The intricate art swirls across its canvas. A gentle hand applies the tiny lines and dots of paint. The canvas, the human body. The paint, henna, an ancient form of body art.

Henna is a plant, a small shrub. Its leaves are plucked and then made into a reddish-brown paste to be applied to the body.

"There is no one origin," said Catherine Cartwright-Jones, a geography graduate student and leading expert on henna. "The plant expanded northward from North Africa after the last Ice Age. Linguistically, you can find fundamentally different words for the plant."

Cartwright-Jones said henna also has many different uses. Henna as body art seemed to have originated from the Mediterranean Islands, Syria, Turkey and Palestine. Arab countries and Egypt used henna for medicinal purposes on skin conditions, such as sores or burns, she said.

Beauticians Give Stroke Prevention Advice

(AP Photo/Al Behrman) :: Dorothea Jones poses inside her beauty salon, DJ's Image, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, in Cincinnati. Jones is one of hundreds of beauticians in two cities, Cincinnati and Atlanta, taught by researchers to recognize stroke warning signs and spread the word. .

nourish summer skin naturally with natura organics

Sun-kissed skin needs nourishment to offset the longer hours in the sun and outdoor activities that we all enjoy and indulge in during the summer. So what better way to put back what nature can take from your skin than with a little help from nature found in organic aromatherapy-based products from natura organics? The shower gels and shampoos bubble up a treat - thanks to its unique plant and sugar-based surfactant - and smell divine thanks to their essential oils. So youll treat your senses as much as your skin! The natura organics Nourishing Range cleanses your skin and hair deeply it will take away sunscreen, seawater and sand but not your natural skin oils. The complete set comprises a shower gel, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner. Nourishing Shower Gel with Aloe Vera, vitamin E, Grapefruit For smooth, supple skin this is a luxurious blend of plant, vitamin and citrus ingredients.

Hair Dye And Cancer: Myth Or Danger?

For the most part, there are risk factors that contribute to a persons likelihood of developing cancer. However, specialists in the field of oncology also state that having any or all of the know risk factors attributed to a certain type of cancer does not mean that you will ever contract the disease. While research shows that cancer happens seemingly at will, it has long been suggested that using hair dye will increase your risk factor for certain types of bladder and breast cancer. As with the risk factors, there have been conflicting reports indicating whether or not hair dye is a contributor to these cancers. Until May 2005, when the American Medical Association conducted a large meta analysis that pulled all previous study results, research had drawn no conclusive evidence as to the risk factor involved with using hair dye.