The Description

Senna bringeth forth stalks a cubit high, set with divers branches: the leaves are long, winged, consisting of many small leaves like those of Liquorice, or of bastard Senna: the flowers come forth of the bottom of the wings, of colour yellow, standing upon slender footstalks; from which after the flowers be gone hang forked cods, the same bowing inward like a half-moon, plain and flat, in which are contained seeds like to the seeds or kernels of grapes, of a blackish colour. The root is slender, long, and unprofitable, which perisheth when the leaves are gathered for medicine, and the seeds be ripe, and must be sown again the next year, even as we do corn.

There is another kind of Senna growing in Italy, like the other in each respect, saving that it is greater, and hath not that force in purging that the other hath.

The Place and time.

This is planted in Syria and Egypt, also in Italy, in Provençe in France, in Languedoc. It hardly groweth in high and low Germany, neither in England: it prospereth in hot regions, and cannot away with cold; for that cause it is in Italy sown in May, and continueth no longer than autumn: the best is brought from Alexandria and Egypt. The Arabians were the first that found it out.

The Names.

The Persians call it Abalzemer, as Mesue his copy teacheth: the apothecaries Sena, by which name it was known to Actuarius the Grecian, and to the later Latins: it is called in English, Senna.

The Temperature.

Senna is of a mean temperature, neither hot nor cold, yet inclining to heat, and dry almost in the third degree: it is of a purging faculty, and that by the stool, in such sort as it is not much troublesome to man's nature, having withal a certain binding quaity, which it leaveth after the purging.

The Virtues.

A. It voideth forth phlegmatic and choleric humours, also gross and melancholic, if it be helped with something tending to that end.

B. It is a singular purging medicine in many diseases, fit for all ages and kinds.

C. It purgeth without violence or hurt, especially if it be tempered with Anise seed or other like sweet smelling things added, or with gentle purgers or lenitive medicines. It may be given in powder, but commonly the infusion thereof is used.

D. The quantity of the powder is a dram weight, and in the infusion, four, five, or more. It may be mixed in any liquor.

E. It is in the decoction or in the infusion tempered with cold things in burning agues and other hot diseases: in cold and long infirmities it is boiled with hot opening simples and such like; or else it is steeped in wine, in which manner, as familiar to man's nature, it draweth forth gently by the stool, almost without any kind of pain, crude and raw humours.

F. Most of the Arabians commend the cods, but our physicians the leaves rather; for unless the cods be full ripe they engender wind; and cause gripings in the belly. For they are oftentimes gathered before they be ripe, and otherwise easily fall away being shaken down by the wind, by reason of their weak and slender stalks.

G. Some also think that Senna is hurtful to the stomach, and weakeneth the same, for which cause they say that Ginger or some sweet kind of spice is to be added, whereby the stomach may be strengthened. Likewise Mesue noteth that it is slow in operation, and therefore sal-gem is to be mixed with it. Moreover, Senna purgeth not so speedily as stronger medicines do.

H. Notwithstanding it may be helped not only by sal-gem, but also by other purging things mixed therewith, that is to say with simple medicines, as Rhubarb, Agaric, and others; and with compounds, as that which is called Catholicon, or the electuary Diaphanicon, or that which is made of the juice of roses, or some other, according as the condition or quality of the disease and of the sick man requireth.

I. The leaves of Senna are a familiar purger to all people, but they are windy, and do bind the body afterwards, very much disquieting the stomach with rumbling and belching: for the avoiding of which inconvenience there must be added cinnamon, ginger, aniseed, and fennel seed, raisins of the sun, and such like that do break wind, which will the better help his purging quality.

K. Senna doth better purge when it is infused or steeped, than when it is boiled: for doubtless the more it is boiled the less it purgeth, and the more windy it becometh.

L. Take Borage, Bugloss, Balm, Fumitory, of each three drams, Senna of Alexandria very well prepared and pounded, two ounces, strew the powder upon the herbs and distil them: the water that cometh thereof reserve to your use to purge those that live delicately, being minisetred in white wine, with sugar, in condited confections, and such dainty ways, wherein delicate and fine people do greatly delight: you may also (as was said before) add hereunto according to the malady, divers purgers, as Agaric, Myrobalans, &c.

M. The powder of Senna after it is well prepared two ounces, of the powder of the root of Mechoacan four drams, powder of Ginger, Anise seeds, of each a little, a spoonful of Anise seeds, but a very little Ginger, and a modicum or small quantity of sal-gem: this hath been proved a very fit and familiar medicine for all ages and sexes. The patient may take one spoonful or two thereof fasting, either in pottage, some supping in drink, or white wine. This is right profitable to draw both phlegm and melancholy from the breast and other parts.

N. The leaves of Senna and Camomile are put in baths to wash the head.

O. Senna opens the inward parts of the body which are stopped, and is profitable against all griefs of the principal members of the body.

P. Take Senna prepared according to art one ounce, ginger half a quarter of an ounce, twelve cloves, fennel seed two drams, or instead thereof cinnamon and tartar, of each half a dram, powder all these; which done, take thereof in white wine one dram before supper, which doth marvellously purge the head.

Q. Handle Senna in manner above specified, then take half an ounce thereof, which done, add thereto sixty raisins of the sun with the stones picked out, one spoonful of Anise seeds brayed, boil these in a quart of ale till one half be wasted, and while it is boiling put in your Senna: let it stand so till the morning, then strain it, and put in a little ginger: then take the one half of this potion and put thereunto two spoonfuls of syrup of roses: drink this together, I mean the one half of the medicine at one time, and if the patient canot abide the next day to receive the other half, then let it be deferred until the third day after.

R. Senna and Fumitory (as Rasis affirmeth) do purge adust humours, and are excellent good against scabs, itch, and the ill affection of the body.

S. If Senna be infused in whey, and then boiled a little, it becometh good physic against melancholy, cleanseth the brain and purgeth it, as also the heart, liver, milt, and lungs, causeth a man to look young, engendereth mirth, and taketh away sorrow: it cleareth the sight, strengtheneth hearing, and is very good against old fevers and diseases arising of melancholy.