Chamaecrista nomame
StarChamaecrista nomame
Synonyms: Cassia mimosoides subsp. nomame, Senna nomame, Cassia nomame, Cassia mimosoides var. nomame
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Japanese folk tradition the dried leaves, stems and pods of Chamaecrista nomame are brewed as a water infusion called hama-cha (also linked to the riverbank-tea folk teas), drunk as a healthful beverage and reputedly used to increase urine flow and as a mild tonic (Sicklepod tea references; Japanese folk-medicine sources).
Botanical Description
Chamaecrista nomame (formerly Cassia nomame), known in Japan as kawara-ketsumei or riverbank sicklepod, is a small annual herb of the legume family native to East Asia, including Japan, Korea and China. It grows as a slender, erect to spreading plant usually 30–60 cm tall, with finely pinnate leaves composed of many small, narrow, opposite leaflets that fold together when disturbed or at night. Small yellow, slightly irregular flowers are borne singly or in small clusters in the leaf axils. The fruit is a flat, narrow, somewhat curved pod containing several seeds, splitting at maturity to release them. The species favours open, sunny, often disturbed ground such as riverbanks, gravelly flats, roadsides and field margins. Its leaves, stems and pods are harvested and dried to brew the traditional Japanese herbal infusion known as hama-cha.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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