What is African laburnum / drumstick tree?

African laburnum is a small savannah tree of West Africa, known to science as Cassia sieberiana. Healers use the root, bark, leaves and pods. In Hausa it is called marga.

Its best known home use is as a strong laxative drink made from boiled root. Do not mix it up with moringa, which is also sold as "drumstick tree". The two plants are not related.

The human evidence is thin. Nearly all research sits in test tubes or in rats, and good human trials are missing. Long traditional use is real standing, but it is not proof that a plant works or that it is safe.

How does African laburnum / drumstick tree work?

The bowel effect is the part with the clearest reasoning behind it. The root holds anthraquinones. These plant compounds push the gut wall to move stool along, which is how senna, a close relative, works in people.

That said, this exact species has not been tested that way in a trial. The link is drawn from its plant family and its chemistry.

The other claims rest on lab work. In test tubes, extracts have slowed the growth of some bacteria and fungi. Whether that happens inside a person who drinks root tea is not known.

In rats, extracts have lowered blood sugar and reduced signs of pain and swelling. Those were measured doses given to animals. No human trial has checked any of it.

A laxative also speeds everything through the gut. That can flush out water and salts, which explains several of the risks further down this page.

What forms does African laburnum / drumstick tree come in?

Most use is homemade, not a packaged product. Boiled root bark is the usual form.

Common forms include: - A root bark decoction, meaning bark simmered in water and the liquid drunk - Dried root sold whole or as powder in markets - Leaf or pod drinks - Leaf or bark pastes put on skin and wounds - Twigs used as chewing sticks for teeth - Capsules, powders or tinctures sold online as "Cassia sieberiana"

None of these are standardised. Market root rarely carries a label. Online products are seldom tested for strength or for what else is in them.

Where it comes from:

African laburnum has been used across the West African savannah for a very long time. It is recorded in Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana and beyond.

Healers mainly gave the root as a purge for constipation and for a "blocked" belly. It was also used for fever, pain, sores, toothache and worms.

Bark and leaf pastes were put on wounds and swellings. Twigs served as chewing sticks.

The plant holds a respected place in many local systems. This page reports that history. It is not a suggestion that you treat yourself with the plant.

What does African laburnum / drumstick tree help with?

• Constipation: This is the use with the strongest reasoning behind it. The root holds senna-type compounds that make the gut push stool along. No human trial has tested this plant for constipation, so strength and safe use are unclear.
• Fever, including fever blamed on malaria: Root and leaf drinks were widely given for fever. Lab tests show some activity against malaria parasites in a dish. That is not treatment of malaria in a person, and untreated malaria can kill. See a doctor for fever with chills.
• Stomach and belly pain: Tradition used it for a heavy, blocked or painful belly. There is no human evidence it eases pain. A purging herb can make true belly pain worse, and some causes of belly pain are emergencies.
• Wounds, boils and skin sores: Pastes of bark or leaf were put on broken skin. In lab tests, extracts slow some bacteria and fungi. Whether that helps a real wound heal has not been shown, and unclean plant material can infect a wound.
• Toothache and mouth care: Twigs were used as chewing sticks. Lab work shows activity against some mouth bacteria. There are no trials comparing this with brushing, and it does not replace dental care.
• Joint pain and swelling: Healers used root drinks for aches and swollen joints. Rat studies report less pain and swelling with extracts. Nothing has been tested in people.
• High blood sugar: Some healers gave it for the illness now called diabetes. Rat studies show lower blood sugar with extracts. There is no human proof, and diabetes drugs should never be dropped for a herb.

What are the side effects of African laburnum / drumstick tree?

• Cramping and griping belly pain
• Loose stools or watery diarrhoea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dehydration, with thirst, dizziness and dark urine
• Low potassium, which can cause weakness and an uneven heartbeat
• Yellow or reddish urine, which is harmless on its own
• A sluggish bowel after long or repeated use
• Skin rash or itch where a paste is applied
• Reports of liver strain in animal studies at high doses

Good to know:

Cramping and loose stools are common, and they are the expected effect rather than a surprise.

The serious risks come from overuse. Heavy or repeated purging drains water and potassium. That matters most in older people, in anyone with heart or kidney trouble, and in anyone already unwell.

Side effects in this plant have never been counted in a proper trial. The list above draws on reports and on what senna-type laxatives do.

How much African laburnum / drumstick tree should you take?

• Recommended daily: This page gives no amount, and that is on purpose. There is no agreed dose for this plant. Root strength varies with the tree, the part used and the season. Most use is homemade and unmeasured. Where packaged senna-type laxatives carry a label, the label rule is the smallest amount that works, used now and then rather than daily. Any amount for this plant should come from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health and your medicines.
• Best time of day: Timing is not the main issue here; safety is. Senna-type laxatives are often labelled for bedtime, since the effect comes hours later. The same logic would apply to this root. Used on the skin, time of day does not matter.
• With or without food: Food makes little difference to whether a laxative works. Tradition often took the root drink on an empty stomach. Some people find cramping easier with a little food first. Drink plenty of water while a laxative is in effect, since loose stools lose fluid.
• Time to effect: For the bowel, a senna-type effect would be expected within about 6 to 12 hours. That is based on the plant family, not on trials of this species. For fever, pain, blood sugar or healing, no honest time can be given. It may do nothing at all. If you are waiting on it for a serious problem, you are losing time that matters.
• How long to take it: Short-term only, if at all. Laxatives of this type are not meant for daily use. Labels on senna-type products usually warn against going past about a week without medical advice. Long or repeated use can leave the bowel sluggish. It can also drain potassium, a salt your heart and muscles need.