Cassia Holly, Senna, Or Alexandria Leaf

Cassia holly, Senna, or Alexandria leaf is a shrub of the legume family, up to 1 meter high. The plant has a tap root, long and dark brown, and its stem is branched and covered with alternate pinnate leaves with awl-shaped stipules. Cassia holly blooms in June - September, with its yellow flowers collected in axillary racemes, and the fruit is a long, slightly curved, greenish-brown bean that ripens in October.

Cassia aculifolia is common in the arid regions of East Africa, but in Russia it was introduced into cultivation in southern Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This plant is used as a medicinal raw material, with the leaves and sometimes the fruit being used for medicinal purposes. The leaves are collected several times, the first time in August, when the lower basal leaves have noticeably turned yellow, and again after 1-1.5 months. After collection, the leaves are dried in the open air, spread out in a thin layer. They are stored in cardboard containers for up to 3 years.

The leaves and fruits of Cassia aculifolia contain anthraglycosides (sennydine, rhein, aloe-emodin), organic acids (salicylic, palmitic, linoleic, etc.), flavone glycosides, phytosterol, polysaccharides and a small amount of alkaloids. These substances determine the biological activity of the plant.

Preparations obtained from Cassia aculifolia have a laxative and choleretic effect. When taken systematically, the laxative effect appears on the 2-3rd day. Unlike other laxatives (magnesium sulfate, buckthorn bark), senna preparations act gently, without causing pain in the intestines and without thinning the stool. It becomes regular, formal and painless.

To prepare an infusion of Cassia holly, pour 2 tablespoons of leaves into 1 glass of hot water, boil in a closed enamel container in a water bath for 15 minutes, cool at room temperature for 45 minutes, filter through two or three layers of gauze, squeeze and bring the volume with boiled water to original. Take 1/2-1 glass in the morning and evening.

Senna leaf is also used in preparations that improve the biliary and antitoxic functions of the liver. For example, antihemorrhoidal tea consists of senna leaf, buckthorn bark, yarrow herb, coriander fruit and licorice root, taken in 20 grams of each component. Before use, pour 1 tablespoon of the collection with 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes and filter. Take 1/2-1 glass at night.

Despite many beneficial properties, senna preparations also have a number of contraindications. They are not recommended for children under 12 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, as well as for peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, intestinal obstruction, hemorrhoids, and other diseases of the digestive system. When taking senna preparations, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the body and follow the doctor’s recommendations.

Thus, Cassia aculifolia, Senna, or Alexandria leaf is a plant used medicinally for its laxative and choleretic properties. The leaves and fruits of Cassia aculifolia contain many useful substances that determine the biological activity of the plant. Senna preparations are gentle and do not cause pain in the intestines, which makes them preferable to other laxatives. However, before using senna preparations, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the body and consult a doctor.