The efficacy and function of Cassia tora

There are so many medicinal herbs in the world, and it is inevitable that there are some that we are not familiar with. But as long as we have the spirit of learning throughout our lives, I believe we can slowly learn more medical herbs. So do you know about the medicinal herb Cassia tora?

【English Name】root or leaf of Smooth Senna

【Other name】 Smooth Cassia

[Source] Medicinal material source: the roots and leaves of the leguminous plant Cassia tora.

[Original form] Cassia tora is an upright shrub, 1-2m tall. Leaves are alternate, even-pinnate compound leaves, about 15cm long; the rachis has glands between each pair of leaflets, the glands are round to linear; there are 4 pairs of leaflets, rarely 3 pairs, the leaf blades are ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 6-7cm long, 2.5-3.5cm wide, acuminate at the apex, narrowly cuneate or cuneate at the base, sometimes oblique, entire, green above with papillae, pink below with fine pits; lateral veins are slender. The racemes grow in the upper leaf axils or at the terminal end, and are more or less corymbose; the peduncle is 4-5cm long, with 5 sepals of unequal size; the petals are yellow, 5 pieces, 12-18mm long; there are 10 stamens, 4 of which are fertile, and the filaments are of unequal length; the style is incurved. The pods are cylindrical, 5-7cm long, with slightly leathery lobes that split into two. Many seeds. The flowering period is from May to July, and the fruiting period is from October to November.

[Habitat distribution] Distributed in Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places. Native to tropical America.

[Chemical composition] The leaves contain ombuin and ombuin-3-O-neohesperidoside.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; astringent; cool

【Entry】 Lung; Liver meridian

【Functions and indications】 Clears the liver, improves eyesight, and promotes bowel movements. It is used for colds and fevers, red eyes due to liver heat, cloudiness and blindness, and constipation.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 6-9g.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Roots and leaves: The leaves are bitter, astringent and cool in nature. It has the functions of clearing away heat, improving eyesight and promoting bowel movements. The root is used for toothache, stomachache, sore throat, and constipation. The leaves are used for colds and diarrhea. The seeds are used for purgation, corneal clouding, chronic conjunctivitis, and expelling ascaris.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the detailed introduction of Cassia tora in this article, we can learn about the related effects and eating methods of Cassia tora. The value of Cassia tora can be seen from its efficacy, which fully reflects the importance of Cassia tora.