Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
August,  1920.  1 
Notes  on  Henna. 
545 
The  most  common  use  of  Henna  among  the  ancients  was  that  of  a 
dye.  Among  the  Mohammedans,  both  men  and  women  used  it  and 
those  that  did  not  employ  it  were  considered  indecent.  In  China 
the  infusion  is  used  to  paint  an  orange  red  Hne  underneath  the  eye- 
brows, and  so  considered  as  an  aid  to  beauty.  In  most  of  the 
Mohammedan  countries,  the  hair,  soles  of  the  feet,  palms  of  the  hands 
and  finger-nails  were  stained  an  orange  red  color  by  an  aqueous 
infusion  of  this  drug.  That  this  practice  had  been  carried  on  in  the 
remote  ages  is  shown  by  the  color  of  the  various  parts  of  the  bodies 
of  the  old  Egyptian  mummies.  Henna  was  also  used  to  color  the 
manes  and  tails  of  horses. 
The  Ancients  made  an  aqueous  infusion  of  the  powdered  leaves 
and  twigs  of  henna  and  dyed  the  hair  a  light  auburn  color.  The 
darker  gradations  of  this  color  were  brought  about  by  the  use  of 
infusions  of  catechu  or  lucerne  (Alfalfa)  leaves.  Vinegar  and  alum 
water  were  used  in  combination  to  produce  darker  auburn  shades, 
at  the  same  time  acting  as  mordants.  However,  the  color  of  Henna 
without  the  use  of  mordants  lasted  three  or  four  weeks  despite  the 
frequent  use  of  baths. 
-  The  coloring  value  was  taken  advantage  of  in  staining  various 
skins  and  soft  leathers  an  orange  red  color  as  well  as  in  staining 
certain  woods  of  light  shades  a  mahogany  color.  The  use  of  Henna 
in  dying  wool  and  silk  has  also  been  reported  favorable  and  staple 
shades  have  been  produced  with  various  mordants. 
For  the  dying  of  hair  the  market  at  present  offers  two  varieties 
of  powdered  Henna,  namely,  an  Egyptian  and  Arabian  variety. 
The  Arabian  is  more  esteemed  but  before  it  comes  into  the  market 
it  is  adulterated  with  sand  to  make  it  of  equal  coloring  virtue  to  the 
Egyptian.  In  Turkey  the  powdered  leaves  of  Anchusa  tinctoria 
are  said  to  be  substituted  for  Henna. 
Returning  to  our  present  day  we  find  that  the  use  of  Henna 
as  a  recoloring  for  hair  is  still  being  used  by  a  number  of  people, 
producing  the  Titian  and  Henna  shades,  by  the  following  procedure : 
About  200  Gms.  of  drug  is  used  for  one  application.  This  is 
divided  into  two  portions.  With  portion  No.  i  an  aqueous  infusion 
is  made,  using  one  pint  of  boiling  water.  This  infusion  must  be 
used  while  still  hot  and  applied  with  a  brush.  With  portion  No.  2 
make  a  moderate  thick  paste  using  water.  Apply  to  the  hair  and 
hold  in  place  with  a  towel  wrapped  around  the  head.  Allow  to 
remain  for  thirty  minutes.  Then  rinse  the  hair  in  tepid  water,  a 
recoloring  being  necessary  within  about  thirty  days. 
