Sennai is medicinal herb native to Sudan and Arabia. In India, it is cultivated mainly in Southern India, especially in districts of Madurai, Tiruchirapally, and Tinnevelly. Senna is also known as Tinnevelly senna. Senna leaves are collected by hands. Then these fresh bluish leaves are shade dries, till leaves change to yellowish-green color which is than graded and stored.
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Senna is strong purgative that is useful in treating occasional constipation. It works by acting on motility of the colon by inhibiting stationary and stimulating propulsive contractions.
| Marathi: Sonamukhi
Botanical name: Cassia angustifolia Vahl, Synonym: Cassia senna Linn. var. senna Cassia acutifolia and Cassia obovata is also used as Senna/Sanaai. Family: Caesalpiniaceae Vernacular names Sanskrit: Markandika, Swarnapattri, Markandikaa, Markandi Hindi: sana, Sanaya, Hindi sana, sanai English: Indian senna, Tinnevelly senna Bengali: Sonamukhi Gujrati: Mindhiaval, Sonamukhi Nepalese: Sanai Sinhalese: Senehakola Unani: Sannaa, Sanaa-makki, Senaai, Sonaamukhi, Sanaa-Hindi Oriya: Sunamukhi |
Punjab: Sannamakhi, Sanapati, Sarnapatta
Tamil: Nilapponnai, Avarai Telugu: Sunamukhi Urd : Sena, Barg-e-Sana Arabic: Senna Parts used: Leaves and pods Properties and action of Senna leaves, as per Ayurveda: Rasa: Katu, Guna: Laghu, Ruksha, Ushna Virya: Ushna Vipaka: Katu Karma: Rechan Tamil: Nilavarai Kannada: Nelavarika, Sonamukhi, Nelaavare, Nelavarike, Nela Aanriake Malayalam: Sunnamukhi, Nilavaka, Chinnukki, Adapatiyan |
Senna Uses in Ayurvedic Medicines
Senna leaves are used in Ayurveda for preparing medicine. Senna is useful in the treatment of deranged vata and kapha dosha. It is sure and safe purgative that is useful in abdominal diseases and occasional constipation. It is useful for treating splenic enlargements, jaundice, amoebic dysentery, biliousness, distention of stomach, vomiting, hiccups gout, and rheumatism. The important formulation are Panchasakara churna and Sarivadysava.
Sanai or senna leaves can be taken in dosage of 0.5 to 2 grams in powder form. Senna pods have also purgative properties but they are milder and slower in action than the leaves. Senna should not be used in inflammatory colon diseases.
Learn how to use senna to treat Constipation
Senna flowers are used to treat diabetes in the Siddha system of medicine . Can you please throw lighting the diabetic properties of this flower !