Senna (Senna alexandrina / Cassia angustifolia)

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Other names for senna

Senna Leaf
Senna Pod
Cassia Senna

Synopsis of senna

Senna is a powerful herbal laxative derived from the leaves and pods of plants in the Senna genus, most notably Senna alexandrina, Senna obtusifolia, and Senna occidentalis. Its active constituents are anthraquinone glycosides known as sennosides, which stimulate the muscles of the colon and promote bowel movements by irritating the lining of the gut and triggering peristalsis. Due to these properties, senna is widely used in both over-the-counter and traditional herbal formulations to relieve occasional constipation.

Senna is generally considered a short-term remedy and is included in pharmaceutical-grade products like Ex-Lax and Senokot. In herbal medicine, it is often used in combination with carminative herbs such as ginger, fennel, or peppermint to reduce cramping and gastrointestinal discomfort caused by its stimulating action. Beyond constipation, senna has occasionally been used to clear the bowel before medical procedures, such as colonoscopy, and has seen use in detox and weight-loss teas (though these uses are controversial due to safety concerns when overused).

While effective, long-term or excessive use of senna can lead to dependency, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and damage to the intestinal lining. It should not be used during pregnancy (except under medical supervision), in children under 12, or in individuals with gastrointestinal conditions like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Historical Use:
Senna has been used as a medicinal herb for over a thousand years, with some of the earliest recorded mentions found in the texts of Arabic, Greek, and Roman physicians. Senna alexandrina, also known as Egyptian senna or Alexandrian senna, was extensively traded through ancient trade routes between the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. The 9th-century Arab physicians of the Islamic Golden Age, such as Avicenna (Ibn Sina), praised senna in their medical treatises for its effectiveness in treating constipation, skin diseases, and even fevers, sometimes blending it with other purgatives or tonics.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, senna (known as Fan Xie Ye) was also recognized for its purgative qualities and used cautiously to drain "excess heat" from the intestines. It was often reserved for more serious cases of heat-induced constipation and combined with harmonizing herbs to moderate its potency.

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, European herbalists and physicians continued to incorporate senna into their pharmacopeias, often decocted or steeped as a tea. Apothecaries valued it for its consistency and strength as a cathartic. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it became a staple in Western herbalism and was included in official formularies and compendia like the British Pharmacopoeia.

Senna is used for these health conditions

Colon (atonic) (Scientific)
Constipation (adults) (Scientific)
Constipation (children) (Scientific)
Digestion (poor) (Scientific)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Traditional)

senna is used to support these body systems

Digestive System (Scientific)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Scientific)
Intestinal System (Scientific)
Large Intestines (Colon) (Scientific)
Rectum (Scientific)