Botanical Index No. 922

Senega Root

polygala senega

Medicinal Actions

Antiinflammatory, Antispasmodic, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Laxative, Secretagogue, Secretolytic, Sialagogue, Stimulant, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Amenorrhea Asthma Bleeding Blepharosis Bronchosis Cardiopathy Cataract Catarrh Cold Congestion Conjunctivosis Constipation Convulsion Cough Cramp Croup Cystosis Dermatosis Dropsy Dysmenorrhea Eczema Emphysema Enuresis Fever Hemorrhoid Hoarseness Inflammation Laryngosis Mucososis Ophthalmia Pain Pertussis Pharyngosis Photophobia Phthisis Pleurisy Pneumonia Pulmonosis Respirosis Rheumatism Smallpox Snakebite Sore Throat Swelling Syphilis Toothache Tracheosis Tuberculosis Typhoid Water Retention Wound eczema graft rejection multiple sclerosis psoriasis

General Dosage

Root 3 ×/day; 0.5–2 g root, several ×/day; 1.5–3 g root; 0.5 g root/cup tea/day, not to exceed 3 g/day; 0.5 g root/cup; 0.5–1.0 g dry root, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 0.5–1 g powdered root; 2.5–5 ml concentrated root tea; 0.3–1 ml liquid root extract; 1.5–3 g fluid root extract; 2.5–7.5 g root tincture; 2.5–5 ml root tincture.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b. Emmenagogue and uterotonic. Contraindicated in gastric ulcers and gastrosis; not for long-term use. Commission E reports root permitted for oral use. No contraindications, adverse effects, or interactions, except for GI irritation from continued or prolonged use. The Herbal HDR cautions that overdosage leads to diarrhea, gastric complaints, nausea, and queasiness. CAN cautions that saponins can irritate GI tract. Polygalic acid and senegin irritate the GI mucosa and may cause a reflex secretion of mucus in the bronchioles. Large doses may cause purging and vomiting. Extracts: One antiinflammatory triterpenic acid is useful for eczema, graft rejection, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis, according to a French patent mentioned by CAN. Looking at that suggests, to me, that the acid has immunosuppressant activity, which would be contraindicated in most diseases. Saponins can be hemolytic and a GI irritant. Hemolytic saponins are toxic when injected iv, but have low toxicity when given orally since they don’t cross GI mucosa. Free saponins in GI tract may react with mucosa, causing an increased permeability of small intestine to intraluminal solutes and inhibiting active nutrient absorption. This activity may facilitate entry of antigens and active food peptides into the blood circulation with adverse side effects.

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