The Henna plant is not only extensively grown throughout India, but has been cultivated in many other areas as well.
It is planted as hedges around houses, buildings and sometimes fields.
It has a length of two-meters when fully grown and emits a typical fragrance which can smell stronger during the night.
The different parts of the plant viz. leaves, stems, flowers and fruits can be used for medicinal purposes.
I recommend the Henna Page for brilliantly detailed information on henna and its history.
Umm Salma (ra) narrates:
“In the life of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و آله وصحبه و سلم , no injury or thorn piercing was treated on which henna was not applied.” – At-Tirmidhi, Ahmad
“Whenever somebody came to Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و آله وصحبه و سلم with complaints of headache, he directed him to undergo cupping and whosoever complained of pain in legs, was advised to apply henna.” – Sahih al-Bukhari, Sunan of Imam Abu Dawud
