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Crotalaria, Sana

Sunn Hemp
Sana (Seed, Ayurveda)
Sanal (Siddha)
Tukhm Sun (Unani)
Crotalaria juncea
(Curtis's Botanical Magazine, 1800)

Crotalaria juncea
(Photo by A16898) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:
Crotalaria juncea

Parts used:
Primarily Seed; also the leaf and Root (TCM)

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Sour, Pungent, Bitter. Toxic

Uses:
1. Warms the Stomach:
-Indigestion, Loss of appetite

2. Clears Toxin from the Blood:
-Fevers
-Skin diseases
-Blood diseases; diseases due to Blood toxin

3. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation:
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea (Unani)
-used traditionally as a contraceptive; anti-ovulatory, anti-implantation, abortifacient (Unani, Ayurveda)
-Heart diseases

4. Benefits Vision:
-defects of vision; clarifies sight

5. Externally:
-Impetigo, Psoriasis (seed paste, poultice)


ROOT (TCM):
-promotes urine; turbid urine; dribbling and painful urine
-scabs, lichen
-bruising and trauma


DOSE:
Of the Seed in Powder: 1–3 grams
Best only used externally due to the toxicity.

SUBSTITUTE:
1. Rue seed could be a possible substitute.

Main Combinations:

Major Formulas:


Cautions:
1. Toxic due to Pyrrolizidine alkaloids; Hepatotoxic and toxic to other organs. Avoid overdose and long-term use. Best only used externally.
2. Full doses are emetic
3. Demonstrated anti-fertility effects. Ethanol extract showed anti-implantation effect when given for 7 days post coitus in rats; abortifacient when given 3 days post coitus.

TOXICITY:
Ethanolic extract was toxic to Liver and other organs in doses of 200mg/kg in rats.

Main Preparations used: