6 recipes for laxative teas to combat constipation

Many people suffer from constipation, a medical condition where a person cannot have a bowel movement, even if they feel like going to the bathroom. Furthermore, to help and combat this condition, you can use laxative teas. However, you need to be careful when consuming this type of tea.

In short, laxative tea such as senna, rhubarb or frangula tea, for example, is a great way to improve intestinal transit, combating constipation. Finally, laxative teas are ideal for loosening the intestines when you cannot have a bowel movement for more than 3 days or when your stools are dry.

Furthermore, laxative tea facilitates the elimination of feces thanks to sennosides or mucilages, substances present in its composition. Furthermore, its preparation is easy and quick. However, even though it is a natural drink, it is not recommended to consume it for more than 1 or 2 weeks.

Yes, it can cause irritation in the intestine. Mainly, rhubarb tea and cascara santo, which should be consumed for a maximum of 3 days. Finally, if constipation does not improve within 1 week, see a doctor so he can recommend a more appropriate treatment.

What is constipation?

In short, constipation (also known as constipation or constipation) is a medical condition where even if you feel the urge to have a bowel movement you are unable to do so. Furthermore, this condition may last for a few days or may be related to a problem with the gastrointestinal system.

Therefore, if constipation occurs frequently, the ideal is to consult a doctor for tests that can indicate what is wrong. Finally, in addition to being uncomfortable, a trapped intestine can make a person more likely to develop hemorrhoids that can burst and cause bleeding in the region.

Although it can affect both men and women, it is more common in women. The cause may be related to several factors. For example, a diet low in fiber, a sedentary lifestyle, constant dehydration and excessive consumption of processed foods. Such as a change in routine, a stressful situation or a trip.

Furthermore, the main symptoms of constipation are:

• Difficulty in evacuating, where even with great effort you cannot eliminate the feces.
• Feeling of feces trapped inside the body
• Heavy belly feeling
• Abdominal distension
• Gases
• Cramps
• Abdominal discomfort
• Feces are eliminated in small quantities
• The stool appears dry or hardened.

Ultimately, if not treated correctly, constipation can have complications. Therefore, a great way to solve this problem quickly and naturally is to consume laxative teas.

Laxative teas

1- Chá de sene

One of the most powerful laxative teas is senna. Well, it helps to increase bowel movements, which relieves constipation. And the interesting thing is that senna tea does this without causing an increase in gas. In short, senna has sennosides, mucilages and flavonoids in its composition, which provides a milder laxative effect. Finally, tea can be made with the dried leaves of Senna alexandrina, also known as Alexandria senna or Cassia angustifolia. To prepare senna tea you will need:

Ingredients

• 0.5 to 2g of dried senna leaves;
• 250 mL of boiling water.

Preparation and consumption method

First, add the senna leaves to a cup of boiling water. Then, leave it to rest for 5 minutes. Then strain and drink the tea. Or, if you prefer, you can prepare a solution with 2ml of senna fluid extract or 8ml of senna syrup in 250ml of water and then drink the solution.

Anyway, whether it is the tea or the solution, they should be taken 2 to 3 times a day. Its laxative effect usually occurs within 6 hours after consumption. However, senna tea is not recommended in the following cases

• For pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Children under 12
• People with chronic constipation
• People with obstruction and narrowing of the intestine
• When there is no bowel movements
• Inflammatory bowel diseases
• Dor abdominal
• Hemorrhoid
• Appendicitis
• During the menstrual period
• Urinary infection
• Liver, kidney or heart failure.

2- Psyllium tea

The medicinal plant Plantago ovata, known as psyllium, works by absorbing water in the intestine and facilitating bowel movements. Furthermore, this happens because the plant’s seeds have a thick gel that is rich in soluble fiber. In this way, it helps to regulate the intestine, keeping it healthy. Anyway, to prepare psyllium laxative tea, you will need:

Ingredients

• 3 g of psyllium seed;
• 100 mL of boiling water.

Preparation and consumption method

In short, place the psyllium seeds in a cup of boiling water and let it rest. Then, strain and drink the tea up to 3 times a day. However, psyllium laxative tea should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women or by children under 12 years of age.

3- Laxative teas: cascara santo

Known scientifically as Rhamnus purshiana, cascara santo is a medicinal plant that has cascarosides in its composition. In this way, cascara sacra laxative tea works by increasing intestinal motility, facilitating the elimination of feces. Therefore, to prepare cascara santo tea you will need:

Ingredients

• 0.5 g of cascara santo bark, equivalent to 1 teaspoon of bark;
• 150 mL of boiling water.

Preparation and consumption method

First, you must add the sacred cascara to a cup of boiling water. Then let it rest for 15 minutes. Then, strain and drink before going to sleep. The effect of this laxative tea occurs within 8 to 12 hours after ingestion. However, if you prefer, you can prepare a solution with 10 drops of fluid extract of cascara sacred in a glass of water and drink the mixture 3 times a day.

However, cascara santo is not recommended for the following cases:

• During the pregnancy
• During breastfeeding, as it can poison the baby through milk.
• Children under 10 years old
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Anal or rectal fissure
• Hemorrhoid
• Bowel obstruction
• Appendicitis
• Intestinal inflammation
• Dehydration
• Nausea or vomiting.

4- Dried plum tea

In short, dried plums are rich in soluble fibers (pectin) and insoluble fibers (cellulose and hemicellulose) that work by absorbing water from the digestive tract. Furthermore, they form a gel that helps regulate the intestines. And what makes prune tea a great laxative tea is the sorbitol present in its composition, which is a great natural laxative that facilitates the elimination of feces. Therefore, to prepare prune tea you will need:

Ingredients

• 3 pitted dried plums;
• 250 mL of water.

Preparation and consumption method

Start by adding the dried plums to a container with 250 ml of water. Then put it on the fire and let it boil for 5 to 7 minutes. Then, when it cools down, drink the laxative tea throughout the day.

Finally, you can also put 3 pitted dried plums in a glass of water and leave to soak overnight. Then, the next day, drink the water on an empty stomach.

5- Laxative teas: frângula

The frangula, whose scientific name is Rhamnus frangula, is a medicinal plant that has a substance called glucofrangulin, which has laxative properties. In short, it is one of the most effective laxative teas. Because, the frangula works by increasing the hydration of feces and stimulating intestinal and digestive movement.

In this way, bile production increases, causing food digestion to improve and thus contributing to intestinal regularization. Anyway, to prepare frângula tea you will need:

Ingredients

• 5 to 10 g of frangula peel (equivalent to 1 tablespoon of peel)
• 1 L of water

Preparation and consumption method

Furthermore, place the frangula peel and water in a container and put it on the fire, letting it boil for 15 minutes. Then, let it rest for 2 hours, strain and drink the tea 1 to 2 cups before bed. since its laxative effect occurs between 10 and 12 hours after drinking the tea.

Finally, frangula laxative tea should not be used by pregnant women and people who have colitis or ulcers.

6- Rhubarb tea

Because it is rich in sennosides and reine, rhubarb has a very powerful laxative action. Being stronger than other laxative teas such as senna, cascara and frangula. Therefore, consumption must be done carefully so as not to irritate the intestine and cause complications. To prepare rhubarb tea you will need:

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of rhubarb stem;
• 500 mL of water.

Preparation and consumption method

First, place the rhubarb stem and water in a container. Then, put it on the fire and let it boil for 10 minutes. When warm, strain and drink 1 cup before bed.

However, tea is contraindicated in some cases, for example:

• During the pregnancy
• Children under 10 years of age
• Dor abdominal
• Bowel obstruction
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Crohn’s disease
• Colitis or irritable bowel syndrome
• People who use medications such as digoxin, diuretics, corticosteroids or anticoagulants.

Care when consuming laxative teas

Although they are natural, laxative teas should not be used for more than 1 to 2 weeks. Because, they can cause a person to lose fluids and minerals, damaging their health. Therefore, if constipation persists or becomes frequent, see a specialist doctor (general practitioner or gastroenterologist) so that he can recommend the treatment that is appropriate for your case.

Finally, to avoid constipation, drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day. Also practice physical activity regularly and try to eat a balanced diet rich in fiber. Furthermore, it is important to avoid excessive consumption of processed foods and fast food.

So, if you liked this article, read also: Foods that regulate the intestine – What are they and their benefits.

Bibliographic references:

• Ministry of Health. Monograph of the species Rhamnus purshiana (Cascara Sagrada). 2014. Ministry of Health and Anvisa.
• LUENGO, María Tránsito López. Plants with laxative action in the treatment of primary constipation. Phytotherapy. 19. 3; 118-123, 2000
• CIRILLO, Carla; CAPASSO, Raffaele. Constipation and Botanical Medicines: An Overview. Phytother Res. 29. 10; 1488-1493, 2015