Fan Xie Ye - 番泻叶 - Folium Sennae

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Folium Sennae
Common English:	Senna Leaf

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet Bitter	Cold (Extremely Cold) (Warm)	Large Intestine	3-10g When used alone as a tea: 1.5-3g Tincture: 10-40 drops or 0.5-2ml When decocted, add it near the end. 1.5-3g (mild laxative), 4.5-9g (strong purge) (Secondary source)

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Drains downward and guides out Stagnation	Heat in the Stomach and Intestines with constipation and abdominal fullness
Eliminates Excess Heat and drains Summerheat	Summerheat

CONTRAINDICATIONS

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Overuse of Fan Xie Ye aggravates the loss of potassium associated with the use of diuretics such as chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, furosimide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex) and torsemide (Demadex).
Excessive loss of potassium increases the toxicity of cardiac glycosides such as digoxin (Lanoxin).

Fr. Immaturus Citri Aurantii Zhi Shi Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po	Hb. Agastaches seu Pogostemonis Huo Xiang Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang	Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi
Strengthens the actions of draining downward and guiding out Stagnation	Constipation due to Heat accumulation in the Large Intestine channel	Strengthens the actions of restoring normal bowel movements and ameliorates its cold, colicky properties

In some areas of southern China, people drink it as a tea to ward off Summerheat disorders.
For constipation, it is usually taken alone as a tea.
Its sticky, slippery nature lets it enter the Colon and clear deeply congested Heat and constipation.
Habitual constipation is a particular indication.
Ideally, steep 3g in boiling water and drink it, which gives a mild purgative effect. Larger amounts can lead to pain and rumbling with watery diarrhea.
Its action resembles that of Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang, and it is effective for edema.