Senna Benefits and Side
Effects
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Senna [Cassia senna, cassia acutifolia, cassia marilandica, cassia
augustifolia]

Senna, the sennas, is a genus of about 250 species of flowering plants in
the family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Senna species are pretty
and they have been used for landscape gardening. Cassia gum, a
thickening agent commonly used in suspensions, lotions, is actually from
Chinese Senna (S. obtusifolia) seeds. In Thai cuisine, the leaves and
flowers of Siamese Senna are used in cooking. [Wikipedia]

The leaves and pods of the senna plant contain compounds called
hydroxyanthracene glycosides or Senna Sennoside, which are bioactive.
These glycosides stimulate the peristalsis of the colon and alter colonic
absorption and secretion resulting in fluid accumulation and expulsion.
Thus, senna is used as laxative for constipation. Cassia angustifolia is
known to cause liver intoxication as a side effect. There is a report of a 52
year old woman who drank senna tea daily for over three years. She, then,
developed acute liver failure and kidney impairment. [2]

Soyuncu S, Cete Y and Nokay AE from Akdeniz University, Turkey, further
reported that a 42-year-old woman was admitted to their emergency room
with a five-day history of epigastric pain, anorexia, episodic vomiting and
intermittent fever. Later, they found that she drank a "soup of dried senna
leaves". She was diagnosed with portal vein thrombosis. [1] Other side
effects are not pleasant. Chronic use of anthraquinone laxatives has been
blamed for the induction of habituation and the development of colonic
cancer. [3] Large doses of senna extracts may also cause diarrhea and
vomiting.

Now, do you like to have a cup of senna tea? I won't overdose myself and
I won't drink it daily. Good Luck.

Reference:

[1] Soyuncu S, Cete Y, Nokay AE., Portal vein thrombosis related to Cassia
angustifolia. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2008 Mar 27:1-4. [2] Vanderperren B,
Rizzo M, Angenot L, Haufroid V, Jadoul M, Hantson P. Acute liver failure with
renal impairment related to the abuse of senna anthraquinone glycosides.
Ann Pharmacother. 2005 Jul-Aug;39(7-8):1353-7. [3] Borrelli F, Capasso R,
Aviello G, Di Carlo G, Izzo AA, Mascolo N, Capasso F. Senna and the
formation of aberrant crypt foci and tumors in rats treated with
azoxymethane. 1: Phytomedicine. 2005 Jun;12(6-7):501-5; discussion 505.