Senna Leaves
Senna is an herb. The leaves and the fruit of the plant are used to make medicine. Senna is an FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) laxative. A prescription is not required to purchase senna. It is used to treat constipation and also to clear the bowel before diagnostic tests such as colonoscopy.
Senna is also used for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), anal or rectal surgery, tears in the lining of the anus (anal fissures), hemorrhoids, and weight loss.
Senna fruit seems to be gentler than senna leaf. This has led the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) to warn against long-term use of senna leaf, but not senna fruit. The AHPA recommends that senna leaf products be labeled, “Do not use this product if you have abdominal pain or diarrhea. Consult a healthcare provider prior to use if you are pregnant or nursing. Discontinue use in the event of diarrhea or watery stools. Do not exceed recommended dose. Not for long-term use.”
Senna leaves or pods have been used as a stimulant laxative at dosages of 0.6 to 2 g/day, with a daily dose of sennoside B from 20 to 30 mg. 3, 4 A bitter tea can be made containing senna 0.5 to 2 g (0.5 to 1 teaspoon). Senna should not be used at high doses or for extended periods of time. If you’re still considering trying senna tea, keep in mind that it typically starts working within six to 12 hours after taking it.
It is often taken prior to going to bed, creating the urge to defecate the next morning. Senna is LIKELY SAFE for most adults and children over age 2 when taken by mouth, short-term. Senna is an FDA-approved non-prescription medicine. Senna can cause some side effects including stomach discomfort, cramps, and diarrhoea if taken high dose.
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Cultivation, Collection and Preparation
Senna is an herbal medicine made from the leaves, flowers, and fruit of a large group of flowering plants in the legume family. Extracts and teas made from senna plants have long been used as Laxatives and stimulants in traditional herbal medicine.
Originally from Egypt, senna is now grown worldwide, including countries like India and Somalia. Most commercial products are derived from Cassia acutifolia or Cassia angustifolio, commonly known as Alexandrian and Indian senna, respectively.
Today, senna is most often sold as a tea or over-the-counter constipation supplement, but it’s also occasionally used in Weight Loss Pills and drinks.
SMALL HERB (Senna Leaves) ; BIG, RELIABLE IDEA
Many in India, knowingly, or as is mostly the case unknowingly, use this herb for their morning constitutional. The extracts of this herb in its various forms (tablets, powders, syrups and pastes) is a fixture in many households. The herb has also found wide acceptance in medicinal procedures overseas, and is sometimes used to clear bowel before a colonoscopy. Senna, the miracle herb, arrived in India through Egyptian and Arabian traders, as Alexandrian Senna (Alexandrinische Senna). And today, it’s a hot selling product in India and from India, with the country being its largest producer and exporter in the world. Over the years, the senna plant has also come to be considered as one of the most useful
crops in the world. Senna, an FDAapproved non-prescription drug, contains the compound glycosides, which is also known as ‘sennosides’, and it works as a laxative to ease the bowel movement. Apart from this, the plant is used to treat skin diseases, especially acne and ringworms, and promote excretion of toxins tht are thought to contribute to fatigue and general ill-health.
INDIAN HERB Senna Leaves ; Made for India
Many in India, knowingly, or as is mostly the case unknowingly, use this herb for their morning constitutional. The extracts of this herb in its various forms (tablets, powders, syrups and pastes) is a fixture in many households. The herb has also found wide acceptance in medicinal procedures overseas, and is sometimes used to clear bowel before a colonoscopy. Senna, the miracle herb, arrived in India through Egyptian and Arabian traders, as Alexandrian Senna (Alexandrinische Senna). And today, it’s a hot selling product in India and from India, with the country being its largest producer and exporter in the world. Over the years, the senna plant has also come to be considered as one of the most useful
crops in the world. Senna, an FDAapproved non-prescription drug, contains the compound glycosides, which is also known as ‘sennosides’, and it works as a laxative to ease the bowel movement. Apart from this, the plant is used to treat skin diseases, especially acne and ringworms, and promote excretion of toxins tht are thought to contribute to fatigue and general ill-health.
SENNA LEAVES : Harvesting in India
The senna plant is a small shrub belonging to the Caesalpiniaceae family (also known as the peacock flower family) and is broadly classified into two varieties – Alexandrina senna and Tinnevelly senna. The first variety of senna is found along the Nile River, in Egypt and Sudan, while the second type is widely cultivated in southern and eastern parts of India. Senna is a warmth-loving crop that requires an abundance of sunlight, and India provides an ideal climatic environment for the cultivation of this plant. In India, Senna is cultivated in Gujarat, Rajasthan (where the sandy soil increases productivity), TamilNadu.
It is grown as an early summer (February-March) or early winter (October-November) crop and under ideal conditions, 15 quintal of dry leaves and 7 quintal of pods per hectare is considered a good harvest. The shrub normally grows up to a height of three feet, has delicate leaves and bears oblong pods or fruit cases. Leaves and pods – both have medicinal values. Interestingly, the size of the leaf of a plant is the sole criteria for deciding the purpose for which they are used. Senna leaves are graded as No.1 to No.5 with No.1 being the longest in size. In India, the No.3 type is grown, sold and exported the most, and is ideal for use in the pharma industry. The No.5 type is also extracted for medicinal purpose, while the No.2 type is more used as a flavour. No.1 type is not usually cultivated in India as it is not commercially viable and requires a lot of care and attention.
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JAINIKA EXPORT IMPORT PRIVATE LIMITED is a leading manufacturer, exporter, supplier & processor of Premium quality Senna leaves (Cassia Angustifolia), Senna Pods, Senna T Cut, Senna leaves powder, Senna Pods Powder, Senna Stem and Senna Extracts ( Calcium Sennoside) from India.
