Senna Purchase & Information
Alternative Names
Alexandrian Senna, Alexandrinische Senna, Casse, Fan Xie Ye, Indian Senna, Khartoum Senna, Sen, Sena Alejandrina, Séné, Séné d'Alexandrie, Séné d'Egypte, Séne d'Inde, Séné de Tinnevelly, Sennae Folium, Sennae Fructus, Sennosides, Tinnevelly Senna, True Senna
Scientific Name
Cassia senna alexandrina
Why Do People Use Senna?
Oral preparations of Senna alexandrina (Senna), like senna powder, are used as a laxative for constipation, anorectal surgery, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), evacuating the GI tract to improve diagnostic tests, anal fissures, hemorrhoids, in "cleansing" teas and for weight loss.
Is It Safe To Use?
Likely Safe - Oral, appropriate and short-term consumption of senna is considered safe. It is approved by the FDA as a nonprescription drug.
Possibly Unsafe - Oral and long-term use of senna in high doses is reported to have severe side effects, such as liver toxicity and laxative dependence.
Likely Safe in Pregnancy - Oral and appropriate (for short-term) consumption of senna is considered safe for pregnant women.
Likely Safe for Breast Feeding Females - Oral and appropriate (for short term period) consumption by breastfeeding consumption is likely safe.
How Effective Is Senna?
Senna powder is considered effective for following conditions:
• Constipation
• Bowel preparation
To rate the effectiveness of senna for other diseases, there is scarce and unreliable information available.
How Senna Works?
The most effective parts of Senna alexandrina are the fruits and leaves. Senna fruits and leaf are stimulant laxatives. The cathartic properties of the leaves are more prominent than the fruit parts. Senna is an anthranoid (anthraquinone) laxative which consists of mostly sennosides. Sennosides are high molecular weight dianthrone glycosides. Sennosides are pro-drugs which are not absorbed in the upper GI, rather they are actuated by bacterial chemicals in the colon. There is very small systemic assimilation of senna.
Initial confirmations also suggest that Senna powder is a stimulant that triggers the movement of water into the gut. It may also be responsible for the modulation of prostaglandins. Senna powder typically creates a diuretic impact within 8 to 10 hours after oral intake.
What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Senna?
Oral consumption of senna can lead to abdominal discomfort and pain, bloating, cramps complaints, nausea, flatulence, diarrhea and urgency. Over dosage of senna has also been related with tetanic contraction. Over dosage of senna can result in electrolyte abnormalities and potassium depletion. Other side effects by using extract quantity of senna could be cachexia, cardiovascular disorders, decreased serum globulin concentrations, osteomalacia, rhinoconjunctivitis, muscular weakness, hepatitis, arthropathy, neuropathy, coma, allergy symptoms and asthma issues. There is a case reported about hepatitis in a female who utilized balanced quantity of senna tea. That patient was a poor metabolizer of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). It was assumed that balanced doses of senna in that patient may have caused a lethal stage of hepatitis because of the patient's diminished ability to metabolize and wipe out the rhein anthrone metabolites of senna, which are thought to responsible for systemic poisonous quality.
There is also some cases reports of encephalopathy, liver failure and renal deficiency in a woman who used extra dosage of senna tea. For this situation, renal deficiency and liver failure developed after more than three years of utilizing one liter per day of senna tea made from 70 grams of dried senna fruit.
Chronic consumption can result in pseudomelanosis coli (color spots in intestinal mucosa) which is safe, generally turns around with suspension and is not related with an enhanced risk of developing carcinoma and colorectal adenoma.
Chronic consumption has also been related with radiographically diagnosed anatomical and "cathartic colon," changes to the colon, for example, colonic dilation, and loss of colonic folds. The clinical pertinence of these findings is not confirm.
Enhanced consumption of the laxative is more prone to be related with declining constipation rather than laxative dependency.
How Senna Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?
Following are some supplements & herbs which may interact with Senna alexandrina:
• Horsetail
• Licorice
• Stimulant Laxative Herbs
How Senna Interacts With Drugs?
Following are some drugs which may interact with senna powder:
• Digoxin (Lanoxin)
• Diuretic Drugs
• Warfarin (Coumadin)
How Senna Interacts With Foods?
Not known.
How Senna Interacts With Lab Tests?
There are following lab test which may interact with senna powder:
• Colorimetric Tests
• Potassium
How Senna Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?
There are following few conditions or diseases which may interact with senna:
• Potassium Deficiency, Electrolyte Disturbances
• Fluid Depletion
• Gastrointestinal (GI) Conditions
• Heart Disease
What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Senna?
ORAL Senna is officially approved by the FDA as a nonprescription drug. To relieve constipation in children age 12 or more and adults, typical dosage should be 17.2 mg per day with a maximum dosage of 34.4 mg every day.
For constipation caused after pregnancy, two equal doses of 28 mg of senna should be used daily.
In children, senna should be orally given as 8.5 mg every day.
Dose of senna powder in elderly shouldn’t be more than 17 mg.
Comments
It is proposed that senna fruit have balanced mechanism as compare to senna leaf, the American Herbal Products Association only prohibit against long-term usage for senna leaf not senna fruit.
General Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.
