Senna: Health Benefits

Names

1. In Hadees it is called as Sanna (Senna) (السنا ).

2. In Latin it is called as Cassia agustifolia.

3. In Hindi it is called as Sanaya, Hindi Sana.

4. In Sanskrit it is called as svarnapatri.

5. In English it is called as Senna.

Rasoolullah ﷺ's guidance about Sanna: -

Merits of Sanna: -

 

1. Hazrat Asma Bint Umaiz رضي الله عنها says that Rasoolullah ﷺ asked her: “What do you use as a laxative (تستمشي ), she replied "Shabram" (الشبرم ) (spruge). Rasoolullah ﷺ said it is hot & powerful. (حار، حار ), She said then I used Sanna (senna) (السنا ) as a laxative (تستمشي ). & she said that Rasoolullah ﷺ said "If there would be cure (شفاء ) for death (الموت ) it would be Sanna (Senna) (السنا ).

[Tirmizi: 2225; Book. 28; English vol. 4; Book. 2, Hadees. 2081]

Shabram (spruge) is explained at the end of this column. Laxatives are food products or medicines by which stools get loose & easy defecation is facilitated & prevent or treat constipation.

 

Sanna & Sanoot, cure for every diseases: -

2. Ibrahim Bin Ablah heard Abu Bin Umm Haram رضي الله عنها says that Rasoolullah ﷺ said that "For you Sanna (senna) (السنا ) & Sannoot (السنوت ) (Dill or else) is present, these have cure (شفاء ) for all diseases except Saam (السام ) (death), to this, he asked, to Rasoolullah ﷺ what is Saam (السام )? Rasoolullah ﷺ replied Maut (الموت ) (death) Amr said: “Ibn Abu Ablah said: the ‘Sannoot is dill.” Others said: “Rather, it is honey that is kept in a skin (i.e., receptacle) used for ghee.”

[Ibn Ma-jah: 3584; Book. 31; English vol. 4; Book. 31, Hadees. 3457]

3. Hazrat Abu Ayyub Ansari  ؓ says that Rasoolullah ﷺ said Sanna (senna) (السنا ) & Sannoot (السنوت ) (dill or else) are medicines (دواء ) for all diseases.

[Kanz al-Ummal: 28270 & Baihaqi: 20065]

4. Hazrat Anas Bin Malik   ؓ says that Rasoolullah ﷺ said "There is cure (شفاء ) in 3 things except Saam (السام ) (death), Sanna (Senna) (السنا ), Sannoot (السنوت ) (dill or else) the third one is not mentioned due to forgetfulness.

[Kanz al-Ummal: 28269]

 

4 (Four) best treatments: -

5. Hazrat Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما says that Rasoolullah ﷺ said: "Amongst the treatment you do, the best is to put medicine in nose (السعوط ), to put medicine in one side of mouth (اللدود ), wet cupping (الْجامة ) & Walking (laxatives) (المشى ).

[Tirmizi: 2184; Book. 28; English vol. 4; Book. 2, Hadees. 2047]

Walking here is considered as movement of intestines by Imam Qayyim u & senna increases the movement of intestines. (Movement of intestines is called as Peristalsis movement is medical terms).

 

Content of it: -

Flavenol, Anstraquinone, isohamnetin, kaempfeol, rhein, emodin, glucoside (sennoside A & B), menitol, sodium, potassium, tartarte, salisilic acid, crisophenic acid, volatile oil, resins, calcium, oxalate & flowers have ctisofenic acid.

Scientific benefits of it: -

1. It removes constipation.

2. Increases movement of intestines (peristalsis).

3. It is useful in piles due to laxative action.

4. Its paste can be applied on wounds & ulcers.

5. It also an anti helmentic (anti worms).

6. It reduces obesity.

7. It increases appetite.

8. Useful in hypertension & increased in intra cranial pressure (brain pressure).

9. Helpful in dysentery, hepatomegaly, spleenomegaly, malaria, jaundice, gouts, rheumatism, anaemia.

10. But use in mild dose.

11. Can be used in all season.

 

Contraindications: -

Do not use in pregnancy, menstrual cycle, small children, colon cancer & etc.

Shabram (spurge) is an herb, Its Latin name is Euphoria thymifolia, Its English name is Spurge. In Arabic it is called as Shabram. In Hindi it is called as Chhoti Duddhi (Because it contains milky latex in it, so used as a Laxative).

Sannoot: -

There are various opinions on what is Sannoot & there is difference in understanding. It may be anyone amongst the following or combination of any following: -

 

1. Dill (sowa).

2. Honey.

3. Ghee.

4. Dates.

5. Saunf.

6. Kirmani jeera.

7. Dates & honey both mixed in ghee.

8. Senna mixed in honey than mixed in ghee.

9. Sabt (sowa seeds).

10. Rai.

11. A black substance found on upper layer of stored ghee.

Amongst the above 11 points, Dill is believed to be Sanoot. Dill is sowa. In Hindi it called as soa or sowa or savaa & Anethum gravelens in Latin. In Marathi it is called as Shepu. In Sanskrit it is called as Shatapusha.

 

Science & Hadees regarding Sanna: -

Sana Makki (senna leaves) is a true miracle of Allah's creations & it is one of the valuable herbs of Tibb-e-Nabawi, In Hadees of Ibrahim Ibn Abi Laila  ؓ narrates that Rasoolullah ﷺ says necessarily use Sana & Sanoot; because there is a cure in both of them from every disease except the “saam” someone asked Rasoolullah ﷺ what is saam? He ﷺ Replied, Death. (Reference Ibn Ma-jah Hadees: 3457) see Hadees no. 2 above.

When you take Senna alone, it may create pain in the stomach due to contraction of stomach & intestinal contraction. Prophet ﷺ directed to take Senna with "SANOOT". About Sanoot there is several opinions (1) honey. (2) Zeera (3) sonf/badiyan. So the best is to take with honey which is mixed with butter. This results in to separation of old toxins & layers of putrefied un-digested food.

It leaves are very effective laxative & purgative & are particularly useful remedy for the occasional bout of constipation & is useful for evacuation relief in cases of fissures, hemorrhoids, after recto anal operations & in preparation of diagnostic intervention in the gastrointestinal tract. It irritates the lining of the large intestine, causing the muscles to contract strongly resulting in bowel movement in about 10 to 12 hours after ingestion & also stops fluid being absorbed from the large bowel helping to keep the stool soft. It is sure & safe even for children (over 12 years of age) & weak & elderly persons. To prevent griping pains in the intestines, it is best when combined with a smaller amount of a warming stimulant & antispasmodic such as ginger or some other suitable herb. Senna leaves are approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for short-term use in occasional constipation. Senna is also approved in the United States & in European countries as an ingredient in over-the-counter & prescription laxative preparations. The herb is approved by the German government for any condition in which alleviating constipation or softening stools is desirable.

Clinical studies suggest that Senna is effective in managing constipation associated with a number of causes including surgery, childbirth & use of narcotic pain relievers. A study in the medical journal Diseases of the Colon & Rectum showed that Senna was able to prevent or treat postoperative constipation after proctologic surgeries. The South African Medical Journal shows that treatment with senna was successful in 93%-96% of women suffering from postpartum constipation. By comparison, only 51%-59% of women in the placebo group experienced relief. It is considered to be one of the more effective agents for relieving constipation caused by such narcotic pain relievers as morphine. In another study published in the Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, researchers recommended the use of senna in terminal cancer patients with opiate-induced constipation, citing the effectiveness of the herb & it’s relatively low cost. A study published in the medical journal Pharmacology suggests that a combination of senna & bulk laxatives can alleviate chronic constipation in geriatric patients. It is also useful in intestinal worms, rheumatism, sciatica, gout, hip pain & lumbago.

 

Conclusion of Hadees: -

1. Senna is a gentle laxative; there is healing in it for all disease except death. Best if used with Sanoot.