CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIA: PROPERTIES, PREPARATION, CONTRAINDICATIONS - ECONOMÍA - 2025

Cassia angustifolia, also known as seine, is a species of Arabian herb, famous for its natural laxative and diuretic properties. Also known as senna, it is sometimes indicated to help with atonic and spastic constipation of the large intestine, as well as in some cases of constipation and other health conditions.

It contains a range of chemical compounds such as anthraquinones, resins, tannins, flavonoids, mucins, malic acid, mucilage (galactose, arabinose, rhamnose and galacturonic acid) and tartaric acid, which are biologically very active and increase the medicinal value of Cassia angustifolia.

This plant possesses purifying, laxative, antipyretic, cathartic, laxative, vermifuge, diuretic, detoxifying, detoxifying properties, which are useful in the treatment of several common diseases.

Belonging to the Caesalpinaceae family, Cassia angustifolia or senna, flourishes in a tropical climate and is predominantly found in India and the subcontinents of India itself. It is also very common in Egypt, Nubia, and Sudan.

Its shrub is approximately 60 to 120 centimeters high, and has compound leaves of 4 to 7 pairs of opposite leaflets and oval pods. The medicinal properties are given by the leaves and fruits that are classified as irritant or contact laxatives.

Medicinal properties and uses

Cassia angustifolia, since ancient times, has been traditionally used to treat various ailments. Some of its medicinal uses are:

• It is effective in treating constipation.
• It is used to treat diseases such as: anemia, bronchitis, dysentery, fevers and hemorrhoids.
• It is also useful in cases of jaundice, dermatitis, and skin wounds.
• It is used as a laxative and as a blood purifier.
• Along with vinegar, it is effective for treating skin disorders such as acne, eczema, and pimples.
• Due to its diuretic properties it also helps to lose weight.

When is it taken?

Although the leaves or pods can be infused, the most common way is to take a preparation that is sold commercially.

It is a plant with a very bitter taste and when taken alone it generally causes abdominal cramps or discomfort, which is why it often becomes part of preparations together with other herbs, such as spearmint leaves, fennel, ginger, pieces of peel. orange, coriander and other natural products. This provides a better taste and relaxes the intestines, thus reducing the likelihood of adverse effects.

The most common is to take the preparation before going to sleep, according to the instructions on the package insert, in order to obtain the results the next morning.

However, the effect of this plant depends on each person, so it can appear between 4 and 12 hours after ingestion.

Anthraquinones are excreted in the urine, so it may have a yellow or reddish-brown tint.

Preparation

The recommended dose of cassia (which is usually taken at bedtime) ranges from 0.6-2.0 grams per day. Tablets, syrups, oral solutions, and other medications that list their presence as an ingredient usually contain standardized amounts of this herb and its active agents.

People who choose to make it using raw leaves or pods may have a difficult time determining exact dosages. No matter which form or preparation is chosen, the lowest effective dose should be used to help avoid side effects.

Consumers wishing to brew a raw medicinal tea should use 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried herb leaves for every cup of boiling water and steep for about 10 minutes.

You can add sugar, honey, anise, ginger, chamomile, coriander, fennel, mint, since in addition to improving its flavor, they reduce gas and colic. Even a cup of tea a day is recommended to relieve constipation.

Contraindications

Cassia angustifolia treatments may present some contraindications, toxicity and side effects, so its use is recommended under medical supervision.

Short term

When taken short-term, Cassia angustifolia is generally safe for most adults and children over the age of two. However, it can cause some side effects including upset stomach, cramps, and diarrhea.

Long term

On the other hand, when taken long-term and / or in high doses, it can be harmful to health, so Cassia angustifolia should not be used for more than two weeks. Its prolonged use can cause the intestines to stop working normally and cause dependence on laxatives.

Long-term use of Cassia angustifolia can also change the amount or balance of some chemicals in the blood (electrolytes), which can cause heart function disorders, muscle weakness, liver damage, and other harmful effects.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Possibly safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding when taken orally and in the short term. Long-term frequent use or the use of high doses has been linked to serious side effects.

Although small amounts of Cassia angustifolia cross into breast milk, they do not appear to cause changes in the frequency or consistency of babies' stools, if it is a small dose that has been recommended by the doctor.

Overuse can worsen conditions like electrolyte disturbances (which could make heart disease worse) or potassium deficiency. It can also cause dehydration and / or diarrhea.

To avoid

It should not be used by people with abdominal pain (diagnosed or undiagnosed), intestinal blockage, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, appendicitis, stomach inflammation, anal prolapse, or hemorrhoids.

In principle, all stimulant laxatives should only be taken when no other remedy has proven to be effective.

Constipation problems

Regular use of Cassia angustifolia can cause a 'lazy colon', which works only when this type of medicine is given. People who have developed this type of dependence on this laxative, subsequently have many problems with constipation on a regular basis, which forces them to continue taking it.

To avoid this problem, it is advisable to accustom the body to a type of diet and living conditions that prevent the appearance of constipation. A diet rich in vegetables that contain fiber, increasing your water intake and getting regular exercise, can prevent constipation in most cases.

When this type of diet is not enough, you can use mild laxatives such as psyllium seeds (plantago psyllium).

Normally, Cassia angustifolia is used in special circumstances, such as in patients with hemorrhoids who face serious problems such as rectal interventions.

Anyway, it is recommended to use this plant in a treatment for no more than a week or ten days, being advisable to consult a doctor before using it.

Interactions with other medications

Because stimulant laxatives can lower potassium levels in the body, they can increase the risk of side effects from digoxin (Lanoxin).

In some people it can cause diarrhea, which can increase the effects of Warfarin and increase the risk of bleeding. If you take Warfarin, do not take excessive amounts of cassia.

The "water pills" can also lower the potassium level in the body. Taking cassia together with "water pills" could decrease potassium too much and cause serious damage to the body. These pills are chlorthalidone (talitone), furosemide (Lasix), chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, Microzide), among others.

Some scientific studies

• A study in the medical journal Diseases of the Colon and Rectum showed that it was able to prevent or treat postoperative constipation after proctological surgery.
• The South African Medical Journal shows that the treatment was successful in 93% -96% of women suffering from postpartum constipation.
• It is considered as one of the most effective agents for relieving constipation caused by narcotic pain relievers such as morphine. In a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, researchers recommended its use in terminal cancer patients with opioid-induced constipation, citing the herb's efficacy and relatively low cost.
• A study published in the medical journal Pharmacology suggests that a combination of cassia and bulk laxatives can alleviate chronic constipation in geriatric patients.

Facts and curiosities

• It is also known by the name of the Egyptian seine.
• It is a member of the Leguminaceae family.
• It has been used for centuries as a purgative.
• Its purgative property was first described in the 9th century BC by Arab physicians in the service of the Caliph of Baghdad.
• It is also considered an important herb in traditional Chinese, Indian, and Unani medicine.
• Its efficacy as a purgative has been supported by centuries of anecdotal reports, as well as modern human and animal studies.
• It is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for short-term use in occasional constipation.

References

1. Iner Staff (2015). Properties of Cassia senna angustifolia. Iner. Recovered from: iner-en.curing.in.ua.
2. Rohini (2015). Medicinal value of Cassia angustifolia. Mahaaushadhi. Recovered from: mahaaushadhi.com
3. Pere Barnola (1999-2017). Properties of Cassia angustifolia. Botanical-Online SL. Recovered from: botanical-online.com
4. Greg Annussek (2016). Senna. Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Recovered from: encyclopedia.com