Uses in Ethnic Medicine:
Leaves:
Treatment of diabetes, disturbances in the association of the element Fire (Asian view of bodily functions), Bubo (lymph node swelling), urine stones, general deficiency conditions, Beri Beri (Singhalese: great weakness), classic deficiency of avitaminose by lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine) in gastrointestinal disorders - malabsorption - meals taken with polished rice etc., antihypertensive, insomnia (sleeplessness), against dysentery and disorders of the large intestine.
Traditional Thai Prescriptions:
Cassia siamea is ingested almost daily in Thailand in various meals. This nutritional habit is particular to the lowlands. In urban agglomerations where the fresh plants cannot be obtained, the dried leaves are pulverised and taken in capsules.
Ingredients (leaves)
5-acetonyl-7-hydroxy-2methyl-chromone, Alkaloids, anhydobarakol, apigenin,
apigenin-7-0-galactoside, barakol 8-10-11, cassiachromone, cassiamine,
chrysophanic acid, anthrone, dianthrone, chrysophanol, p-coumaric acid, 1,2-
dimethyl-6,8 dihydroxysoquinol-1-one, physcion, rhein, siamine, ß-sitosterol,
thalictin.
Pharmacognistic action and clinical tests:
Antibacterial effect against proteus vulgaris, anti malarial properties have been confirmed, the most important however is the depression of the CNS (central nervous system).
Soporific effect (sleep inducing) for insomnia. There are reports of muscle relaxant action similar to benzodiazepam. Muscular convulsions are calmed, as the effect allows the smooth muscle fibre to close. Cassia siamea functions as an excellent tranquilliser and has also been described as an anxiolytic (anti anxiety agent). Furthermore, it has some analgesic (pain killing) and diuretic (promoting the removal of excess fluid) properties.
In contrast to its pharmaceutic counterparts, cassia siamea does not produce side effects or toxicity, has no lethal dose, and above all does not lead to dependency (addiction). Cassia siamea is also a first class psycho pharmaceutical.
Cassia siamea is not a hypnotic (sleep causing, as opposed to sleep inducing) product. In normal use it is an optimal alternative to phychopharmaceutics as it does not lead to physical dependency.
At the last world congress on medicinal herbal cures a case was reported that the ingestion of an extract of cassia siamea has led to a reversible hepatitis. This condition does not however count as having been validated. Its constant use can nevertheless be recommend over a twelve month period in cases of acute liver disorder, together with examinations of the liver.
In this indication, cassia siamea is a safe product, particularly when it is used in its natural form (not denaturalised) and is taken in an alcohol dilution. From my point of view as a doctor and pharmacognocist I feel it is essential for the reader to know that I would initially administer cassia siamea in powder form to my own children in cases of hyperactivity - for which there are doubtless other psychological therapies - without any quandary.
Cassia siamea has affirmed itself for thousands of years as a safe nutrient, and also in medicine so far as it has not been denaturalised and put on the marked by the pharmaceutic industry as an ’apparently’ active extract. Cassia siamea is a gift of nature from the tropics that in terms of safety and side effects certainly cannot be substituted by any synthetic psycho pharmaceutic products. |
