The Power of the Flower: Acacia Catechu (Katha, Khair)

All-Natural Lustrous Henna® is a True Echo-Friendly Hair Dye. A real product of Mother Earth.

Acacia catechu is just one of the natural botanicals that make up some shades of Lustrous Henna®. What can we learn about this age-old flowering tree?

About Acacia Catechu

It’s synonyms are varied: Catechu, Cutch, Katha, Khair and more, depending on the use of different parts of the tree. The tree is found in the forests of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and other Asian countries. According to the World Agro Forestry Centre, “Acacia catechu is a small or medium-sized, thorny tree up to 15 m tall; bark dark grey or greyish-brown, peeling off in long strips, or sometimes in narrow rectangular plates, brown or red inside.”*

The flowers are long spikes with color of white to pale yellow, numerous stamens. The fruit is contained within a strap-shaped pod tapering at both ends. “In India, three varieties, namely: var. catechu, var. catechuoides and var sundra are recognized. The generic name, ‘acacia’, comes from the Greek word ‘akis’, meaning a point or a barb. The species name comes from 'cutch', a tanning extract isolated from its heartwood.”**

Acacia Catechu Growing Season

Acacia catechu leaves are shed around February and new leaves appear near the end of April or May. The flowers appear when the new leaves appear and flowering continues until July or August. Pods rapidly develop and are full-size by September or October. They ripen from November to early January.

Acacia Catechu Cultivation History

Throughout the country of India, the use of Acacia catechu as a tanning agent goes back centuries. It was called, ‘cacho’ in a European writing in AD 1514 where it was mentioned as being exported from Cambay to Malacca. In the 17^th century it was used in Europe and by the early 19^th century, France imported it for commercial use.

Acacia Catechu Common Uses:

There are numerous uses for Acacia catechu, however, we’ll focus on what’s pertinent to our orverall theme. A substance called cutch is extracted from the bark and is used for extracting color and dyeing textiles as well as coloring hair. Catechu extract is also used to dye textiles such as silk, cotton, canvas, paper and leather to a dark-brownish color.

Lustrous Henna® is An All-Natural Hair Color for Dying Hair

Depending on the color shade, Lustrous Henna® contains pure, highly-sifted herbal henna, indigo leaf powder and other herbal extracts and powders. Dark hair colors are achieved naturally, resulting in excellent black hair color, dark brown hair color, brown hair color and many more, along with excellent gray hair coverage.

Quality Ingredients in Lustrous Henna®

Ancient ingredients make it semi-permanent, (fading gradually). It also works as natural hair conditioner and helps with hair growth. The following are the ingredients of Lustrous Henna. The order in which the ingredients are listed on each pack varies from one shade to another: Lawsonia inermis, Indigofera tinctoria, Isatis tintoria, Coffea arabica, Rubia tinctoria, Acacia catechu, Bocopa monniera, Eclipta prostrada, Acacia concinna, Trigonella foenumgraecum. *Source: World Agro Forestry Centre.
 

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Author: L.J. O'Neal, writer and researcher. (L.J. is also a Lustrous Henna® user.)

©2011. L.J. O’Neal. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Do not copy or reprint this article without the consent of the author or Saba Botanical of USA.

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*Even though our herbal ingredients have been used in natural medicine for centuries, we must add the following disclaimer: The herbs, formulas, and recipes contained within this web site are not to be considered substitutes for proper medical and health care. As with any other medicine, if you are sick, you should consult a physician to find out if the herbal preparations listed here are right for you. Saba Botanical does not make any medical claims nor warranties regarding the use of the products listed on this site. No matter how natural a product is, it may have a potential of causing side effects and allergic reaction on certain individuals. You should consult your physician before taking any medication.