The seed of henna (also known as Hailaihua) is also called Hailaihua, and the stem is also called Caulis et Folium Gaultheriae Yunnanensis. It can be used as medicine, and has the effects of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, promoting diuresis and detoxicating, dredging channels and penetrating bones. Fresh grass can be mashed and used externally to treat sores, boils, swelling and pain and poisonous insect bites. Seeds are antidotes, which have the functions of killing fungi, dredging menstruation, inducing ovulation, resolving phlegm and resolving hard mass, and are not suitable for pregnant women. The whole grass was pounded into juice for external use to treat traumatic injury. The seeds contain saponin, fatty oil, sterol, polysaccharide, protein, amino acids and volatile oil.

Henna, also known as henna or Halenia in Indian and China Western Regions, has a natural reddish-brown pigment. People in western China have planted this plant for a long time, and dyed their nails and decorated themselves with its juice. According to records, Cleopatra dyed her hair with henna. The famous Indian body painting is also dyed with it.

Uighur girls also like to dye their hair. They will apply henna juice to their nails, palms, backs of hands, hair, arms and legs until now.

In 2007, the Ministry of Health clearly pointed out that henna could not be used as hair dye in its reply.

At present, there is no "pure plant hair dye" completely extracted from plants approved in China. Hair dyes approved by the US Food and Drug Administration are all chemical preparations.

Experts remind people with allergies to use it with caution. The staff of the US Food and Drug Administration in Zhejiang once again reminded consumers not to be superstitious about pure plant hair dyes.