Dr. Mario Rojas Alba
Founding president of the Mexican Institute for Traditional Medicine Tlahuilli A.C.
Translation by Natasha Bonilla

Common name: Indian Laburnum
Additional English common names: pudding-pipe tree, purging cassia, golden shower tree
Spanish common name: Vaina de Cassia
Additional common names
Mexico, Central America, South America: Cañafístula, Caña Fistola
Scientific name: Cassia fistula
Family: Leguminosae

Botanical characteristics and habitat: Of Ethiopian origin, it is currently cultivated in several tropical countries. Cassia fistula L. is a tree rising 26 to 38 feet in height (8 to 10 meters). It is densely-branching and has gray bark. The leaves are petiolated, alternate, pinnately, compound, and deciduous. Its small yellow flowers are bracted, pedunculated, producing fruits in long, valvate, cylindrical pods.

Properties: Constipation, mild laxative, anti-inflammatory.

Uses in traditional medicine: Indian Laburnum is originally from Egypt and the East Indies. The tropical species similar to Cassia fistula is Cathartocarpus grandis Pers. Egyptians use the pulp of Cassia fistula together with sugar candy for the treatment of bladder and kidney ailments. If taken in moderate doses before meals, it improves digestion. The Purepechas have used this plant in Mexico since the pre-Columbian era. This plant is traditionally used in Honduras as a laxative and diuretic. The flowers are also used to decorate religious altars and icons. In addition, the flowers have a purgative effect and, according to Guzmán, they work much better than the pulp.

Remedies:

• Make an infusion with one pinch of leaves to a cup of water.
• Dissolve 20 to 40 grams of pulp in 1 cup of water.
• Use 30 to 60 grams of pulp. The conserve of the fruit and the extract may be used in a dose of 5 to 15 grams.
• Use a dose of 4 to 8 grams of cassia pulp (this is suggested by the British Pharmaceutical Code [BPC-1959]).
• Make an infusion by boiling peels until the color of the water changes. Drink infusion while hot for 9 mornings to treat constipation.
• Decoct 75 grams of fruit in 4 cups of water for 10 minutes to reduce intestinal swelling and constipation.

Constituents: Glycosides of anthraquinone, glutine, pectin, senosides A & B, bitters, vegetable gelatin, gum, gluten, sugars, nitrogenous extractive matter, perenchima and water.

Precautions & contraindications: There are no known serious human toxic reaction cases from the traditional therapeutic use of the plant. However, it is recommended not to exceed its use due to its laxative effect. Consult your doctor.


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