Senna Leaves 50 g, 25 g

Senna Leaves – 50 g ($8.99), 25 g ($5.99)

Benefits:
The most common application for senna tea is to stimulate bowel movements and alleviate constipation.

The primary active compounds in senna leaves are known as senna glycosides, or sennosides. Sennosides cannot be absorbed in your digestive tract, but they can be broken down by your gut bacteria (1). This breakdown of sennosides mildly irritates the cells in your colon, an effect that stimulates intestinal movement and produces a laxative effect. Senna is an active ingredient in many popular over-the-counter laxative medications, such as Ex-Lax and Nature’s Remedy. For most people, it will stimulate a bowel movement within 6–12 hours (2).

Constipation  Senna is a medically approved remedy for treating short-term constipation. The herb is a stimulant laxative, which means it works by activating contractions in the intestines to prompt a bowel movement. Expert guidelines for constipation management list senna-based laxatives as an evidence-backed method for treating chronic idiopathic constipation (or long-term constipation without a clear cause). Senna also seems to help relieve constipation related to opioid use.

Aids Colonoscopy Prep  Due to senna’s stool-softening properties, medical experts often recommend using senna to clear the bowels before surgery and other medical procedures—like a colonoscopy. The anthraquinones (compounds with a laxative effect) naturally found in senna help increase the amount of fluids in the intestines, which softens the stool, allowing the bowels to fully clear. Studies have shown that senna is safe for children and adults for pre-surgical bowel clearing. Sometimes, you might combine senna with other treatments, like probiotics, to support this process.

IBS  Research suggests senna is likely beneficial for treating certain gastrointestinal conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Senna’s anti-inflammatory properties help relieve the digestive system from constipation and related symptoms, such as cramping and discomfort. Some healthcare providers recommend senna as a complementary treatment for IBS-C, which is a type of IBS that includes constipation as a main symptom. More expansive research is still needed on senna’s use as a remedy in IBS treatment.

Hemorrhoids   Supplementing with senna may help relieve uncomfortable symptoms of hemorrhoids (swollen veins around the anus), such as pain around the rectum. Having constipation or hard stools can trigger or worsen hemorrhoids. Since senna can relieve constipation and soften stools, it may help manage hemorrhoid symptoms. Older research shows that senna has the potential to help heal hemorrhoids in some cases. Additional studies around this theory are needed before senna can be broadly recommended as a specific hemorrhoid treatment.

Diabetes   In traditional medicinal practices, senna has been anecdotally used as a hypoglycemic treatment, meaning it may help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.² A very small study had nine adults with diabetes and constipation consume senna tea with increasing consistency over several months. After treatment, the participants showed improvements in red blood cell glucose levels, constipation, and other diabetes-related complications. While the findings are promising for long-term diabetes management, much larger studies are required to confirm them.

Obesity  Due to its stimulant and laxative properties, senna is often marketed as a diet or weight loss supplement in tea form. The herb triggers bowel movements, which can result in temporary water weight loss. Researchers also theorize that senna may encourage toxin removal from the body, which supports metabolism and weight management. However, further human clinical trials are needed before senna might be recommended as a tactic for treating obesity.

Antibacterial, Antifungal  Studies suggest that senna might be beneficial for combatting a variety of bacteria and fungal infections.¹¹  When applied topically, senna appears to have skin-healing properties—including fighting acne, clearing skin infections, and potentially treating inflammatory skin conditions like eczema.¹⁷ Traditionally, cultures across the globe have utilized senna topical preparations for these purposes.¹⁷ Some current research supports these uses, but broader research is needed to confirm these potential benefits.

Skin Infections  Senna assists to control the effects of skin problems, such as skin roughness, blisters, swelling, itchiness as well as bleeding. The application of senna leaf paste mostly on skin relieves pain and prevents bleeding due to its healing (ropan) properties. Senna’s antibacterial property may help with dermatological or skin conditions. Senna leaves paste is effective in curing skin infections, such as acne, and inflammatory disorders, such as eczema. Senna can be used to combat acne-causing microorganisms.

Immune System  The leaves of the senna herb are sources of vitamins C and B complex . Several studies found that the leaves of senna herb are used as nutrient supplements and are also a rich source of micro and macronutrients that play a vital role in the human body. The benefit of additional use of senna is that it protects against microbial infections.

Research has found that consuming vitamin C supplements enhances the immunity of humans. This vitamin is also used in several parts of the immune system. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) helps the body to create lymphocytes and phagocytes (white blood cells), which are suitable for protection various against infections.

Vitamin B6 also plays a significant role in an individual’s overall immune functioning . The depletion of vitamin B complex makes the immune system weak, so by the inclusion of the vitamin B complex to coronavirus patients it could improve their immunity. Emodin (1, 3, 8-trihydroxy-6-methyl anthraquinone), extracted from senna leaves, has been used as a herbal medicine in many countries, particularly Eastern Asia. For proper growth and development, protein is needed and also necessary for optimized immunity. Low levels may cause depression because neurotransmitters (dopamine as well as serotonine) are not produced in sufficient quantities

Botanical Name: Senna species
English: Senna, Sonamukhi
Ayurvedic: Svarna-pattri, Maarkandikaa, Maarkandi.
Unani: Sannaa, Sanaa-makki, Senaai, Sonaamukhi, Sanaa-Hindi.
Siddha: Nilaavaarai
Also, known as: Alexandrian Senna, Nubian Senna, Cassia Senna, Cassia Lenitive, Cassia Lanceolate, Cassia Officinalis, Cassia Aethiopica, Senna Acutifolia, Egyptian Senna, Sene De La Palthe, Tinnevelly Senna, Cassia Angustifolia, East Indian Senna, Wild Senna, Locust Plant, M Danc, Sonamukhi, Svamamukhi, Sonapata, Indian Senna. Tinnevelly Senna, Mindhiaval, Sonamukhi, Sanaya, Hindisana, Nelavarika, Sonamukhi, Nelaavare, Nelavarike, Nel Aanriake Sna, Sunnamukhi, Nilavaka, Chinnukki, Adapatiyan, Sonamukhi, Sunamukhi, Sannamakhi, Sanapati, Samapatta, Nilapponnai, Avarai, Sunamukhi, Sena, Barg-E-Sana, Falajin, Fan Xie Ye, Fi Laskon Maka, Hindisana, Illesko, Indian Senna, Ma Khaam Khaek, Makhaam Khaek, Mecca Senna, Msahala, Nelaponna, Nelatangedu, Nilavaka, Nilavirai, Nubia Senna, Rinji, Sanai, Sand Hijazi, Sanjerehi, Sen De Alejandria, Sen De La India, Senna Makki, Senna, Snamikki, Sennae Folium, Sonamukhi, Tinnevelly Senna, True Senna
Habitat: Southern India
Origin: India
Harvested: Wild
Parts Used: Leaves

General Information:
Senna consists of dried leaves of Cassia Angustifolia, a small shrub, 60-75 cm high, found throughout the year, cultivated largely in Southern India, especially in districts of Tinnevelly, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli and has also, been introduced in Mysore, fully grown, thick bluish color leaves stripped off by hand, collected and dried in shade for 7-10 days, till assuming a yellowish-green color, graded and then packed into large bales.

The leaves have long petioles, ovate at base; each petiole has eight or ten leaflets, which are oblong, smooth, 1-2 in. long and quite narrow. The flowers are a bright yellow and the leaves are gathered while in bloom from June to September. The fruit is a legume, 2-4 in. long, and contains a quantity of thick pulp which is mildly laxative and cathartic and is used in the composition of the confection of Cassia and of Senna. It belongs to the sugar class of laxatives, its properties being due, for the most part, to the water-attracting properties of the sugar while in the intestinal canal.

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.