Offensive Purgatives
Fan Xie Ye (Senna Leaf)
Naming
Fan Xie Ye (Folium Sennae)——Yin Pian Xin Can (New Reference of Cut-Crude-Herb)
The Processing of Folium Sennae
Origin
The leaf of C. angustifolia Vahl or C. acutifolia Delile of family Pulse.
Location
The former mainly grows in Indian, while the latter is produced in Egypt. It is also planted and cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan provinces of China.
Harvest
Collected in September.
The actual smell and taste
Light and special fragracy, slight bitter taste.
Best quality
Big and complete leaves, green, few stalk.
Processing
Dried and unprocessed.
The Effect of Folium Sennae
Property
Bitter, cold, large intestine meridian entered.
Actions
Relax bowels with purgative.
Indications
Constipation due to heat accumulation
Its nature of bitter-cold with action of purgation is similar to that of Da Huang. Except for purgation and resolving accumulation, it can also clear excess heat and mainly indicated for heat constipation, and also for habitual constipation or senile constipation. It can be infused singly, or combined with Zhi Shi Hou Po to mutually reinforce the action of resolving accumulation with purgative.
Dosage and Administrations
Infuse l.5~3 g or decoct later 2~6 g. Take small dosage when being used at laxative, while take large dosage when being used as offensive purgative.
Cautions
It is contraindicated to women during pregnant, menstruation and lactation for the substances from purgation can be discharged when following the secretion of milk.
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
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