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PHYTOMANIA : MEDICINAL HERBS

CASSIA ALATA

medicinal herbs and plants : cassia alata, ringworm senna
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Common name: ringworm senna, ringworm bush

Description: coarse woody herb reaching 1,5 meters from tropical america but found now everywhere in the tropical regions. Decorative bush with striking yellow flowers

Parts used: leaves, seeds, bark

Constituents: chrysophanol(chrysophanic acid), kaempferol, sennosides (anthracenosides)

Actions: antifungal, antibacterial, antihelminthic, laxative, purgative : anthrones( are produced in the colon, they increase the volume of feces and above all the colon motility and peristalsis)

Main indications: external use: dermatophytes : mainly pityriasis versicolor and "ringworm", internal use : constipation

Contra indications: No adverse action in external use.
Internal uses : anthraquinones are potentially toxic (severe gastrointestinal disorder and long term ingestion of sennosides can lead to potassium deficiency with cardiac arythmia). laxative drugs containing sennosides should not be taken for more than 8 to 10 consecutive days.
Chrysophanic acid is poisonous for cattle


Drug: leave decoction(internal and external use), leave paste (external use, often mixed with lime before being applied on the infected area), extracts

 

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CASSIA FISTULA

phytotherapy, medicinal herbs and plants : cassia fistula, golden shower
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Common name: golden shower, golden shower tree, indian Laburnum

Description: tropical tree from India with beautiful cluster of yellow flowers hanging down.
Large brownish or black pods more or less cylindrical (diameter 2 to 5 cm, lenght 50 up to 100 cm) containing a yellow-brown pulp with flattened seeds

Parts used: pods (pulp, seeds)

Constituents: pod's pulp : mucilage, pectin, 0,2 to 3% of anthracenosides (similar to sennosides)

Actions: mild laxative

Main indications: constipation

Contra indications: long term use of laxative is not recommended. Anthracenosides, present in Cassia fistula can lead to potassium deficiency with cardiac arythmia. laxative drugs containing anthracenosides should not be taken for more than 8 to 10 consecutive days

Drug: pulp in infusion, jam, pulp extract.
 
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CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIA
CASSIA SENNA

plants ans medecine : cassia angustifolia, cassia senna
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Common name: senna

Description: tropical and subtropical bush from arid african and indian regions, yellow flowers

Parts used: leaves, pods

Constituents: sennosides (anthracenosides)

Actions: laxative, purgative : anthrones are produced in the colon, they increase the volume of feces and above all the colon motility and peristalsis

Main indications: constipation

Contra indications: anthraquinones are potentially toxic (severe gastrointestinal disorder and long term ingestion of senna or sennosides can lead to potassium deficiency with cardiac arythmia). laxative drugs containing senna or senna extract should not be taken for more than 8 to 10 consecutive days

Drug: senna, senna extract, sennosides
 

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Medicinal herbs
Copyright 2005 Jean-Michel Hurtel
Copyright photos : imagesud.com
Toute reproduction interdite. All rights reserved

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