- Origin
- North America, South America (tropical), now pantropical
- Sanskrit
- Chakramanda
- Traditions
- Ayurveda, Chinese medical traditions
Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 456
Cassia tora
Herb · Central America and the Caribbean
Sickle senna
Cassia tora
Traditionally attributed effects: mildly laxative, cleansing; intestinal complaints and fever when teething, compress for gout, sciatica and joint pain; seeds for ringworm, scabies and eczema; root for snake bites.
Safety notes
Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Not with diarrhoea or listlessness. Mildly laxative.
Preparation
Seed powder 1–3 g; leaf tea or decoction 5–15 ml (mild laxative for children); leaf compress; root paste with lime juice on ringworm.
Use in traditions
In Chinese medicine the roasted seeds are jue ming zi, 'seeds that brighten the eyes', and are drunk as tea for red eyes and constipation. In Japan and Korea roasted seed tea is a common drink. In Ayurveda (chakramanda) leaf and seeds are used for skin diseases such as ringworm. Sanskrit name: Chakramanda.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Ayurvedic materia medica
Attributed effects
Mildly laxative, cleansing; intestinal complaints and fever when teething, compress for gout, sciatica and joint pain; seeds for ringworm, scabies and eczema; root for snake bites.
Preparation and amount
Seed powder 1–3 g; leaf tea or decoction 5–15 ml (mild laxative for children); leaf compress; root paste with lime juice on ringworm.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, bitter, salty, cool
- Meridians
- liver, kidney, large intestine, gallbladder
Attributed effects
The seed (jue ming zi, from Senna obtusifolia and S. tora) calms rising liver yang in red, painful, watery and light-sensitive eyes with headache, expels wind-heat from the eyes, moistens the bowel in sluggish stools and is said to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 6–12 g a day, usually in a decoction. Roasted and ground, a well-known coffee substitute for high blood pressure.
Combinations
- With chrysanthemum and self-heal for red eyes from liver heat
Caution: Not with diarrhoea or listlessness. Mildly laxative.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)DecoctionCompress, poultice and pastePowder and kitchen