Henna, the Joyous Body Art: the Encyclopedia of Henna* 
is a growing, evolving online reference resource for information and articles on the art, science, traditions, and history of Henna through its 9000 year development. All articles by Catherine Cartwright-Jones PhD unless otherwise noted.

Index of Articles, Titles and Keywords
Use your "find in page" function to search for keywords


Henna Science and Microscopy Part 1: The Botany of Henna: Lawsonia inermis L. [Lythraceae]
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/tdlarchive/AS_henna_for_hair/chapters/chap4/henna_botany.pdf

Henna is Lawsonia inermis Fam. Lythraceae, a monotypic genus, the single example being L. inermis,1 native to North and East Africa, introduced and cultivated in the Persian Gulf region, the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, and South Asia.  It grows in semi-arid tropical zones, in dry sandy, iron-rich soils, and is adapted to extended drought. It does not tolerate frost and thrives where temperatures are between 11C and 45C.
  • Species and Dispersion
  • Henna during periods of climate change
  • Propagation
  • Pests and pesticide use
  • Flowers and Seeds
Henna Science and Microscopy Part 2: The Phytochemistry of Henna: The Phytochemistry of Henna, Lawsonia inermis L. [Lythraceae]
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/tdlarchive/AS_henna_for_hair/chapters/chap4/henna_phytochemistry.pdf


Lawsone is the only dye molecule produced from henna in a significant amount and it only exists in the leaves. There is no other dye in any other part of the henna plant that will dye hair, and henna stains keratin only in the range of copper to dark auburn. Nevertheless, some henna hair dye companies have claimed that all of the various colors of their henna hair dye come from henna and henna only; that red henna was from leaves, black henna was from henna roots, and brown henna was from henna bark, this was not, and cannot have been true.
  • Lawsone: 2-hydroxy-1,4- napthaquinone and its precursors
  • The formation of lawsone from precursors in the henna leaf by acidic hydrolysis
  • A comparison test showing importance of the precursors to the stain
  • Measuring lawsone released from henna
  • Other commonly occurring compounds, contaminants, additives and adulterants in henna
  • Additional phytochemistry of henna

Henna Science and Microscopy Part 1: Microscopy of Products Labeled as Henna in Present and Past Commercial Production
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/tdlarchive/AS_henna_for_hair/chapters/chap4/henna_microscopy.pdf

This is a quantitative microscopy survey of different brands of henna hair dye products. Henna products in the marketplace frequently contain unlisted additives and adulterants, and the milling and sifting varies with particles from 0.2 mm to over 3 mm.

Henna during the Late Bronze Age in the Mycenaean Eastern Mediterranean
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/tdlarchive/AS_henna_for_hair/chapters/chap2/Mycenaean_henna.pdf

During the Bronze Age, henna was used as a ceremonial women’s skin stain in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant, and in the Minoan world.  The destruction of the Minoan culture by the eruption of Santorini did not destroy knowledges and beliefs, but it did relocate them.  One of the centers of henna use in late Bronze Age was the perfume Industry of Mycenaean Pylos. 

Henna in 12th century Sicily
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/tdlarchive/AS_henna_for_hair/chapters/chap2/sicily.pdf


Ibn Jubayr spent some winter weeks in Palermo on his return from his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1184. He observed Sicilian women going Christmas Mass at the Church of St. Mary of the Admirals, La Martorana.

“The Christian women's dress in this city is the dress of Muslims; they are eloquent speakers of Arabic and cover themselves with veils.  They go out at this aforementioned festival clothed in golden silk, covered in shining wraps, colorful veils and with light gilded sandals.  They appear at their churches bearing all the finery of Muslim women in their attire, henna and perfume.”

Christian women in the medieval world of Spain, Sicily, Egypt, North Africa, and the Levant wore henna, and felt it was suitable adornment for the celebration of Christmas. Islamic culture, with its advanced understanding of science, mathematics, medicine, and literature, including women’s use of henna, was part of a prosperous and enlightened culture in southern Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire and before the Crusades. 


Henna in Medieval Spain
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/tdlarchive/AS_henna_for_hair/chapters/chap2/Medieval_Spain.pdf

Spanish people and saints were depicted with hennaed hands, feet, and hair, and there are records of henna mills, henna artists, and laws regulating henna from the Iberian Peninsula between 900 CE and 1560 CE.  During the Medieval Warm Period, there are Christian manuscripts from north central Spain with depictions of henna on saints.  By the Edict of Granada, in the Little Ice Age, henna was outlawed, and women using henna were subject to imprisonment and torture on the accusation of heresyand witchcraft.  Both climate and cultural conflict created this repression and erasure of, rather than celebration of henna traditions during the Spanish Convivienca.


Henna and Head Lice:
http://www.mehandi.com/Articles.asp?ID=297 or http://www.hennapage.com/henna/tdlarchive/AS_henna_for_hair/chapters/chap13/13_Henna__Health.pdf

Henna can completely eradicate head lice, even infestations resistant to anti-louse treatments.

Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) have been itchy, contagious pests annoying humans for millennia, living in people’s hair and sucking their blood. Henna will kill head lice!  One application of henna paste to the hair can kill head lice as well as killing the nits and nymphs without resorting to chemical treatments or shaving the head. To kill head lice, eggs, and nymphs, use laboratory certified pure henna with high lawsone content such as Ancient SunriseŽ Rajasthani Twilight that is guaranteed to have no impurities or additives.  Do not use pre-mixed henna products that appear to be used for body art; these products may contain little or no henna,and may contain hazardous ingredients.

The Molecular Sequence of Henna Dye Release
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/dye-release.pdf

The sequence of lawsone from henna leaf powder  is as follows:
1) Lawsone is derived from hennocide precursors in the henna leaf.
2) The three isomerglucocides (hennocides) are converted into the aglycone by hydrolysis in mildly acidic conditions.  These will bind to keratin.
3) Then, further transformation of the aglycone leads to the more stable lawsone by oxidation.

The Geographies of the Black Henna Meme Organism and the Epidemic of Para-phenylenediamine Sensitization: A Qualitative History ~
doctoral dissertation on the addition of para-phenylenediamine to create 'black henna.  This dissertation includes the history of the dispersion of henna in the modern west, and the health problems caused by the addition of black dye to henna.

Theoretical Use of Henna in Prehistory
Henna, Astronomy, and the Agro-Ecology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age
  • The Evolution and Migration of Henna into Cultural Practices
  • Henna, Astronomy, and the Agro-Ecology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age
  • Evidence of henna in the wall paintings of 1600 BCE lustral basin in Xeste III prior to the Santorini eruption
  • Artifacts showing markings consistent with a bride with hennaed hands in depictions of women in the Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean
  • Henna in Mycenae at the End of the Bronze Age
Ancient Mesopotamian and Levantine Henna
  • Evaluating claims of ancient henna use and searching for origins
  • Henna and Mesopotamia
  • Henna, conquest, and change following the collapse of the Bronze Age
  • The Royal Unguent
  • The Royal Unguent
  • Conquest, identity, and the erasure of henna in the southern Levant
  • Reading ninth century BCE henna in the Book of Kings: Jezebel
  • Echoes of Bronze Age Canaanite Henna in the Song of Songs
  • Imagining Queen Esther
  • Evidence of henna use and difference among neighbors
Early cultural henna use in the Arabian Peninsula and along the Arabian Ocean
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/tdlarchive/AS_henna_for_hair/chapters/chap2/Arabian_ArabianOcean.pdf

  • Evidence of early cultural henna use in the Arabian Peninsula and along the Arabian Ocean
  • Yemen and the Sabean Kingdom
  • Imagining Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba, with or without henna
  • The environmental limitations of henna [Lawsonia inermis] cultivation around the Arabian Ocean
  • Ambiguation and disambiguation of hair dye in South Asia
  • Ambiguation and disambiguation of red body markings in South Asia
Henna and Healthy Dogs ~ Henna has been used for centuries to maintain skin health of dogs.  In moist, humid weather, ringworm and other fungal infections spread easily among pets, livestock, playmates, athletes, or a household. Ringworm can be completely eradicated with henna.
"Lawsonia inermis L. (henna): Ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological aspects"
Ruchi Badoni Semwala, Deepak Kumar Semwala, Sandra Combrinck,  Catherine Cartwright-Jones, Alvaro Viljoen. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, June 2014

Bubba, the Hennaed Lamb: Curing Ringworm with Henna ~ Ringworm is highly contagious and spreads easily among pets, livestock, playmates, athletes, or a household, particularly in warm, damp weather. Ringworm can be completely eradicated with henna.  

Menstruation and Henna: Pollution and Purification ~
Henna’s role in Muslim Traditions Regarding Reproductive Blood
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/HennaMenstruation.pdf
2MB download

This paper explores the fundamental connection between henna and women's fertility, why henna is regarded as lucky and blessed, and why henna traditions have remained stable since the Bronze age.
/henna  traditions history  fertility  women   luck   baraka   menstruation  pollution   purification  Evil Eye   ceremony /

The Techniques of Persian Henna

8MB download
This paper demonstrates that women’s hand and foot markings in pictorial and literary Persian art between the late 15th century and the mid 19th are representations of henna body art, and that this interpretation of the markings is corroborated by Persian literature and traveler’s descriptions.   The representations are idealized but plausible representations of henna, and they demonstrate the technical processes and social uses of henna art in Persia. These depictions can also be read for class, gender, and the evolving Persian concept of ideal women’s beauty into the period of increased European influence on style in the Qajar dynasty.
/ henna   traditions  Persia  Safavid   chemistry  Orientalism   Iran /

The Patterns of Persian Henna

This paper demonstrates that women’s hand and foot markings in pictorial and literary Persian art between the 13th century and the mid 19th are representations of henna body art, and that the henna patterns mirror the arts of the period that would have been familiar to women in their daily lives: ceramic tiles from the mosque and the baths, the woodwork in their homes, their clothing, carpets, amulets, and talismans.  The manuscript representations are idealized but plausible representations of henna patterns within the limits of scale of miniature art.  These depictions can also be read for class, gender, and the narrative of social relationships.
/ henna   traditions  Persia  Safavid   patterns  magic  Orientalism   Iran /

Henna and the Evil Eye, Salt and Demons, and the Geography of G6PD Deficiency

Traditions of averting malevolent spirits with henna and salt to may have altered the incidence of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in populations across the North Africa, the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula. The geographic distribution of G6PD deficiency, an x-linked hereditary enzymopathy, has been correlated to populations’ adaptation to malarial environments, but this has not fully explained the variations in the gene’s distribution.  For instance, Jewish Sephardim and Mizrahim have 30% to 60% of G6PD deficiency while Muslims from the same countries have rates of 1.8% to 8.5%.  Recently, physicians have found that G6PD deficient neonates and young children, particularly males, who have been hennaed according to local blessing and curing traditions in Turkish and Bedouin Muslim cultures, suffer hyperbilirubinemia and acute hemolytic crisis. In Jewish traditions in the same regions, children were traditionally rubbed with salt rather than henna.  This paper proposes that traditions of using henna versus salt as celebration and folk remedies for children may have changed the genetic prevalence of G6PD over generations.
/ henna   salt  traditions  G6PD-deficiency   malaria   indigo  evil eye  Lilith /


Henna’s Significance in Amazigh Id, Circumcision and "Night of the Henna" Celebrations

Before the modern era, Moroccan villagers applied henna for Id al-Adha, circumcision, and the “Night of the Henna".  This paper establishes the common ground of these events, and the importance of henna in the celebrations, based on eyewitness accounts from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
/traditions   Eid   Id   Islam   Amazigh    Berber Morocco sacrifice  celebration ritual   night of the henna  evil eye  ceremony/  

Developing Guidelines on Henna: a Geographical Approach
This is a master's thesis: a comprehensive discussion on the botany, chemistry, history and traditions of henna, and the legal and cutural issues that have arisen since 1990.
/history   botany   chemistry   immigration  PPD   law  origins   tattoo   scarification     skin   import/

Id al-Adha: The Ecological and Nutritional Impact of the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice, and the Significance of Henna in this Sacrifice.
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/id/idsacrifice.html
This paper details Id sacrifice traditions and effects, focusing on henna and ecosystem management, from its origins in the Neolithic Mediterranean world, to present day.
/traditions   Eid   Id   Islam  sacrifice  celebration  Hajj   ceremony/  

Khidab: 
Be cautious when testing "traditional, natural" cosmetics. In some countries, traditional cosmetics have very little, if any, standards and regulations for safety.
/khidab  black henna  PPD  allergic reaction Yemen/

Hindu Wedding 
by Dipti Desai
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/indwed/
This free ebook explains the sequence of parties and rituals for Gujarati Hindu weddings, the meaning and importance of the traditions, and photographs of the events.
PDF, 54 pages,  5 MB download
/India   Indian  Gujarat    bride    mehndi   groom   sangeet    pithi    ring ceremony  traditions/

Rangoli: Elder Women Creating Sacred Geography
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/rangoli/index.html

This is an article by Catherine Cartwright-Jones on rangoli and its importance in the lives of elder Hindu women, “how - to” create large rangoli, and about 70 traditional rangoli patterns from different areas in India.
/traditions   rangoli    mandana   kolam    India  Hindu  women   ritual    wedding   blessing/

Guidelines for hennaing Pregnant Women (and for hennaing while pregnant!)
by Catharine Hinton
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/pregbirth/index.html
/pregnancy  G6PD deficiency  warnings   business   childbirth   health  motherhood/

Lailet al Hinna fi Sharq’ia: Night of the Henna in Sharq’ia
by Penni AlZayer
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/saudi/Sharqialayat.pdf
/bride   Saudi  Arabia   dough resist    henaya  Arabian traditions   Arab women's traditions/

How to Henna a Drum
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/leather/howhennadrum/
/drum    leather   tambourine  bodhran   complex pattern    how to/

Early North African Hennaed Drums
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/leather/drums/
/Lehnert and Landrock    Moroccan   lace resist   tambourine    musicians   dancers/

Childbirth and Postpartum Traditions
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/what/freebooks/HPJpp2.pdf
/culture   tradtion   pregnancy   birth   malevolent   protection/      

The Henna Color Chart
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/colorchart/
        /results   stains   color   blackberry   dark   orange/

Copyright Law for Henna Artists
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/copyright/
        /copyright   ethics   theft   borrow   derivative   original   images/

Henna and Fingernails
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/fingernails/
        /keratin    Fingernails   cuticles   fungal   tradition   cultures/

Henna and Fingernails:  "How to"
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/fingernails/how.html
        /fingernails   keratin   cuticles   application   how/

Henna and Fingernails Patterns      
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/fingernails/patterns.html
        /fingernails   patterns    Kufic    Islam    Floral   moroccan   arabic/

Henna and Fingernails: Wudu
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/fingernails/wudu.html
        /Wudu   fingernails   cleansing   Islam   Mohammed   hadith   patterns/

Henna for Children in Siwa Oasis, Egypt
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/circumcision/siwaboys.html
/circumcision   egypt   traditions   boys   patterns   evil eye/

The Geography of Henna
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/geography/
/climate   map   temperature   growing   henna   conditions/

The Geography of Henna: I  Where Can Henna Grow?
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/geography/geography1.html
/climate   map   temperature   cultivation   henna   conditions/
 
The Geography of Henna: II   Where Is Henna Grown  commercially?
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/geography/geography2.html
/climate   map   henna   cultivation   sales   commerce   export/

Where Does Henna Grow in India?
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/geography/indiabigmap.html
        /India   cultivation   geography   henna   map/

The Geography of Henna:  Where is henna grown, processed and exported in India?
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/geography/indiahenna.html
/India   cultivation   geography   farming   agriculture   monsoon/

Geography of Henna I: Worldwide Map Cultivation      
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/geography/map1.html
/cultivation   geography   map   growing   agriculture/
  
Geography of Henna II: Worldwide Map Commerce
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/geography/map2.html
/climate   map   henna   cultivation   sales   commerce   export/

The Geography of Henna:  Rajasthan's Main Henna Growing Region
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/geography/sojathenna.html
 /climate   cultivation   Rajasthan   farming   map/

Henna: Lawsonia Inermis
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/
/lawsonia   botany   growing   plant   shrub/
  
Henna: Lawsonia Inermis
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/flower.html
/henna blossom   gulhinna   flower   botany   lawsonia   attar/
  
Milling Henna Leaves
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/milling.html
/grinding   processing   henna   growing   millstone   mills   limestone/

Henna: Germinating Seeds
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/seeds.html
/lawsonia   botany   germinate   growing   seeds/

Biblical Henna references: Song of Solomon
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/songofsongs.html
/bible   camphire   attar   song of solomon   talmud/

Henna Farming in Pakistan
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/Pakistan/
/cultivation   Pakistan   farming   Jamila   commerce   Punjab/
      
Henna Farming in Pakistan: Large Map
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/Pakistan/hennapakmap.html
/cultivation   Pakistan   Map   farming   Jamila   commerce   Punjab/

Henna Harvesting in Pakistan: Camels
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/Pakistan/pakhennacamels.html
/harvesting   camels   Pakistan   farming   commerce   Jamila/

Henna Drying and Sorting in Pakistan
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/Pakistan/pakhennadried.html
            /harvesting   cultivation   drying   sorting   leaves   Pakistan   commerce/

Henna Fields in Pakistan
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/Pakistan/pakhennafield.html
            /cultivation   harvest   Pakistan   irrigation   growing   leaves   camels/

Henna Harvesting in Pakistan
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/Pakistan/pakhennaharvest.html
/cultivation   monsoon   Pakistan   growing   camels   growth   harvest/

Henna Plants in Pakistan
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/growing/Pakistan/pakhennaplant.html
/cultivation   Pakistan   growing   blossoms   clusters   heat   leaves/

Henna and the Hamam  
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/hammam/
/hamam   bath   bathhouse   women   beauty/

Morocco:  A Trip to a Moroccan Hamam
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/hammam/brommer.html
/Morocco   Hamam   bathhouse   women   beauty/

Turkey:  Henna and the Ottoman Hamam
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/turkish/hamam.html
/Turkey   Ottoman   hamam   bathhouse   women   beauty/  

Iran:  Bathing Kittens to Bring Babies
http://www.hennapage.com/journal/issue_II/article_13/page1.html
/fertility   hamam   bathhouse   women   Iran   beauty/

Henna and Horses  
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/horses/
/traditions   culture   Iran   Persia   horses   war   shah/

Henna and Horses;  at Springtime Festivals in Lebanon
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/horses/springfest.html
/traditions   horses   Lebanon   festival   Easter   blessings/

Id al-Adha and Henna
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/id/
/eid   id   Islam   Muslim   feast   sacrifice   blessing   Hajj   Mohammed   kabir/

Id al-Adha and Henna: Patterns
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/id/idtf1.html
/pattern   eid   id   Islam   Muslim   feast   swirl   hand/

Id al-Adha and Henna: Patterns
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/id/idtf2.html
/pattern   eid   id   Islam   Muslim   feast   floral   hand/

Id al-Adha and Henna: Patterns
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/id/idtf3.html
/pattern   eid   id   Islam   Muslim   feast   floral   leaf   hand/

Id al-Adha and Henna: Patterns
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/id/idtf4.html
/pattern   eid   id   Islam   Muslim   feast   leaf   feet   foot/

Id al-Adha and Henna: Patterns
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/id/idtf5.html
/pattern   eid   id   Islam   Muslim   feast   belly/

Mehandi by Dipti Desai
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/indwed/
/weddings   India   traditions   Dipti   gilding   zardosi   culture   bride   groom/

Mehandi by Dipti Desai: Paste only
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/indwed/desai/mehandi1.html
/Indian   Rajwadi   Arabic   patterns   styles   traditions   floral   scenes/

Mehandi by Dipti Desai: Shading
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/indwed/desai/mehandi2.html
/shaded   Geru   Hiramoti   patterns   styles   traditions   floral   scenes/

Mehandi by Dipti Desai: Paste only
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/indwed/desai/mehandi3.html
/Chundana   Zardosi   gilding   gems   rhinestones   placement   patterns/
      
Mehandi by Dipti Desai: Paste only
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/indwed/desai/mehandi4.html
/Anokhi   Soneri   gilding   gems   rhinestones   placement   patterns/

The Naun: The Barber's Wife
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/nai/index.html
/Henna Artist   Nai   Naun  barber   caste    blind    India/

Jewish Henna Traditions from Kurdistan

http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/kurdjewish/
/Jewish   Kurd   Kurdistan   traditions   betrothal   bride   death   circumcision/

Circumcision in Jewish Kurdistan
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/kurdjewish/circ.html
/circumcision   jewish   kurdistan   boys   traditions   indigo/

Kurdish Jewish Bride's Betrothal Henna Traditions
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/kurdjewish/betrothal.html
/Jewish   Kurdish   engagement   bride   groom   marriage/

Kurdish Jewish Bride's Lel Hinne Bedulge:  "the False Henna Night"
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/kurdjewish/bridalfalse.html
/Jewish   Kurd   Kurdistan   traditions   bride   superstition/

A Kurdish Jewish Bride's Lel Hanna "Night of the Henna"
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/kurdjewish/bridalnoh.html
/Jewish   Kurd   Kurdistan   traditions   bride   wedding/

Circumcision in Jewish Kurdistan
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/kurdjewish/circ.html
/circumcision   jewish   kurdistan   boys   traditions   indigo/

Jewish Henna Traditions for the Death of a Young Man
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/kurdjewish/deadboy.html
/Jewish   Kurd   Kurdistan   death   male   man   tradition   customs/

Kurdistani Jewish Henna Traditions for the Death of a Young Woman
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/kurdjewish/deadgirl.html
/Jewish   Kurd   Kurdistan   death   woman   girl   tradition   customs/

Kurdish Jewish Bridegroom's Lel Hanna "the Night of the Henna"
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/kurdjewish/groomnoh.html
/Jewish   Kurd   Kurdistan   traditions   groom   bridegroom   wedding/

Henna for Purim in Jewish Kurdistan: The Bath of the Maidens
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/kurdjewish/purimbath.html
/Jewish   Kurdish   Purim   Girls    Children    Esther /

Lawsone
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/lawsonia/
/chemistry   molecule   hydroxy   naphthoquinone   stratum corneum   alkaline/

Health and Henna
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/medical/
/health   medical   papers   chemotherapy   bilirubin   safety   caution/

Henna in the Ancient Egyptian Pharmacopoeia:  The Ebers Papyrus
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/medical/ebers.html
/Egypt   remedies   Thebes   cyperus   kuperos   Osiris   toes   eyes   teeth/

Henna and  Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/medical/g6pd.html
/haemolytic   anemia   infants   children   hyperbilirubinemia/

Neonatal Henna and Bilirubin Levels
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/medical/neonatal.html
/babies   children   bilirubin   premature   Hyperbilirubinemia   G6PD-deficient/
  
Henna for Accuracy and Comfort in Radiotherapy
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/medical/radiotherapy.html
/radiotherapy   tumor   isocenter   tattoo   marker/

Henna and Chemotherapy
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/medical/chemo/
/cancer   chemotherapy   baldness   hair loss   pattern/
      
Regale Unguentum: Parthian Royal Ointment
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/parthian/
/Assyria   Parthia   Persia   Men   Ointment   Hair/

Green Dye and Additives in Henna Powder
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/processing/greendye.html
/additive   green dye   polishing   testing   azo dye/

Henna traditions for the end of Ramadan:  "Id al-Fitr"
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/ramadan/
/Ramadan   Islam   Muslim   new moon   tradition   culture   donkey   women   children   celebration/

Ramadan:  New Moon patterns
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/ramadan/idnm1.html
/moon   lunar   pattern   Afganistan   Afgani   Kuchi   feet   foot/

Ramadan:  New Moon patterns
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/ramadan/idnm2.html
/moon   lunar   pattern   Afganistan   Afgani   Kuchi   hand/

Ramadan:  New Moon patterns
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/ramadan/idnm3.html
/moon   lunar   pattern   Afganistan   Afgani   Kuchi   hand/

Ramadan:  New Moon patterns
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/ramadan/idnm4.html
/moon   lunar   pattern   Afganistan   Afgani   Kuchi   hand/

Ramadan:  New Moon patterns
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/ramadan/idnm5.html
/moon   lunar   pattern   Afganistan   Afgani   Kuchi   foot   feet/

Ramadan:  New Moon patterns
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/ramadan/idnm6.html
/moon   lunar   pattern   Afganistan   Afgani   Kuchi   hand/

The Science of Henna and Skin
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/
/stratum   staining   chemistry   dark skin   palms   soles   dermis   exfoliation/

Henna and Scars
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/scars/
/scarring   fading   exfoliation   staining   glassy skin   surgical scar/

Mapping Henna Stains on Your Skin
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/skinzones/bodstain1.html
            /staining   darker   darkness   map   areas   skin   thickness   dermis/

Henna and Skin Stratum Corneum: ~The Science of Henna and Skin~
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/
/stratum   staining   chemistry   dark skin   palms   soles   dermis   exfoliation/

Stratum Corneum: What is your skin made of, and how is it made?
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/sc1.html
/keratin   membrane   skin   layers   cells   spinous   basal   dermis   epidermis/

Stratum Corneum: How does henna stain your skin?
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/sc2.html
/lawsone   tannin   hennotannin   dye   molecules   spinous   basal   dermis/

Stratum Corneum: Why does the henna stain get dark?
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/sc3.html
/oxidize   saturation   alkaline   molecules   skin   cells   dermis/

Stratum Corneum: Why are there places where the  henna stain never gets dark and disappears fast?
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/sc4.html
/dorsum   keratin   skin layers   cells   thickness   alkaline   molecules/

Stratum Corneum: Why do henna stains on the the palms and soles last a long time? 
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/sc5.html
/lawsone   keratin   skin layers   cells   thickness   alkaline   molecules/

Stratum Corneum: What are those last orange traces, and why do they seem to last forever?
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/sc6.html
/lawsone   keratin   skin layers   cells   thickness   alkaline   molecules/

Stratum Corneum: Henna Stains: Day 1
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/scd1.html
/lawsone   keratin   skin layers   cells   thickness   stain   oxidize/
  
Stratum Corneum:  Henna Stains: Day 3
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/scd2.html
/lawsone   keratin   skin layers   cells   thickness   stain   molecules/

Stratum Corneum: Henna Stains: Day 7
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/scd3.html
/lawsone   keratin   skin layers   cells   thickness   stain   fade   demise/

Stratum Corneum: Henna Stains: Day 14
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/scd4.html
/lawsone   keratin   skin layers   cells   thickness   stain   demise   fade/

Stratum Corneum:  The Science of Henna and Skin
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/scdays.html
/lawsone   keratin   skin layers   cells   days  alkaline   molecules/

Stratum Corneum: Why doesn't a henna stain last forever like a tattoo?
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/sce.html
/exfoliation   regeneration   lawsone   dermis   epidermis   dry skin/

Skin Stain Map
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/skin.pdf
/map   printout   dark   darker   stain   blackberry/

Stratum Corneum: What happens if you get henna below the stratum corneum?
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/stratum/spot.html
/scar   sores   wound   scratch   pigment   lawsone   molecule   epidermis/

Henna as a Sunblock
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/sunblock/
/pictures   Melanocytes   melanin   pigmentation   pigment   epidermis/

Henna as a Sunblock
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/skin/sunblock/sunblock.html
/Melanocytes   melanin   pigmentation   pigment   epidermis/

Henna and Jnun
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/spirits/
/jnun   djin   djinn   genie   malevolent  jinniya   jenniya   cat   tortoise   cyclone   culture   folklore/

Patterns for Henna and Jnun
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/spirits/spiritpatterns.html
/protection   warding   tortoise   wolf   jnun   djin   djinn   genie/

Paste from Fresh Henna Leaves
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/stoneground/
/grind   fresh   tamarind   lemon   catechu   simple   patterns/

Henna and Saccharides
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/sugars/
/hydrocarbons   sugar   jaggery   honey   fructose   dextrose   sucrose/

Shopping for Fructose and Dextrose
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/sugars/katerant.html
/glucose   dextrose   sucrose   fructose   syrup   maltodextrin   shopping   finding/

Dextrose and Grainy Henna Paste
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/sugars/stir/
/dextrose   fructose   sucrose   mixing   picture   sugar/

Turkish Henna
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/turkish/
/ottoman   hamam   bath   bathhouse   tradition   Turkey   culture/

Henna and the End of the Ottoman Empire
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/turkish/endofottoman.html
/culture   history   tradition   Ataturk   cosmetic   beauty   Anatolia/

Turkey:  Henna and the Ottoman Hamam
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/turkish/hamam.html
/Turkey   Ottoman   hamam   bathhouse   women   beauty/  
 
Henna in 16th Century Turkey
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/turkish/ottowomen.html
/Codex Vindobonensis   manuscript   illustration   cosmetic   beauty   Turkey   ottoman/
      
Turkoman Henna
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/turkish/turkoman.html
/shirin   nizami   shiraz   patterns   turkey   ottoman   cosmetic   beauty/


Turkish Village Henna: Cord Resist
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/turkish/stringresist/
/cord resist    Turkey    Eid al-Adha    village  history   lace    sprang/

Turkish Night of the Henna: Symbolism and Practice in the Late 20th Century
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/turkish/seedandsoil.html
/coin resist     cord resist      Kina Gecesi     Turkish village     men's Night of the Henna/

19th Century Turkish Kina Gecesi
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/turkish/turkishnoh.html
/Lucy M. Garnett    Fanny Davis    marriage   harem   Ottoman    coins    Night of the Henna/

Henna and War
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/war/
/war   martyrdom   celebration   killing   victory   history/

Anath Hennas Her Hands to Celebrate Baal's Victory over Mot
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/war/anathvsmot.html
/Anath    Baal    War    Virgin Goddess   Mot   Bronze Age   Syria   Ugaritic/

Henna and the Insurrection in the Hadramaut
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/war/hadramaut.html
/Yemen   Mohammed   Caliph   Abu Bakr   protest   rebellion   history/

The Hennaed Guerrilla Fighters in Jerusalem, 70 CE
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/war/josephus.html
/Flavius Josephus   Jew   Jewish   Palestine   transvestite   history/

Hennaed Fingernails for Upper Class Men and Military Officers in Zand and Qajar Iran
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/war/talons.html
/Iran   Shiraz   Qajar   Zand   men   fingernails   customs   Jubber Kahn   Afganistan/

The Warrior's Wife Calls the Henna Artist for Victory or Suttee
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/war/warsuttee.html
/battle   customs   India   suttee   outcome   Nai   Nayan/

Judith and Holofernes
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/war/judith/index.html
/henna   myrtle    Judith   Jewish    Hanukkah    victory     war    traditions/

The Neolithic and Bronze Age Origins of Henna
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/anath/
        /ancient culture   traditions   god   goddess   bronze age   neolithic/

Anath, the Virgin Warrior Goddess:  Victory,  Henna and Grain
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/anath/anathwheatmot.html
/Anath   Virgin Goddess   Fertility   Grains   War   Bronze Age   Baal   Ugaritic/

Step by Step: The Bride's Hand: Artist: Riffat Bahar 14 MB wmv
Watch Riffat Bahar create magnificent patterns on a bride's hand!
http://www.hennaconference.com/projects/riffat_hand1.wmv
/bridal henna    how to     mehndi      artist     Riffat Bahar     excellence    India   South Asia/

"Artist at Work" Kim Brennan (40MB wmv file)
Watch a henna artist create beautiful henna patterns!
/bridal henna    how to     mehndi      artist     Kim Brennan     excellence    India   Hindu/

Meet the Artist: Kim Brennan  (11 MB wmv file)
Watch the author of Mehndi Masala create one of the lovely patterns from her book!
http://www.hennapage.com/projects/kimb_masala.wmv
/bridal henna    how to     mehndi      artist     Kim Brennan     excellence    India   Hindu/   Mehndi Masala/


Can't find what you're looking for?  Try:
The Henna Page Main Index 
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/mainindex.html
 


*"Henna, the Joyous Body Art" 
the Encyclopedia of Henna
Catherine Cartwright-Jones c 2000 
registered with the US Library of Congress
TXu 952-968