Leaves - Specimen details
| Catalogue Number: 54968 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Image | Plant Name | 69.01 LYTHRACEAE Lawsonia inermis | Entry Book Number | ||
| Artefact Name | Leaves | Vernacular Name | |||
| Iso Country | India | TDWG Region | India | ||
| Parts Held | Leaves | Geography Description | India, Bombay | ||
| Uses | LeavesUse: MEDICINES User: Man | TDWG use | MEDICINES | ||
| Storage | Bottles, boxes etc | Related Items | |||
| Donor | India Museum | Donor No | |||
| Donor Date | Donor Notes | ||||
| Collector | Collector No | ||||
| Collection Notes | Collection Date | ||||
| Exhibition | Expedition | ||||
| Number Components | Publication | ||||
| Notes: | Label source: History, uses etc. Henna is much esteemed by the Mahometans. There is a tradition that their prophet spoke of it as Syyadu-riaheen (the best of herbs). In Arabic it is called Hinna. Arabic and Persian works give Arkan and Fakuliyun as the G, reek name; they describe it as a valuable external application in headache, combined with oil so as to form a paste, to which resin is sometimes added. It is applied to the soles of the feet in small pox and is supposed to prevent the eyes being affectedb, y the disease. It also has the reputation of promoting the healthy growth of the hair and nails. An ointment made from the leaves is spoken of as having valuable healing properties. The bark is given in jaundice and enlargement of the spleen; also incalcu, lous affections, and as an alterative in leprosy and obstinate skin diseases; in decoction it is applied to burns scalds etc. The seeds, with honey and tragacanth, are described as sephalic. An infusion of the flowers is said to cure headache, and to bea, good application to bruises. An ointment is also used for the latter purpose, and a perfumed oil is prepared from them, which is called in Arabic Duhn-ul-fagiya, and is used as a cosmetic. Ainslie notices the use of an extract prepared from theflowers and, leaves by the Tamil physicians of Southern India as a remedy in Lepra (Leprosy?) 1/2 teaspoon twice a day being the dose. He also says that the leaves are applied externally in cutaneous affections. In the Pharmacopoeia of India attention is drawn to the, re use in an obscure affection called 'burning of the feet', often met with in India, and the editor mentions having himself witnessed when in Burmah a great amount of temporary relief from the remedy when numerous other means had previously failed. The f, resh leaves beaten up into a paste with vinegar were applied as a poultice to the soles of the feet in most cases, but some patients obtained greater relief from using strong frictions with the bruised leaves over the part. The use of Henna for dyeing the, hands and feet appears to be common among Nahonetans in Asia and Africa, and was probably practised by the ancient Egyptians and Jews. The Hindus in west India hardly ever use it. Dr Birdwood has the following remarks upon its history in more western cou, ntries; - 'Solomon is supposed by Sprengel to refer to the Henna plant in his Epithalamium (1.14); my beloved is unto me as a cluster of samphire (or cypress or camphire) in the vinyards of Engedi'. It is undoubtedly the Ku- pos (Greek) of Dioscorides (1., 124) and 'Cyprus in Egypt' of Pliny. It is mentioned by Avicenna also under the name of Henna. Description- leaves opposite, smooth, short petioled, oblong, or broad lanceolate, pointed at both ends, an inch or more long, and less than 1/2inch broad. The, flowers are in terminal globular cross armed panicles, small, greenish yellow, and very fragrant. The fruit is round, size of a peppercorn, four grooved, with the apex depressed, four celled. The seeds are angular. The decoction of the leaves is of a deep, orange colour which is destroyed by acid, and deepened by alkalis and vegetable astringents; it stains the skin of an orange red colour, which does not disappear until the epidermis has been renewed. Dr Dymock.x0Dx0Ax0Dx0APreviously part of Plants + People exhib, ition in Museum no.1 1997- Spring 2016 | ||||