Senna
Cassia Acutifolia
 Natural
forces within us are the true healers of disease.
Hippocrates
By Dr. Paul Blake, N.D.
Senna is a member of the pea family
and a native plant of the areas of Africa, the Middle East and
India. The parts of Senna used as an herb are the leaf, seed and
pod of Alexandria Senna and Tinnevelley Senna. Many botanists
collectively refer to them both as Senna Alexandrina. Today it is
cultivated commercially in the Middle East and the Tennevelly region
of Southern India.
History
Traditionally Senna was
used in love sachets in the Middle East. In China they
named senna Fan-Hsieh-Yeh, which means "foreign-country
laxative herb." Senna (Cassia Acutifolia) is one of
the oldest known varieties of herbal medicines used in
mankind's herbal medical history. Senna is included
in most pharmacopoeias of the world, and was first used
by Arabian physicians in the ninth century. Two
Arabian physicians, Serapion and Sesue, are said to have
given the herb its Arabic name 'Senna' and employed it
as a purgative. By 1640, Senna was cultivated and
utilized in England for its cathartic properties
Senna's Chemical
Constituents and Actions
Senna is a purgative,
similar to aloe and rhubarb in having as active
ingredients anthraquinone derivatives and their
glucosides. Senna is cathartic and should be used in
combination with other cathartic herbs of its kind to
work best (see below Senna Works Best) for bowel
elimination. It should be used by itself only in cases
of acute constipation. Senna has an anthraquinone
that stimulates the nerves of the bowel wall encouraging
peristaltic action. The primary chemical constituents
of Senna include anthraquinone glycosides (sennosides
aloe-emodin and rhein), betasitosterol, flavones,
essential oil, mucilage, mucin, resin, tannin and
tartaric acid. The sennosides irritate the large
intestinal lining, causing peristaltic action of the
smooth muscles that push stool through the intestine
causing bowel evacuation. It also assists in the
temporary retention of fluid in the large intestine,
thus contributing to softer stools.
The pods are milder in
their effects than the seeds of Senna as they contain
less of the resin responsible for griping.
Both the leaves and pods
of Senna are used in many over-the-counter
pharmaceutical preparations. Senna is actually a
common ingredient used to make some sore throat
remedies. The herb is most often used in powder form,
drank as a tea, or taken as a supplement. Senna is one
of the few herbal medicines approved by the United
States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Thus,
Senna's over-the-counter use makes it one of the most
commonly used herbal medicines in the United States (for
added safety look for the words Certified Organic on the
label).
Uses
Utilized to treat
conditions like constipation, hemorrhoids, reduce
fevers, biliousness, bad breath, colic, gallstones,
gout, jaundice, menstruation, mouth sores, obesity,
boils, pimples, rheumatism, treat skin diseases and kill
parasites.
Why Cleanse and Detox the Colon?
Cancer Causing Poisons and Pollutants Found in a Toxic
Colon:
Insecticides, lead, aluminum, selenium, mercury,
cadmium, strontium, cesium, and many kinds of inorganic
dust including traces of nerve gases. Other
Chemicals: Phenol, Cadaverin, Agamatine, Indol,
Sulphurretted Hydrogen, Cresol, Butyric Acid, Botulin,
Putrescin, Urrobilin, Histidine, Ammonia, Muscarine,
Methylmercaptan, Indican, Methygandinine, Idoethylamine,
Sulpherroglobine, Ptomarropine, Pentamethy Lendiamine,
Neurin, Sepsin.
Health Problems Associated With a Toxic Colon
Alzheimer's, Headache (migraine and common), Lower back
and Neck Pain, Skin Problems, Brain Fog, Chronic
Fatigue, Cancer, Autoimmune Diseases, Allergies,
Arthritis, Body Odor, Bad Breath, Brittle Nails & Hair,
Blood Pressure (High or Lo), Depression, Fibroids,
Endometriosis, Gas, Constipation, Hot Flashes,
Menopause, Infertility, Insomnia, Irritability, Low Sex
Drive, Menstrual Irregularities, Overweight - Obesity,
Pot Belly, Swelling Legs & Feet, Skin Problems, Bloated,
Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Hemorrhoids, Prostate
Problems, Dementia, Hormonal Imbalance, Abdominal
Cramps, Vision disturbances, Food Sensitivities, Leg
Pains, Kidney and Liver Disorders, Skin Wrinkles,
Fibrocystic Breasts, Acid Reflux, Parasites and worms
Senna's Influence on
the Body
Bitter, pungent, cooling,
or purging, cathartic, antiseptic, antispasmodic,
cholagogue, cleansing, vermifuge and a blood purifier.
Senna Functions
Optimally When Combined With Other Herbs
When used in combination
with these other bowel herbs and assistant herbs that
relax and increase the natural function of the bowel
such as the bowel cleansing combination below.
Bowel Cleanse Formula with
Senna
Senna, Cape Aloe leaf,
Cascara Sagrada bark, Barberry root, Turkey Rhubarb
root, Garlic bulb, Ginger root, Fennel seed, Black
Walnut hull, Clove bud, Wormwood leaf, Habanera Cayenne
pepper (for added health benefits look for the words
Certified Organic on the label).
Note
Senna additionally works
as an effective vermifuge to destroy parasites and expel
worms from the intestinal tract. Many of the other
herbs in the above combination are also known to kill
parasites such as Black Walnut hull, Clove bud, Garlic
bulb, Barberry root and Wormwood leaf, etc.
Note
Senna can be used as a tea
but should be served cold and combined with ginger,
anise or fennel to avoid griping. Suggested amount
would be 2 oz 3 times a day.
Contraindications
Senna (Cassia Acutifolia)
is not recommended if you are pregnant or
menstruating. People with Crohn's disease, ulcerative
colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal
obstructions should not supplement with Senna.
Breast Feeding
No adverse effects have
been seen in breastfed infants whose mothers were
receiving Senna. The American Academy of Pediatrics
considers that Senna (Cassia Acutifolia) is therefore
usually compatible with breast feeding.
Sources:
Little Herb Encyclopedia, by Jack Ritchason; N.D., Woodland Publishing Incorporated, 1995
Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania 1987
The Ultimate Healing System, Course Manual, Copyright 1985, Don Lepore
The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Published by Dorling Kindersley
Breastfeeding Warnings, Drug Information on Line dot com
The Sam Biser Save Your Life User Manual: By Sam Biser
and Dr. Richard Schulze, The University of Natural
Healing, Inc.
The Ins and Outs of Non-Traditional Healing, E. Haymes
Jr., Alternative Medicine: 2009
The Hidden Secret of Ayurveda, Robert F. Svoboda 1996
A life of Balance, Maya Tiwari, Ayurveda: 1994
Hippocrates Quotes ' Brainy Quotes dot com
Note:
Be sure you check all the
medications that you are taking for what are called
contraindications? That is a list of things you do not
want to take with your medication before anyone begins
taking a supplement or herb. If you are unsure then be
sure you check with your attending physician.
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