Cassia Tora (Foetid Cassia, Tora, Sickle Senna, Sickle Pod, Coffee Pod, Tovara, Chakvad)

Cassia Tora (Foetid Cassia, Tora, Sickle Senna, Sickle Pod, Coffee Pod, Tovara, Chakvad) — Family Name: Caesalpiniaceae

Botanical Name: Cassia Tora

Common Name: Foetid Cassia, Tora, Sickle Senna, Sickle Pod, Coffee Pod, Tovara, Chakvad

Part Used: Seeds

Habitat: Grows in dry soil throughout tropical parts of India.

Uses: It is Aperient, Germicide, Mucilaginous & Laxative. It is used as a coffee substitute and has a maturant and anodyne action. Useful in treating skin diseases like ring worm and itch and psoriasis.

Introduction

Cassia is an Ayurvedic herb and is also used extensively in Chinese medicine. Cassia grows in hot, wet, tropical climates both wild and commercially. The stems are cut down when the bark is mature. The bark is removed in short lengths and then dried. Cassia bark is aromatic, again similar to Cinnamon, but differing in both strength and quality. Cassia bark is darker, thicker and coarser.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

This herb is especially good for conditions of the eyes. It will brighten them and relieve pain, congestion, itchiness, redness, or sensitivity to light when caused by wind-heat conditions. It can also be used when there is headache along with some of the above conditions in cases of liver yang rising. It is useful when there is either chronic or acute constipation accompanying liver yin deficiency. It has been shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol and reducing blood pressure.