Alexandrian senna (Senna alexandrina) (f2r)

The leaves of asharja (senna) are prepared medicinally for the making of a laxative. The preparation must be carried out properly, producing a medicinal decoction in the form of a thick paste, which is subsequently pounded. The mixture is shaped into flat pieces or small pellets that are compacted and joined together. It is pounded and kneaded until a homogeneous paste is obtained, which softens and produces a beneficial effect. The remedy becomes evenly distributed and retains its properties when crushed and kneaded with the medicinal decoction without deterioration. The process of kneading and cooking is carefully regulated until it reaches maturity; afterward, when worked in the mortar, a purgative preparation is obtained. Finally, the medicine is kneaded again with the products of the decoction and left to rest in portions until its preparation is complete.
The leaves are thickened, pounded, and kneaded until a compact preparation is formed. This paste, taken as a medicine, relieves pain and constipation. When crushed and applied, the leaves produce their therapeutic effect, and their infusion constitutes a beneficial treatment. They may also be prepared by maceration, yielding an aromatic extract of astringent action after being crushed. The mixture is worked gently by hand to preserve its soft texture without spoiling, remaining pliable even after full cooking. The fruits help relieve heaviness of the stomach and promote evacuation, while the parts added together with the leaves provide a soothing effect. Finally, all the crushed components are combined, and the medicine is finished by forming small medicinal pellets.

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