Fan Xie Ye
StarSenna alexandrina Mill. (syn. Cassia angustifolia Vahl; Cassia acutifolia Delile)
☯ TCM Properties
Purges Heat and Unblocks the Bowels; Moves Qi and Resolves Stagnation; Promotes Urination and Reduces Edema; Promotes Digestion and Resolves Food Stagnation
Traditional Chinese Uses
Fan Xie Ye (senna leaf) is a cold, bitter herb used as a gentle but effective laxative in Chinese medicine. It promotes bowel movements by accumulating fluid and secretions in the intestines, making it useful for acute constipation from heat and dryness. In small doses it is a mild digestive stimulant; in larger doses it is a significant cathartic. Its cold nature specifically targets heat-type constipation, and it is contraindicated in pregnancy and in those with cold-type digestive weakness.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Senna alexandrina Mill. (syn. Cassia senna; Fabaceae) is a small, erect, much-branched shrub 0.5-2 m tall with pale-green, finely pubescent young stems. The alternate, paripinnate leaves bear four to seven pairs of opposite, lanceolate, mucronate leaflets 2-5 cm long with entire margins. Axillary racemes of bright-yellow, slightly zygomorphic, five-petaled flowers produce flat, oblong, papery pods 4-7 cm long containing six to ten obovate seeds. Native to the arid lands of the Nile Valley and the Arabian Peninsula and cultivated in India (Tinnevelly senna), the dried leaflets (Fan Xie Ye) are rich in dianthrone glycosides (sennosides). The leaf is used in TCM, Ayurveda, and Western herbalism principally as a powerful stimulant cathartic for short-term constipation.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Fan Xie Ye.
No notes yet.