The efficacy and effects of senna leaves

Senna leaf is the dried leaflet of the leguminous plant narrow-leaved senna leaf or pointed-leaved senna leaf, mainly produced in India, China Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places also have cultivated. Senna leaf is cold, sweet, bitter, and belongs to the large intestine meridian, with the effect of draining heat and moving stagnation, laxative and water.

Relieving heat and stagnation

Senna leaves are bitter and cold, which can not only relieve heat and stagnation, but also clear actual heat, and are suitable for heat constipation, and can also be used to treat habitual constipation and constipation in the elderly. It is usually used alone, and a small dose can have a slow diarrheal effect. If the constipation is hot, it can be used together with Citrus aurantium and Hou Pu to enhance the laxative effect.

Relieves water retention and swelling

Senna leaf can diarrhea and remove water to eliminate swelling, and is used for edema and fullness. It can be used as a single infusion or with Radix et Rhizoma Polygoni.

Laxative

Senna leaf contains anthraquinone derivatives, which have stronger laxative and stimulant effects than other laxatives containing anthraquinones, and thus may be accompanied by abdominal pain. The active ingredients are mainly sennosides A and B. After absorption in the stomach and small intestine, they are decomposed in the liver, and the decomposition products are excited by the bone marrow disk ganglion through the bloodstream to contract the large intestine, causing diarrhea.

Antibacterial

Senna also has antibacterial, antibiotic and detoxification-like effects. The aqueous infusion of Senna has inhibitory effects on skin fungi such as S. cerevisiae and S. asteroides in test tubes. The alcoholic extract of Senna obliquus had an inhibitory effect on a variety of bacteria (Staphylococcus and Diphtheria, S. typhi, S. paratyphi, E. coli, and skin fungi). The aqueous extract is only effective against S. typhi.

Hemostatic

Effective against stomach and duodenal bleeding. The aqueous extract of this product was sprayed on the bleeding stomach under gastroscope, and the immediate hemostatic effect was seen under direct vision.

Other effects

In rats with experimental intestinal obstruction, intraperitoneal injection of sennosides 50 mg/kg restored the reduced intestinal mucosal histamine content to normal levels. In addition, sennosides have arrow-like effects, blocking the transmission of nerve-muscle junction impulses and preventing the binding of acetylcholine to receptors and muscle relaxation.

Senna contraindications to the use of senna

1, senna leaf is cold, bitter and its laxative effect is strong, diarrhea at the same time can hurt the vital energy, so the body deficiency and long-term constipation should not be used by this steep down. 2, pregnant women and lactating, menstruating people should take it with caution. The new "Drinking Pieces": "Cold diarrhea is contraindicated."

How to eat senna leaves

Senna Leaf Tea

Ingredients: 3-10 grams of dried senna leaves. Directions: Steep in 200 ml of boiling water at about 80 degrees for 5-10 minutes and take 1 warm dose. Efficacy: It can be used to treat and relieve various symptoms of constipation.

Senna leaf and spinach egg soup

Ingredients: 5-10 grams of senna leaves, one egg, a little spinach. Directions: Beat the egg in a bowl, stir it up and set aside. Decoct the senna leaves in water, remove the dregs and extract the juice, pour in the egg, add spinach, salt and monosodium glutamate to taste, and bring to a boil. Drink the soup and eat the eggs once a day. Efficacy: can drain heat and laxative, suitable for people with heat and constipation, irritable heat and bad breath, yellow and red urine to take.