Sennae folium

Dried leaves of Senna, Sennae folium, is the official preparation of Cassia angustifoliae the dried leaves of Tinnevelly Senna (Tinnevelly is a South Indian district).

HMPC monograph: Well-established use: short-term treatment of occasional constipation. Use: no longer than 1 week
ESCOP monograph: short-term treatment for occasional constipation.
Commission E-Commission: for constipation.

Empirical medicine: conditions in which soft stools are desired: e.g. anal fissures, hemorrhoids; rectal surgery, bowel cleansing before diagnostic procedures

Efficacy-determining ingredients are anthranoids (hydroxyanthracene derivatives) calculated as sennoside B. The active ingredients are derived from aloe emodin and Rhine.

Senna glycosides are transformed in the derm to anthrones, which have a powerful laxative effect. Senna leaves have peristaltic stimulating, hydragogic, secretagogic, antiresorptive effect: increase of chloride secretion, influx of electrolytes and water into the intestinal lumen with increase of volume and filling pressure.

Sennae folium have a reliable effect against constipation and are used to treat hemorrhoids, constipation, before surgical procedures and bowel examinations, among other things.

Contraindicated

Children under 12 years, allergy to any of the ingredients, pregnancy and lactation.

Intestinal obstruction and stenosis, atony, appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease (eg, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), abdominal pain of unknown cause, ileus, severe dehydration condition with water and electrolytes, exhaustion.

Caution with drugs that indicate QT prolongation, diuretics, adrenocorticosteroids or licorice root - consult doctor first. Caution: Hypokalemia!

The fixed combination senna leaves + Indian flea seeds consists of:

• Sennae folium (senna leaves)
• Plantaginis ovata semen (Indian flea seed)

has a laxative effect and is used for constipation.

The combination senna leaves+peppermint oil+caraway oil consists of:

• Sennae folium (senna leaves)
• Menthae piperitae oleum (peppermint oil)
• Carvi fructus (see caraway oil below)

has a lanxiering and antispasmodic effect and is used for constipation.

Laxative Stada® N, Antiviscosin® Tea N, Bekunis Herbal Tea, Dr. Klinger's Digestive Tea, Stada® Gall Liver Tea, Presselin®, Ramend® Laxative Tea, Superlaxol® Tea, Warondo® Laxative Tea

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/senna---senna.php
2. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-senna-alexandrina-mill-cassia-senna-l-cassia-angustifolia-vahl_en-0.pdf
3. Wenigmann M.(2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs phytopharmaceuticals application. Urban & Fischer: 5.105 Senna leaves, Alexandrine and Tinnevelly senna fruits (Sennae folium/fructus acutifoliae/fructus angustifoliaeI p 193-194.