Pharmaceutical Name:

Semen sennae

Botanical Name:

Cassia angustifolia Vahl
Cassia acutifolia Delile

Common Name:

Foetid Cassia seed

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The seeds are gathered in autumn and dried in the sun.

Properties and Taste:

Sweet, bitter and slightly cold

Meridians:

Liver and large intestine

Functions:

To clear heat in the liver and brighten the eyes
To dispel wind and clear heat
To moisten the intestines and move feces

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Upward disturbance of liver fire or invasion of exogenous wind and heat manifested as red, swollen and painful eyes and photophobia.
*Use with Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua). Mulberry leaf (Sangye), Capejasmine (Zhizi) and Prunella spike (Xiakucao).

2.      Constipation due to dryness in the intestines.
*Use alone. 

3.     Hyperactivity of liver yang manifested as dizziness, vertigo and blurred vision.
*Use with Uncaria stem (Gouteng) and raw Oyster shell (Muli).

4.      Deficient yin of the liver and kidneys manifested as blurred vision and cataracts.
*Use with Flattened milkvetch seed (Shayuanzi), Tribulus fruit (Baijili), Grossy privet fruit (Nuzhenzi) and Wolfberry fruit (Gouqizi).

Dosage:

10-15 g