Cassia fistula – whole or fragmented fruit

Native to India and Southeast Asia, Cassia fistula is a tree with elongated black pods. Widely used in Ayurvedic medicine, its fruits are known for their sweet, sometimes laxative, pulp and for their role in gentle purification rituals. Loose, they are available depending on the harvest: whole pods, pieces, or fragments.

Description

Elongated, black to dark brown, dry fruits. Fibrous texture. Sweet, vegetal odor. Presentation varies depending on the batch (whole, broken, or mixed).

Nomenclature

• Common names: Silent breakage, soft breakage, canéfice, canébenefit
• Latin name: Cassia fistula
• Family: Fabaceae
• Part used: Fruit
• Form: Loose (whole or broken)
• Origin: India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, East Africa
• English name: Golden shower pod
• Name in German: Kassienfrucht
• Name in Spanish: Fruto de casia
• Name in Italian: Frutto di cassia
• Name in Arabic: خروب الهند (Kharoub al-Hind)

Main virtues

Traditionally used as a mild purgative, particularly in Ayurveda. Also used in purifying cosmetic preparations, plant masks, and traditional syrups.

Main constituents

Anthraquinones, mucilages, natural sugars, resins, pectins.

Use and dosage

• Decoction: 5 to 10 g of pulp soaked or decocted, filtered before use.
• Culinary use: sometimes used in certain traditional Indian preparations.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• For occasional adult use only.
• Not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding or chronic digestive disorders.
• May cause pronounced laxative effects at high doses.

History and origin

Cassia fruit is mentioned in numerous Ayurvedic and Arabic medical treatises. It was imported to Europe for its mild purgative properties in the 17th century. Used both medicinally and for ritual purification, it remains a prized ingredient in natural pharmacopoeias.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: in a dry, ventilated place, away from heat.
• Packaging: bulk, mix of whole and broken fruits.
• Appearance: black, elongated pods or dry fragments.
• Smell: vegetal, sweet, slightly sweet.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Ancient Ayurvedic Corpus
• Treatises on Eastern Pharmacognosy
• Medieval Arabic Herbal Medicine Manuscripts

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