Cassia Tora Seed Extract – Curing Photophobia

Cassia (Cissampelos pareira), also known as Indian ginseng is a perennial vine that produces magnificent flowers. It is widely used in Chinese herbal medicine and traditional medicine of the Ayurvedic Indians. The small white flowers are similar to those of ginseng but the flavor is different and it is used in a number of ways.

The Cassia or Cissa is a highly valued ancient Chinese herb that is used in the fields of acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy and herbalism. The name is derived from the Greek word Cassia which means small white flower. The seeds of the cissa are small, hairy and round and processed through sophisticated machinery. The seeds of the cissa are available as red cassia tora seeds, black cassia tora seed and in other varieties. The rind of the cassia has a sweetish taste.

The cissampelos pareira or the Cassia tora seed is a culinary herb that is used in a variety of Asian dishes including Indian curries, Chinese stir fry, Indian curries and Japanese sushi. The seeds of the cissampelos are large in size and it takes two to three months for the seeds to ripen. They do not deteriorate with time and have a sweet flavor. The cissampelos is a member of the ginger family (Eurycoma longifolia) and it is also known as Chinese Ginger or Garlic. The name cissampelos comes from the Latin name camomile which means flower of the lily.

There are many species of the Cassia or Cissampelos pareira or the cress. These seeds can be grown in the tropical regions of south and central India. They are widely used in Indian cuisine. This cress has a lip service, which makes it a good ingredient of soups, salads and Indian vegetable dishes. It is also used in Indian desserts, pickles and sauces. In fact cissampelos is an important ingredient of the traditional Indian medicine Ayurvedic treatment along with other spices like turmeric and cinnamon.

Many people do not even know that cissampelos is one of the twenty ingredients of the Ayurvedic medicine or that it contains medicinal values. The nineteen other elements of the Ayurvedic medicine are; yashtimadhuk, shudh, kriyas, prushnaparni, run, rasa, khandha, jaiphal or jaigarh, bring or ghruta, maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, bhasma, padparuharindra, jatamansi and brahmi. It is believed by many people that this cress is beneficial for those who are having blurred vision. This herb helps in the healing of diabetic retinopathy, dry form cardiovascular problems and glaucoma.

Cassia Tora Seed Extract is very helpful in curing various conditions of the liver, eyes, nervous system, skin, arthritis, asthma, diarrhea, irritability, depression, diabetes, gout and pharyngitis. It also helps to treat neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Many people who suffer from photophobia (fear of being exposed to bright light) take this herb daily to alleviate their condition. However, there are side effects associated with the use of the herb. Some of the side effects are: difficulty in breathing, vomiting, increased heart rate, weakness, chest pain, headaches, nervousness, insomnia, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.