Effects of henna dye on oxygen saturation reading using pulse oximetry
Samman, Y.S.; Rahimi, J.S.; Wali, S.O.; Krayem, A.B.; Abdelaziz, M.M.
Saudi Medical Journal 27(2): 268-269
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0379-5284 PMID: 16501694 Document Number: 602513
A total of 104 healthy individuals (16% male and 84% female) with normal oxygen saturation at room air and 14 patients (6 male and 8 female) with hypoxemia at room air was enrolled to study the effect of natural henna (from Lawsonia inermis) on pulse oximetry reading. Although oxygen saturation was slightly higher with henna compared with the control, the difference was not statistically significant. Measurement of oxygen saturation in patients with cardiorespiratory disease and hypoxemia showed significant difference between the test and control. However, in hypoxic patients, there was an increase in oxygen saturation in the henna-dyed fingers compared with the control by 3% in most cases (13 out of 14 patients).