type hypersensitivity to henna in a hairdresser. Am J Contact Dermat 1996;7:38-40.
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- Katar S, Devecioglu C, Ozbek MN, Ecer S. Henna causes life-threatening hyperbilirubinaemia in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2007;32(2):235-6.
- Kheir A, Gaber I, Gafer S, Ahmed W. Life-threatening haemolysis induced by henna in a Sudanese child with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. East Mediterr Health J. 2017;23(1):28-30.
- Khine YY. Acute Kidney Injury following Ingestion of Henna Leaf Extract: A Case Report from Myanmar. Blood Purif. 2017;44 Suppl 1:41-45.
- Kind F, Scherer K, Bircher AJ. Contact dermatitis to para-phenylenediamine in hair dye following sensitization to black henna tattoos - an ongoing problem. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2012;10(8):572-8.
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- Poursadra E, Anvari-Tafti M, Dehghani A, Eghbali-Babadi M, Rafiei Z. Comparing the effect of henna oil and olive oil on pressure ulcer grade one in intensive care units patients. Adv Biomed Res. 2019 Nov 27;8:68.
- Zibanejad S, Miraj S, Rafieian Kopaei M. Healing effect of Quercus persica and Lawsonia inermis ointment on episiotomy wounds in primiparous women. J Res Med Sci. 2020 Feb 20;25:11.
- Kubat S, Aksu H, Hasbal NB. Acute renal failure due to henna stone ingestion as a remedy of diabetes. Nefrologia. 2020 Jul 20:S0211-6995(20)30083-7.
- Asgari S, Esfandbod M, Haghshomar M. Henna-induced hemolysis and acute kidney injury in an 85-year-old man; A case report. Arch Acad Emerg Med. 2020 Oct 14;8(1):e82.
- Niazi M, Mehrabani M, Namazi MR, et al. Efficacy of a topical formulation of henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) in contact dermatitis in patients using prosthesis: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2020 Mar;49:102316.
- Arslan S, Zorba Bahceli P, Ilik Y, Artaç M. The preliminary effects of henna on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in women receiving oxaliplatin-based treatment: A parallel-group, randomized, controlled pilot trial. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2020 Oct;48:101827.