Senna Pods – Botanical Names: Cassia acutifolia Cassia angustifolia, Senna alexandrina
Common Names: Senna pods
Habitat: Senna pods are the dried fruits of Cassia acutifolia, The pods are black or brown or greenish-brown in colour, broadly oblong, very flat legumes, curved and rounded at each extremity. They vary from 3 to 6 centimetres in length and from 2 to 2.5 centimetres in width, and contain several flat, obovate-cuneate seeds. Senna pods are milder in their effects than the leaflets, as the griping is largely due to the resin, and the pods contain none, but have about 25 per cent more cathartie acid and emodin than the leaves, without volatile oil.
Parts Used: Dried leaves, pods and senna stem.
Constituents: Senna contains hydroxyanthracene glycosides known as Sennosides. These glycosides stimulate colon activity and thus have a laxative effect.
Senna pods contain many anthraquinone compounds, including dianthrone glycosides, which make up 1.5 to 3 percent of the herb. Senna pods is a strong anthraquione containing purgative that is used only in acute constipation.
Action: A sweetened infusion of senna pods is a valuable laxative for children, and the liquid extract or the corresponding elixir may be used in place of the preparations of the leaves. These preparations are considered by many practitioners to be more certain in their action and to cause less griping.
Its leaves and pods contain anthranoids which have specific effects in the intestines: chemical by-products of senna metabolism stimulate propulsive contractions and inhibit stationary contractions in the colon, thus speeding elimination of waste and increasing its water and electrolyte content.
USES:
In India Ayurvedic medicine, senna is used for constipation and also for skin problems, jaundice, bronchitis, liver disease, splenomegaly, typhoid fever and anemia.Tablets are the most commonly taken for constipation. An infusion is combined with fresh ginger and cloves and used for mild constipation. Tinctures are used by herbalists for short-term constipation.
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) approves senna leaves and senna pods for Short-term use in occasional Constipation ( WHO, 1999 ).
Senna is considered a cleansing herb because of its cathartic effect and has been used as a natural laxative for centuries.
Senna was given the name of purging Cassia in Europe during the Middle Ages because it was used at that time in an Italian Medical school as a purgative.
In Chinese medicine, senna is used for liver fire patterns, atherosclerosis and for constipation and also used for Health drinks.
Senna is one of the few herbal medicines approved by the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) for over-the-counter use. It is probably the most widely used herbal Active Ingredients.
