Senna alexandrina is a shrubby plant with yellow flowers ripening into oblong, flat fruits and long, spreading branches. Senna is native to northern Egypt and is also cultivated in parts of India, Sudan, and Somalia. A member of the Fabaceae family, senna leaf and pod have a long history of use for their wellness properties and are often incorporated into herbal formulations, teas, and extracts. Senna leaves are considered to be more powerful than the pods and can also be used in topical applications.
Senna encourages bowel movement by inhibiting the smooth muscles that retain stool and stimulating the smooth muscles that push stool through the intestine. The herb doesn't work unless the sennosides in the herb are transformed into rheinanthrones by beneficial bacteria in the colon.