Top 10 Health Benefits Of Cassia Seed

Cassia seeds are very popular, as it is very beneficial for human health. It was widely used in ancient medicines to cure several ailments related to digestion, eyes, joints, intestines, liver and can also relieve several infections. These seeds are obtained from two types of annual herbaceous plants, namely, Cassia Tora L and Cassia Obtusifolia L.

The cassia plant belongs to the Leguminosae family and is commonly found in the tropical areas of India, China, and Africa. The cassia plants have yellow flowers and dark green leaves. The seeds of this plant are found in the pods like the regular leguminous plants.

What Are Cassia Seeds?

The seeds of the Cassia plant are known as jue ming zi in China and were used extensively in ancient Chinese medicine for its curing properties. These small seeds vary in color from brownish green, yellow to dark brown. These seeds have a salty, sweet and slightly bitter taste.

Cassia seeds are usually cleaned and dried before use and can be utilized either directly or in powdered form for extracting its goodness easily. It can also be used as a substitute for your regular coffee by roasting and grinding the dried seeds. This seed is also known by its Latin name, Semen Cassiae.

Cassia seeds have gained immense popularity in the recent years, as it can benefit your health in several ways, by promoting eye health, correcting bowel movements, provides relief from cold and flu and restores the functions of the liver. The seeds of Cassia plant are known for their laxative property and are used in Ayurveda as an expectorant, anthelmintic and ophthalmic.

Top Health Benefits Of Cassia Seed

Cassia seeds are often used as a daily supplement, consumed as the tea and the oil of the seed is used for relieving joint aches and body pain. The health benefits of cassia seeds are given below.

1. Improves Digestion Of Food

The presence of organic compounds called glycosides in cassia seeds improves the gastric secretions in the body for promoting digestion. Having a cup of tea made from cassia seeds will help in quick digestion. It also avoids intestinal dryness, as it has cooling properties and prevents the large intestine from building up heat during the digestion process.

It can also be used for treating intestinal disorders in kids like flatulence. Those who are suffering from stomach pain due to indigestion will get relief by massaging cassia seed oil mixed with linseed oil or almond oil in their navel area.

2. Prevents Constipation

Cassia seeds are widely used for its therapeutic benefits, which includes its laxative properties. It has the purgative anthraquinone like emodin that imparts the laxative effect of treating constipation issues. Drinking the tea prepared with cassia seeds every day will help in keeping the track of large intestine well hydrated and facilitates the bowel movement.

Having the extract of the seeds of the Cassia plant will help in softening and lubricating the stools. It also alleviates the buildup of heat in the intestinal tract.

3. Combats Microorganisms

Cassia seeds have the ability to inhibit the growth of microorganisms like fungi, which can cause severe skin infections. It can also kill bacteria and prevent the growth of different bacterial strains like Bacillus diphtheriae, Staphylococcus, and Bacillus coli. Mixing cassia seed powder in drinking water will help in curing all kinds of topical infections triggered by fungi.

Making an infusion with cassia seed extract and alcohol will be effective for bacterial

4. Treats Eye Problems

The seeds of the Cassia plant contain retinoic acid that has made it find a place in the eye care medicines of ancient times. It has the ability to detox the liver and to promote the vision. These seeds are used for treating an array of eye problems, such as blurred vision, itchy eyes, glaucoma, red painful eyes and dry eyes.

It is used in herbal medicines for curing conjunctive congestion or bloodshot eyes and glaucoma by using cassia seed extract with gentian root.

5. Lowers Hypertension

Having cassia seed tea regularly like your green tea will help in lowering high blood pressure. It has the ability to promote the circulation of blood in the body to keep the pressure levels of the blood under control. The seeds of the Cassia plant can also lower the blood lipids.

6. Maintains Cholesterol Levels

Cassia seeds play a pivotal role in preventing the level of serum cholesterol from rising to the fatal limit. It also suppresses the development of atherosclerotic plaque to prevent cardiovascular issues.

7. Helps In Weight Loss

As the cassia seeds have laxative properties, it aids in weight loss by expelling the toxins effectively. It also drains away the excess water in the body and offers a toned look. Having cassia seed tea or using its extract in your regular detox tea will help you lose those extra pounds. It is known for its purging activities that prevent the absorption of carbohydrates and fats in your body to initiate weight loss.

8. Relieves Cold and Flu

Cassia seeds are known to have potent antimicrobial and antiviral properties that make it a natural treatment for cold and flu. Using cassia seed oil will prevent the outbreak of cold and flu. The seeds can relieve a headache, cures cold and flu and can combat all infections related to seasonal allergies.

9. Promotes Sleep

Using cassia seed pillow instead of your foam pillow will help you enjoy a good night’s sleep. The therapeutic properties of these seeds would calm and relax the nerves while gently massaging your head. It is the best cure for people suffering from sleep apnea and insomnia. The pillow made with the seeds of Cassia plant remains cool during the summer and warm during the winter.

People who are suffering from chronic pain in the neck and shoulders can also sleep with cassia seed pillow. The hard texture of the seeds would offer meridian acupoint massage to cure several medical conditions like cervical spondylosis, dizziness, cerebral arteriosclerosis, dizziness, and insomnia.

10. Soothes Body Pain

The oil extracted from the seeds of the Cassia plant is an effective treatment to ease the arthritis pain in the joints, as it is loaded with anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory properties. Massaging the joints with this oil every day will help in kindling the blood flow to promote the efficiency of the circulatory system and facilitates better oxygen supply in the joints.

It can also alleviate the swelling, discomfort, and pain in the muscles and tissues by warming it and improves blood circulation. The decoction of cassia seeds can be given to kids who have teething pain.

If you are in search of a best option to help you stay free from all kinds of infections, body pain and maintain your ideal body weight, then make sure you have a stock of cassia seeds in your kitchen. You can use it alone or along with chrysanthemum or goji berries to prepare tea.

However, avoid using cassia seeds for a long term, as it has anthraquinones that can induce intestinal melanosis. Also, pregnant ladies should not use these seeds, as some components in it might induce premature labor.

Side Effects of Cassia Seeds

The benefits of Cassia seeds are due to the chemicals chtysophanol, obtusin and Aurantio-obtusin. The chemicals also do have some side effects. The primary ones include obesity, psoriasis and irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). It could also cause gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and gas problems. Since it works as a nervous system stimulant, the related side effects like anxiety are common too.

It lowers blood pressure due to which it should not be taken by people who are on blood pressure medications. Pregnant women should avoid it completely. People suffering from qi deficiency should also avoid it.

Cassia fistula was found to cause infertility in female rats according to a research done by Chauhan and Agarwal M. However, if it has the same effect on humans is yet to be ascertained.