Senna Alata | Cassia Alata is a very important medicinal plant with amazing medicinal uses and health benefits. It is native to Mexico and but now can be found in many parts of the world. In India, it is found commonly and can be easily found along road sides and wastelands.
Cassia Alata Plant Description & Botanical Name:
The seed, leaves and flowers are used for medicinal purposes. Cassia Alata belongs to the family Fabaceae and genus Senna. Cassia Alata| Senna Alata is the botanical name.
Alata plant is a large shrub that grows up to 3 to 4 meters tall. The large and broad bilateral leaves close at night.
The inflorescence are candle shaped, yellow in color and looks strikingly beautiful. The fruit is a straight pod with small square seeds.
Cassia Alata Common Names:
It is commonly called Candlestick Plant | Candle Bush | Candlestick Cassia | Candle Tree Plant | Candle Bush Plant | Yellow Candlestick Plant as the inflorescence of the plant looks like a candle.
It is also commonly called as Ring Worm Bush plant as it is very famous for treating ringworm. It is called Seemai Agathi in Tamil, Dadmurdan In Hindi, Shima Agati in Malayalam and Shima Avasi in Telugu,
Cassia Alata is popularly called Akapulko in Philippines, Eth Thora in Sinhalese, Chumhet Thet in Thai, Bois Dartre in French, Kerzenstrauch in German, Kasshia Arata in Japanese and Dadrughna in Sanskrit.
Chemical Constituents:
Anthraquinones, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, lectin, rhein and tannins. Some of the compunds isolated from the leaves are chrysoeriol, kaempferol, quercetin, 5,7,4 trihydroflavanone, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1>–6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, stearic acid, palmitic Acid, palmitic Acid Ceryl Ester, n-triacontanol, n-dotriacontanol and 17-hydrotetratriacontane.
Cassia Alata Traditional Uses:
Traditionally it has been used for treating insect bites, ring worm, wounds, as a laxative, hyper tension, skin diseases, decoction of the leaves are used for cough and to get rid of intestinal worms.
8 Top Cassia Alata Medicinal Uses:
1. Anti Fungal Properties & Anti Microbial:
Both ethanol extract and water extract got by boiling the cassia alata leaves in water has amazing anti fungal properties and anti microbial properties making it very effective for treating skin diseases. It is very effective against ringworm as it has anti dermatophyte properties which are the main causes of ringworm. It is also particularly effective against Cadidia Albicans, Microsporum Canis and Trichyophyton Mentagraphytes. You can read the study that proves it
here.2. Anti Inflammatory & Antioxidant Properties:
Cassia alata has wonderful anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Applying a poultice of the leaves on the effected area helps bring down the inflammation effectively. In fact, cassia alata showed the most anti inflammatory properties against four other herb extracts it was tested along with, you can read the study
here.3. Anti Pyretic Properties:
Cassia Alata has wonderful fever reducing properties and the water extract can be used for reducing high body temperature. The water extract can also be used for treating malaria fever as it has anti malarial properties too.
4. Anthelmintic Properties:
Generally all cassia plants have the ability to expel worms and especially cassia alata is very powerful. The water extract of cassia alata leaf can be taken for expelling worms and has been traditionally used for it for many years.
5. Anti Diabetic Properties:
Cassia alata has blood sugar lowering properties and this action is believed to be because it inhibits carbohydrate digestion. Slowing carbohydrate digestion leads to slow release of sugar thus it greatly helps diabetic patients.
6. Anti Tumor properties:
An isolate extracted from cassia alata has wonderful anti tumor properties and has been proven to be very effective against colon canceroma, bladder carcinoma and colo rectal carcinoma. The extract isolated from cassia alata is named f61 and amazingly it does not cause any harm to non cancerous cells. You can read about it
here.7. Ovicidal & Larvicidal Properties:
Cassia alata has both ovicidal and larvidal properties and is used for getting rid of nematodes of sheep and goats. The water extract can be used safely for getting rid of parasites.
8. Cassia Alata As a Laxative:
Cassia leaf extract got by boiling the leaves in water has been traditionally used for treating constipation. This traditional use has been backed by research and you can read the study
here.
Cassia Alata Side Effects:
Cassia alata has low toxicity when consumed internally as a medicine but pregnant women should not consume cassia alata as it can lead to abortion. Traditionally cassia alata extract has been used for inducing abortion in pregnant women and this practice is indeed proven to be true.
Cassia Alata Dosage:
Usually the recommended dosage for cassia tea is 1/2 to 1 tsp of the dried leaves and 1 to 2 small fresh leaves….
4 Top Ways To Use Cassia Alata For Health & Skin Care:
1. Cassia Alata Tea For Constipation:
For treating constipation take the water decoction by infusing 1/2 to 1 tsp of the dried leaf or 1 fresh leaf in boiling hot water. This tea is good for diabetic patients and reduces fever too.
2. Cassia Alta For Ring Worm:
Take the fresh leaves and pound in mortar and pestle along with little water to get a thick paste and apply as a poultice.
3. Cassia Alata For Skin Diseases:
For treating skin diseases, heat one cassia leaf in 2 tbsp of coconut oil till the leaf turns crisp. Let it cool, strain and use it for external application. This oil can be used for treating all kind of skin diseases.
4. Cassia Alata For Wound Healing:
Fresh cassia juice got by grinding cassia leaf with little water can be applied with a small piece of cotton on skin infections. Try to use fresh leaf for making the juice for best results…
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8 Top Cassia Alata Medicinal Uses:
