Senna tea has long been a popular herbal remedy, often marketed as a laxative, weight loss aid, and detox method. Senna is an herb that comes from several different flowering species of the Cassia plants. Types of Cassia senna plants include the C. acutifolia and C. angustifolia plants, which grow in the Middle East and India. People have used the leaves, flowers, and fruits of the senna plant as a laxative or stimulant for centuries. While it is effective for certain uses, particularly constipation relief, it's essential to understand both its potential benefits and risks.
What is Senna Tea?
Senna is an herbal medicine derived from the leaves, flowers, and fruit of a large group of flowering plants in the legume family. Extracts and teas made from senna plants have long been used as laxatives and stimulants in traditional herbal medicine. Originally from Egypt, senna is now grown worldwide, including countries like India and Somalia. Most commercial products are derived from Cassia acutifolia or Cassia angustifolio, commonly known as Alexandrian and Indian senna, respectively. Today, senna is most often sold as a tea or over-the-counter constipation supplement, but it’s also occasionally used in weight loss pills and drinks. Senna, also known as sena, cassia, cene, lava-pratos, or mamangá, can be found in health food stores and some pharmacies.
Uses and Benefits of Senna Tea
Relief of Constipation
The most common application for senna tea is to stimulate bowel movements and alleviate constipation. Senna tea is commonly used to relieve constipation because it contains compounds called sennosides, which have strong laxative and purgative effects. The primary active compounds in senna leaves are known as senna glycosides, or sennosides. Sennosides cannot be absorbed in your digestive tract, but they can be broken down by your gut bacteria . This breakdown of sennosides mildly irritates the cells in your colon, an effect that stimulates intestinal movement and produces a laxative effect. Senna is an active ingredient in many popular over-the-counter laxative medications, such as Ex-Lax and Nature’s Remedy. For most people, it will stimulate a bowel movement within 6-12 hours. A 2022 review recommends taking senna tea before bedtime. It can take around 6 to 12 hours for it to take effect.
Hemorrhoid Relief
Some people may also use senna tea to relieve discomfort associated with hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins and tissues in the lower rectum that can cause bleeding, pain, and itching. Chronic constipation is a major cause, and minor bouts of constipation can irritate preexisting hemorrhoids. While senna tea might help soothe these symptoms, more research is still needed in this area; senna’s efficacy for relieving hemorrhoid symptoms has not been thoroughly studied.
Preparation for Colonoscopies
Thanks to its laxative superpowers, some folks use senna tea to de-poopify their bowels before a colonoscopy. Just talk with your doc first.
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Immune System Support
Some research has looked at the possible benefits of senna in protecting against COVID-19. While senna leaves may help boost the immune system, there is no evidence to suggest that senna can directly prevent or treat COVID-19. Some research suggests that it may also help support the immune system, though more research is necessary.
Senna Tea and Weight Loss: Separating Fact from Fiction
Senna is increasingly included in herbal teas and supplements that claim to boost metabolism and promote weight loss. These products are often referred to as “skinny teas” or “teatoxes.” You’ve prob seen ads touting senna for its poo-promoting and pound-shedding properties. But there’s no scientific evidence supporting that sipping senna can help you shed pounds.
Many companies hail laxatives like senna tea as a great way to drop pounds. But there’s no evidence to support that senna tea is a safe or effective weight loss method. In fact, it might do more harm than good.
A 15-year study of over 10,000 women found a higher association between eating disorder diagnosis and laxative/diet pill use. Long-term use can also lead to other dangerous health risks like laxative dependency and altered bowel function. Remember, weight loss is a journey and there’s no easy fix. The best solution is to stick to a balanced diet and a healthy workout routine. It can take more time but it’s def safer than a fad “teatox diet.”
Senna tea does not directly burn fat. Senna tea’s long been a go-to product for constipation relief, but it’s also been lauded as a way to detox or lose weight. While its laxative effects are great to get your poops poppin’, there’s no scientific evidence supporting that sipping senna can help you shed pounds.
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Senna is not recommended for frequent or long-term use, as it may alter normal bowel tissue function and cause laxative dependence. What’s more, a recent study in over 10,000 women found that those who used laxatives for weight loss were 6 times likelier to develop an eating disorder.
Senna is frequently marketed as a weight loss tool, but there’s no evidence to support this effect. Due to its long-term health risks, you should not use senna to lose weight.
Potential Side Effects and Risks
Senna tea is generally considered safe for most adults and children over age 12. Nonetheless, it comes with several risks and side effects.
Common Side Effects
The most common side effects are stomach cramps, diarrhea, and nausea. However, these symptoms are usually mild and tend to resolve relatively quickly. Some people also experience allergic reactions to senna. If you’ve ever had a reaction to a product that contains senna, you should avoid senna tea. Senna may cause dehydration, which may result in dizziness, weakness, confusion, headaches, and electrolyte imbalances.Senna tea may cause side effects, such as diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and weight loss. In rare cases, senna can cause an allergic reaction.
Long-Term Risks
Senna is meant to serve as a short-term constipation remedy. You shouldn’t use it for more than 7 consecutive days unless otherwise directed by your healthcare provider. Long-term senna tea intake may lead to laxative dependence, electrolyte disturbances, and liver damage. Long-term use can also lead to dependency, where the intestines only function with laxatives. However, this link is still debated, as constipation itself is also a common symptom of colon cancer.
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Drug Interactions
Furthermore, senna may negatively interact with certain types of medications, such as:
- Blood thinners
- Diuretics
- Steroids
- Licorice root
- Heart rhythm medications
There are several drug interactions to keep in mind. By being aware of these, people can make sure that they are drinking senna tea safely.
- Digoxin: Senna can cause electrolyte imbalances in the body, especially in potassium levels. Low potassium can cause problems for someone taking digoxin.
- Warfarin: A 2020 study found that senna can interact with warfarin, which can increase the risk of bleeding.
- Diuretics: Like senna, some diuretics can also decrease potassium and other electrolyte levels. Taking these two medications together can cause potassium levels to drop to a dangerous level.
- Licorice root: A person should avoid taking both licorice root and senna together without first consulting a doctor.
- Other laxatives: Avoid taking any other laxatives at the same time. If senna tea does not relieve constipation, talk with a doctor about other remedies that may help.
It is best to contact a doctor for advice before taking senna tea. The doctor can advise on whether it is likely to interact with any medications the individual is currently taking.
Contraindications
People with certain medical conditions should not use senna, including:
- Intestinal obstruction
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Appendicitis
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Kidney problems
- Heart problems
- Previous allergic reaction to senna
If you have heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or liver disease, you should consult your healthcare provider prior to taking any senna product, as it may exacerbate these conditions.
Nobody under the age of 18 should take senna without a doctor’s recommendation.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Senna is not generally recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is unclear whether senna is safe to take when pregnant. Senna may or may not be safe for use during pregnancy. Pregnant people with constipation should speak with their doctor before using senna or any other laxative. Senna appears to be generally safe for people who are nursing when they take it in the recommended amount. Only a small amount of the herb passes into the breast milk.
Rare Cases
In rare cases, senna can cause a severe allergic reaction. A person should seek immediate medical help if this happens. senna-induced dermatitis in rare cases
When to Seek Medical Advice
A person should note down any potential side effects that develop. It is important to stop taking senna and consult a doctor, particularly if side effects are severe or ongoing. Call your doctor right away if you or your child has rectal bleeding, no bowel movement within 30 minutes of enema use, or has symptoms of dehydration (eg, confusion, decreased urination, feeling thirsty, vomiting). These maybe symptoms of a serious condition.
Dosage and Preparation
A typical dose of a senna-based supplement is 15-30 mg per day for no longer than 1 week . However, there’s no clear dosing recommendation for senna tea.
It’s considerably more difficult to determine a precise dose because the concentration of sennosides varies dramatically depending on how long your tea steeps. What’s more, many commercial senna teas, especially those that contain a blend of herbs, don’t state the exact amount of senna leaves used. In this case, the safest approach is to follow the package instructions for preparation and consumption. Never take more than directed on the label.
Senna often comes in the form of a dietary supplement. While the ingredient itself has been approved, the FDA doesn’t evaluate every dietary supplement with senna. Dietary supplements aren’t under the same regulations as drugs, so they don’t require the same approval process. This means whoever makes the supplement is responsible for the drug safety. The FDA will only intervene if the products are unsafe or mislabeled.
Preparing Senna Tea
The most effective senna tea is made from fresh green leaves, which are stronger than dried leaves. Place the leaves in a cup or small pot, add boiling water, and let steep for 5 minutes.
If you’re using tea bags or a blend, follow the package instructions. If you’re preparing senna tea from scratch, steep 1-2 grams of dried senna leaves in hot water for 10 minutes. Avoid drinking more than 2 servings per day . You can also add a touch of sweetener like honey or stevia.
Senna is a sweet and bitter tasting medicinal plant. Senna tea is often described as having a mild, sweet, and slightly bitter flavor. Unlike many other herbal teas, it isn’t particularly aromatic on its own. However, many commercial teas combine senna with other herbs that can alter the final aroma and flavor.
Calculating the Dosage
A standard dosage of senna is about 15 milligrams (mg), usually taken before bed. That said, it can be challenging to accurately measure tea leaves, as steeping time and temperature of the tea can affect the amount of sennosides released.
Brand Names
Here are some brand names of senna products:
- Correctol Herbal Tea Laxative
- Dr. Caldwell Senna Laxative
- Fletcher's Castoria
- Innerclean
- Rite Aid Senna
- Senexon
- Senokot
- Swiss Kriss
- Uni-Cenna
- X-Prep
- Hermes No. 8
- Pharaon Tea
- Senokot Syrup
Important Considerations
Even though it is natural, senna tea should be used cautiously and under medical supervision.
Senna hasn’t yet been studied for its long-term effects. However, research does show that long-term use of laxatives can weaken bowel muscle tone.
Before starting any new medications or supplements, it may be helpful to first speak with a health care provider to learn more about whether it’s right for you given your health history.
Watch for Drug Interactions
Senna may interact with drugs such as diuretics, blood thinners, steroids, and certain heart medications.