" The natives of Concan, in bilious sickness, fill the patients' month with sesamum oil, and apply the juice of leaves to the crown of the head. This is said to cause the oil in his mouth to become yellow from absorption of bile; fresh oil is then given repeatedly until it ceases to turn yellow " (Dymock).
513. Lawsonia alba, Lamk. h.f.b.i., ii. 573.
Syn.:—L. inermis, Roxb. 325.
Sans.:—Sakachere.
Vern.:—Hena, Mehndi (H); Marutonri, Aivanam (Tam.); Goonutachettoo (Tel.); Mailanschi, Ponta-letsche (Malay); Iswan (Belgaum); (Mar.) Mendi; Hena (Bombay).
Habitat:—Very common throughout India.
A glabrous, erect shrub, with rounded branches, sometimes spinescent. Leaves opposite ¾-1½in. long, elliptic, acute at both ends, on the tip obtuse, minutely petioled, entire, coriaceous. Flowers ¼in. diam., sweet-scented, rose-coloured or white or greenish white, in large corymbosely-branched terminal panicles. Calyx-tube exceedingly short; lobes 4, 1/10in. ovate, permanent; petals 4, wrinkled. Stamens usually 8, inserted in pair between the petals. Ovary free, 4-celled, ovules many, style long. Capsule 1/5in. diam., globular like a pea, ultimately 1-celled, irregularly breaking up; seeds angular, on a central placenta. Flower and fruit throughout the year.
Uses:—Arabic and Persian works describe the leaves as a valuable external application in headache, combined with oil, so as to form a paste, to which resin is sometimes added. They are applied to the soles of the feet in small-pox, and are supposed to prevent the eyes being affected by the disease. They also have the reputation of promoting the healthy growth of the hair and nails. The bark is given in jaundice and enlargement of the spleen, also in calculous 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 cephalic. An infusion of the flowers is said to cure headache, and to be a good application to bruises (Dymock).
