Senna tea is widely used to treat constipation, especially due to the presence of sennosides in its composition with strong laxative and purgative properties, which cause irritation in the intestine and increase bowel movements, facilitating the elimination of feces.
The commonly used parts of senna, whose scientific name is Senna alexandrina, Cassia angustifolia or Cassia Sennaare the leaves from which the active substances of this plant with medicinal properties are extracted for preparing tea or capsules.
Senna, also known as sena, cassia, cene, dishwasher or mamangá, can be found in health food stores and some compounding pharmacies, and should be used with medical advice or from a professional experienced in medicinal plants.
What is it for
Senna has laxative, purgative, depurative and vermifuge properties and, for this reason, it is widely used to treat gastrointestinal problems, especially occasional constipation. However, since it makes stools softer, it can also be used to alleviate the discomfort of defecation in people with anal fissures and hemorrhoids.
The laxative effect of senna is mainly linked to its ability to irritate the intestinal muscles, which causes bowel movements to be faster, eliminating feces.
Despite its benefits, senna should be used with caution and under medical guidance, as its constant use can cause changes in the intestinal microbiota, very strong cramps and even predispose to colorectal cancer.
Furthermore, senna can also help reduce menstruation, as it contains substances that stimulate the contraction of smooth muscle, which is the type of muscle present in the intestine and uterus. Therefore, in addition to treating constipation, it can also be used by women who wish to stimulate menstruation.
See other home remedies that can be used to treat constipation.
Does senna tea help you lose weight?
Senna tea is often popularly used during weight loss processes. However, this plant does not have any property that helps burn fat, and its effect on weight reduction is only related to the increase in the frequency of bowel movements, in addition to the inhibition of water absorption, which prevents the retention of liquids.
How to make senna tea
To make tea, preference should be given to green senna leaves, as they have a more active effect on the body, especially when compared to their dried version. Furthermore, the greener the leaf, the stronger the effect.
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 g of senna leaves;
- 250 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Place the herb in a pan or cup, add water and let it rest for 5 minutes. Wait for it to cool slightly, strain and drink 1 cup, without adding sugar, preferably before bed. This tea should only be used until constipation symptoms improve or for up to 7 consecutive days. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor if there is no improvement in constipation after 3 consecutive days of use.
How many hours does senna tea take to take effect?
Senna tea takes 8 to 12 hours to take effect, so it is recommended that it be taken before bed, so that bowel movements occur in the morning.
How long can senna be consumed?
Ideally, senna should only be used under the guidance of a doctor, herbalist or naturopath and for a maximum period of 7 consecutive days. If after this period, constipation persists, it is advisable to consult a general practitioner or gastroenterologist.
Senna capsules
Although tea is a practical option for consuming senna, this plant can also be found in the form of capsules, which can be sold in health food stores and some pharmacies, and which are normally taken in the quantity of 1 capsule of 100 to 300 mg per day.
Possible side effects
Senna tea is considered safe, as long as it is used for a maximum of 1 week of treatment or up to 34.4 mg of sennosides per day. When used for more than a week or in quantities greater than those recommended, it can cause undesirable side effects such as cramps, a feeling of a bloated belly and an increase in the amount of gas.
In addition, some people may also experience vomiting, diarrhea, increased menstrual flow, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, intestinal malabsorption and decreased hemoglobin levels in the blood test.
Senna tea can also turn urine more yellow or reddish brown, due to the presence of anthraquinones in its composition, and interfere with the results of urine tests. However, the urine returns to its normal color after stopping the use of the tea.
Is senna tea bad?
Using senna tea for a maximum of 1 week is safe, however, it can be harmful if used frequently or for prolonged periods, as it can cause the intestine to become “lazy” and dependent on the laxative effects of the tea. , functioning only when tea is consumed.
Furthermore, the use of senna or other laxative teas or medicines can lead to poor absorption of vitamins, minerals or other medicines in the intestine, and harm health.
Therefore, it is important that the treatment of constipation is guided by a gastroenterologist or nutritionist, who can recommend changes to the diet, such as drinking more fluids, increasing the consumption of foods rich in fiber and practicing physical activities regularly, to improve intestinal transit. and elimination of feces. See other ways to relieve constipation.
Does senna tea cause cancer?
Some studies show that the anthranoids present in the composition of senna can damage intestinal cells and increase the risk of bowel cancer, especially when used for prolonged periods.
However, the risk of bowel cancer from consuming senna tea is still controversial, especially because constipation is one of the common symptoms of bowel cancer and the use of tea is very common in people with constipation. Know how to identify the symptoms of bowel cancer.
Therefore, more studies are still needed to prove the risk of bowel cancer related to the use of senna tea.
Who shouldn’t use
Senna should not be used by children under 12 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by people who have intestinal obstruction, acute appendicitis, diarrhea, inflammation in the intestine or stomach, inflammatory bowel diseases, stomach pain of unknown cause. or senna allergy.
Furthermore, senna should not be consumed by people taking heart medications, laxatives, cortisone or diuretics and its use should not exceed 7 consecutive days, as it can cause several side effects.
Senna tea should also be used with caution by women who use combined oral contraceptives containing estrogen or hormone replacement medications during menopause, as it may reduce the effectiveness of these medications due to reduced absorption of estrogen from the intestine.
Therefore, before using senna, it is important to seek advice from a doctor or herbalist to avoid possible complications.
