Fedegoso

(Cassia occidentalis)

Family: Leguminosae
Genus: Cassia
Species: occidentalis
Synonyms: Senna occidentalis, Cassia caroliniana, C. ciliata, C. falcata, C. foetida, C. frutescens, C. geminiflora, C. linearis, C. longisiliqua, C. obliquifolia, C. planisiliqua, C. sophera, Ditremexa occidentalis
Common names: Fedegoso, fedegosa, yerba hedionda, brusca, guanina, martinica, plata­nillo, manjerioba, peieriaba, retama, achupa poroto, heduibda, folha-de-pajé, kasiah, khiyar shember, pois piante, shih chueh ming, sinamekki, tlalhoaxin, wang chiang nan, senting, kachang kota, menting
Phytochemicals: Anthraquinones, Aloe-emodin, Anthrone, Aurantiobtusin, Chryso-obtusin, Chrysophanic-acid-9-anthrone, Chrysophanol, Chrysophanol-1-beta-gentiobioside Chrysoeriol-7-O-(2"-O-beta-D-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D- Allopyranos IDE, Emodin, Kaempferol-3-sophoroside, Lignoceric-acid, Linolenic-acid, Mannitol, Myricylalcohol, Nor-rubrofusarin, Obtusifolin, Obtusin, Oleic-acid, Palmitic-acid, Physcion, Rhamnetin-3-O-(2"-O-beta-D-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D- Allopyranosid e Rhein, Rubrofusarin, Rubrofusarin-6-beta-gentiobioside, Rubrofusarin-gentiobioside, Sitosterol
Parts Used: Roots, leaves, seeds

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: protects liver detoxifies liver kills bacteria kills fungi kills parasites kills viruses expels worms enhances immunity cleanses blood kills germs detoxifies promotes perspiration mildly laxative

Other Actions: relieves pain reduces inflammation kills cancer cells reduces spasms reduces fever reduces blood pressure kills insects

Standard Dosage: Leaves. Infusion: 1 cup twice daily; Tincture: 3-4 ml twice daily; Capsules: 1-2 g twice daily

Fedegoso is a small tree that grows 5–8 m high and is found in many tropical areas of South America, including the Amazon. Indigenous to Brazil, it is also found in warmer climates and tropical areas of South, Central, and North America. Its seeds, found in long seed pods, are sometimes roasted and made into a coffee-like beverage. The Cassia genus comprises some 600 species of trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs, with numerous species growing in the South American rainforests and tropics. Many species have been used medicinally, and these tropical plants have a rich history in natural medicine. Various Cassia plants have been known since the ninth or tenth centuries as purgatives and laxatives, including Cassia angustifolia and Cassia senna.

The Cassia plants are well known for a group of chemicals with strong laxative actions called anthraquinones. The most widely used species of Cassia in herbal medicine is known as senna (Cassia senna or C. acutifolia). The actions of the anthraquinones chemicals are the basis of senna’s widespread use as a purgative and strong laxative. While fedegoso does contain a small amount of these anthraquinones, it was shown not to have the same strong purgative and laxative effects as senna.

Fedegoso has been the subject of recent clinical research for its beneficial effects on the liver and immune system. In the late 1970s, two research groups published three studies citing the beneficial effects of fedegoso in human patients with liver toxicity, hepatitis, and even acute liver failure. Other researchers followed up on those actions, publishing four different in vivo studies from 1994 to 2001. These studies report that fedegoso leaf extracts have the ability to protect the liver from various introduced chemical toxins, normalize liver enzymes and processes, and repair liver damage. Some of this research has also demonstrated significant immunostimulant activity by increasing humoral immunity and bone marrow immune cells in mice, and protecting them from chemically-induced immunosuppresion. These researchers and oers also reported the antimutagenic actions of fedegoso. In this research, fedegoso was able to prevent or reduce the mutation of healthy cells in the presence of laboratory chemicals which were known to mutate them.

In other in vivo studies, fedegoso leaf extracts have demonstrated an anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, smooth-muscle relaxant, antispasmodic, weak uterine stimulant, vasoconstrictor, and antioxidant activities in laboratory animals. These documented actions certainly help to explain its uses in traditional medicine systems for menstrual cramps and other internal inflammatory conditions. Fedegoso has also been used for many types of bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections for many years in the tropical countries where it grows. In vitro clinical research on fedegoso leaves over the years has reported active antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, insecticidal, and antimalarial properties.

Fedegoso has been used as natural medicine in the rainforest and other tropical areas for centuries. Its roots, leaves, flowers, and seeds have been employed in herbal medicine around the world.

Following up, a brief summary of worldwide ethnomedical uses of fedegoso.

Region	Uses
Africa	for abscesses, bile complaints, birth control, bronchitis, bruises, cataracts, childbirth, constipation, dysentery, edema, erysipelas, eye infections, fainting, fever, gonorrhea, guinea worms, headache, hematuria, hemorrhages (pregnancy), hernia, increasing perspiration, inflammation, itch, jaundice, kidney infections, leprosy, malaria, pain (kidney), menstrual disorders, rheumatism, ringworms, scabies, skin diseases, skin parasites, sore throat, stomach ulcers, stomachache, swelling, syphilis, tetanus, worms, water retention, wounds
Amazonia	for abdominal pain, birth control, bile insufficiency, malaria
Brazil	for anemia, constipation, edema, fatigue, fever, gonorrhea, liver disorders, malaria, menstrual disorders, skin problems, tuberculosis, urinary disorders, water retention, weakness
Central America	for abortions, antifungal, athlete's foot, birth control, constipation, diarrhea, fungal infections, headache, menstrual disorders, menstrual pain, pain, respiratory infections, ringworm, spasms, uterine pain, urinary tract infections, urinary insufficiency, worms
Haiti	for acne, asthma, burns, colic, constipation, dropsy, eye infections, gonorrhea, headache, malaria, rheumatism, skin rashes and infections, and to increase perspiration India
India	for abscesses, bites (scorpion), constipation, diabetes, edema, fever, inflammation, itch, liver diseases, liver support, rheumatism, ringworm, scabies, skin diseases, snakebite, wounds
Mexico	for chills, digestive sluggishness, dyspepsia, earache, eczema, edema, fatigue, fever, headache, inflammation (skin), laxative, leprosy, nausea, pain, rash, rheumatism, ringworms, skin problems, sores, stomachache, swelling, tumors, ulcers, venereal disease, water retention, worms, yellow fever
Panama	for colic, inflammation, spasms, stomach problems, worms, and as an antiseptic
Peru	for asthma, bronchitis, fever, liver problems, urinary insufficiency
Trinidad	for abortions, childbirth, colds, constipation, heart problems, inflammation, liver problems, palpitations
Venezuela	for asthma, colds, fever, intestinal gas, malaria, menstrual difficulties, skin problems, water retention
Elsewhere	for abdominal pain, abortions, bile insufficiency, birth control, bites (scorpion), childbirth, constipation, dermatosis, digestive problems, eczema, edema, eye infections, fevers, gonorrhea, headache, hemoglobin disorders, hemorrhage, hypertension, laxative, lice, liver, malaria, menstrual disorders, pain, parasites, rheumatism, ringworms, scabies, skin disorders, snakebite, spasms, urinary insufficiency, worms, yellow fever

FEDEGOSO PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	infusion
Main Actions (in order):	antimicrobial, antihepatotoxic (liver detoxifier), hepatotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the liver), antiparasitic, immune stimulant
Main Uses:	as a broad-spectrum internal and external antimicrobial to treat bacterial and fungal infections for liver disorders (jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis, anemia, detoxification, injury/failure, bile stimulant, etc) for intestinal worms, internal parasites, skin parasites as an immune stimulant as a cellular protector and a preventative to cell damage (immune, liver, kidney, cancer preventative)
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antihepatotoxic (liver detoxifier), antimalarial, antimutagenic (cellular protector), antioxidant, antiparasitic, antispasmodic, aperient (mild laxative), hepatoprotective (liver protector), hepatotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the liver), hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), immune stimulant, insecticidal, muscle relaxant, weak uterine stimulant, vasoconstrictor
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	analgesic (pain-reliever), anticancerous, antihemorrhagic (reduces bleeding), antiseptic, astringent, antiviral, bile stimulant, blood cleanser, cardiotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart), contraceptive, detoxifier, diaphoretic (promotes sweating), digestive stimulant, diuretic, febrifuge (reduces fever), menstrual stimulant, tonic (tones, balances, strengthens overall body functions), vermifuge (expels worms)
Traditional Preparation:	The therapeutic dosage is reported to be 1 cup of a standard leaf infusion twice daily. If desired, 3–4 ml of a tincture twice daily or 1–2 g in tablets or capsules twice daily can be substituted.
Contraindications:	Not to be used during pregnancy. Fedegoso has demonstrated hypotensive activity and, as such, is probably contraindicated in people with low blood pressure. Individuals taking medications to lower their blood pressure should check with their doctor first before taking fedegoso (and monitor their blood pressure accordingly, as medications may need to be adjusted). Long-term ingestion of small amounts and single high dosages of fedegoso seeds cause toxic reactions. Do not use fedegoso seeds without the supervision of a qualified professional who is familiar with the mechanisms, chemicals, actions, and toxicity of these seeds.
Drug Interactions:	It may potentiate the effects of antihypertensive drugs. Fedegoso has demonstrated significant antihepatotoxic (liver protective), hepatotonic (liver tonic), and hepatic detoxification (liver detoxifing) effects in animal and human studies. As such, the use of this plant might interfere with the metabolism of some drugs in the liver by increasing the clearance of them and/or reducing their half-life (which may reduce the effects of those drugs that require metabolization in the liver).

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