Native to Africa and India, and introduced to many other regions, Senna (Senna alexandrina; syn. Cassia acutifolia, C. angustifolia, C. senna, C. lanceolata; Senna spp.) is a plant from the pea (Fabaceae) family that grows about 1 meter tall with yellow pea-like flowers in racemes, followed by flat leguminous seed pods.
Interestingly, Senna is one of the rare botanicals that have been officially approved by the US FDA as an over-the-counter drug (OTC). It is approved for short-term use for adults and children 2 years and older as a digestive aid, intended for short-term relief of constipation. Senna contains glycoside compounds called sennosides, which are irritant laxatives, and well characterized. It is expected for a bowel movement to occur 6-12 hours after use.
Senna is among the most commonly prescribed medications in the US, with more than 1 million prescriptions (the 291st most common in 2020). Not only is it one of the most commonly used botanicals in the world, with global leaf extracts reaching over USD 29 Billion in 2023, but it is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 10.2% through 2032, according to an Expert Market Research (EMR) report. India is the top exporter of Senna leaves in the world, with its top markets being the US, China and Thailand. It may not be an indication that many of us want to talk about, but constipation is clearly one of the top afflictions in the world.
Senna is present in traditional medicine systems around the world for its laxative use and other indications, and both the leaf and seed use is common. Senna is also marketed for other uses as a Dietary Supplement, such as detoxification/cleansing, weight management and digestive health. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Cassiae Semen is a preparation from the seeds of C. obtusifolia or C. tora, which has long been used as a laxative, for supporting blood sugar balance, and eye and liver health.
In Ayurveda, Senna is referred to as Svarnapatri, and mainly used for blood purification and for supporting skin health. It is considered hot, dry in nature and pungent, balancing to excess Pita. For constipation the leaf is used in the dried form with hot water. For supporting skin health, a paste of the leaf is applied with vinegar, and other preparations depend on the indication.
In Ayurveda, a popular preparation called Kayam Churna is used for constipation. It contains 50% senna leaves mixed with black salt, Ajwain (Carum capticum), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Svarjiksara (alkali preparation), Licorice, and Trivrit (Operculina turpethum). As Senna sometimes causes abdominal pain due to cramping, the licorice of this formula helps with its antispasmodic action.
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