Senna tea is made from the dried leaves or fruits of the Cassia senna or Cassia angustifolia plant. You can drink senna tea to treat constipation due to its natural laxative effects. Senna tea may have a strongly bitter flavor, so you may want to add a sweetener or other strong flavorings. The herb may carry risks and side effects for people with certain medical conditions or who are taking some medications, so you should consult your doctor before taking senna tea.
History
Senna is a shrub that's used in medicinal remedies for its leaves and seedpods. Although senna is native to India, China and Pakistan, it has historically been used in the northern regions of Africa also. Senna tea has been taken orally as a laxative herb. A paste made from senna leaves has also been used as a topical treatment for ringworm, acne and other skin conditions.
Benefits
Today senna tea is used primarily as a laxative and stool softener to treat constipation. You'll also find senna as a main ingredient in various laxative remedies sold in stores. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved senna extract as a safe over-the-counter remedy to treat constipation. Senna tea's laxative effects may also help if you're preparing for bowel surgery, because it can help to clear your colon, notes the University of Michigan Health System.
Function
Senna contains anthraquinones, which are chemicals that act as stimulant laxatives, reports DrugDigest.org. Specifically senna contains sennosides, which are hydroxyanthracene glycosides that stimulate colon contractions to help to push stool through the intestines, explains the University of Michigan Health System. The sennosides also help to soften stools by stimulating fluid secretions in the colon. Additionally senna may help to retain water in the bowels to help soften stool.
Considerations
If you take senna tea to ease constipation, keep in mind that the herb can take eight to 12 hours before it's effective, notes DrugDigest.org. Although senna tea has no serious risks for pregnant or breastfeeding women, the herb's chemical properties can pass through breast milk. Senna in your breast milk won't necessarily harm your baby, but it could cause diarrhea. So that you avoid developing a dependency on senna tea to have regular bowel movements, you should use it for no longer than 10 days at a time, warns the University of Michigan Health System.
Dangers
If you have Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, intestinal obstructions, ulcerative colitis, appendicitis, hemorrhoids or stomach ulcers, taking senna could worsen the condition due to its irritating effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Although the most common side effects of taking senna are diarrhea and stomach cramps, you could also develop more serious effects, such as liver failure or dehydration, advises DrugDigest.org. Taking senna for a prolonged period of time can cause you to lose body fluids and potassium, leading to dehydration and dangerous effects on your heart, warns the University of Michigan Health System. Taking large amounts of senna tea may cause liver damage or failure. Don't take senna tea if you're taking certain medications like digoxin, thiazide diuretics or loop diuretics, cautions the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Taking senna with these drugs or other over-the-counter laxatives can increase your chances of fluid loss, low potassium and potentially life-threatening heart problems.
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