Health Benefits of Senna Tea /Senna tea is an FDA-approved nonprescription laxative. Its top health benefits may include aiding weight loss, treating constipation, reducing inflammation, and detoxifying the body, among others. However, this powerful tea does come with possible side effects, and should only be consumed in a moderate amount to avoid weakened bowels, low electrolyte levels, liver damage, heart conditions, and dependency on the herb for your gut to function properly.
‘Senna’ is a medicine derived from the fruits and leaves that come from a set of plants from the legume family. The herbal extract and teas made from senna plants have long been marketed as laxatives, weight-loss remedies, stimulants and detoxifying agents. Senna plants originated in Egypt, but now they are grown worldwide, including in India. They are an active ingredient in medicines that treat constipation and occasionally even weight loss supplements.
Other Name
Alexandrian Senna, Alexandrinische Senna, Casse, Cassia acutifolia, Cassia angustifolia, Cassia lanceolata, Cassia senna, Fan Xie Ye, Indian Senna, Khartoum Senna, Sen, Sena Alejandrina, Séné, Séné d’Alexandrie, Séné d’Egypte, Séne d’Inde, Séné de Tinnevelly, Senna alexandrina, Sennae Folium, Sennae Fructus, Sennosides, Tinnevelly Senna, True Senna.
What is Senna Tea?
Senna tea is derived from the leaves of Cassia plants, which comprise more than 250 different species. Senna has been traditionally used as a laxative as well as to clear the bowels before tests such as colonoscopy. The senna plants are small shrubs that bear yellow or green leaflets; these can be cultivated and dried to make senna tea. The two most popular senna leaf varieties are Cassia Angustifolia and Cassia Angustifolia, which are exported around the world due to their unique health effects. Senna tea has a sweet flavor but has a slightly bitter taste in the end. [rx]
Health Benefits
The major health benefits of senna tea are as follows:
- May Aid in Weight Loss – Senna tea can help to flush out excess toxins and residual waste matter out of the body, which may promote weight loss. However, much of the weight that is “lost” is water weight. So, consuming the tea should also be paired with dietary restrictions and exercise to have a full effect.
- May Act As A Laxative – The sennosides that may be found in this tea may stimulate peristaltic motion and rapid detoxification through its possible laxative effect. This helps treat constipation. Senna is approved by the FDA as a nonprescription laxative. [rx]
- May Treat Hemorrhoids – Senna may help in reducing swelling and quick healing of anal fissures and other hemorrhoids due to its laxative effects.
- May Treat Indigestion – If you are struggling with constipation, bloating, cramping, or indigestion, senna tea can often help by promoting the normal flow of food and waste matter through your bowels. [rx]
- May Act As a Diuretic – This specialty tea is also well-known as a possible diuretic, meaning it may stimulate urination. This can release excess salts, fats, toxins, and water from the body. Senna can often result in dehydration, so make sure you are staying well hydrated.
- May Aid in Skin Care – Senna tea, due to the presence of tannin, resin, and essential oils, is used to treat wounds, burns, and ringworms. Its anti-bacterial properties are also useful in fighting acne, and other skin ailments.
- May Help in Hair Care & Color – Applying senna to your hair will ensure stronger, thicker, and voluminous hair. It can also act as a natural hair highlighter which gives ash blonde to golden color.
- Possibly Anti-Parasitic – Certain compounds that may be found in senna tea, such as sennosides, possibly possess an anti-parasitic effect. By eradicating intestinal worms and other gut parasites, this tea can help ensure that you get as many nutrients as possible from your meals.
- May Have an Anticancer Potential – The literature on senna extracts suggests that it is a weak promoter of colon carcinogenesis but however when taken in large amounts, it can be a cause of cancer cell formation in the body. In this research, the test subjects were administered 10mg/kg for 13 to 28 weeks, which is a healthy dose to induce laxation. The dose was, however, increased to 100mg/kg over the next three months and results showed an increase in the appearance of tumors. [rx] To gain more clarity, a study was conducted in 2005 and researchers found that when the rats were administered with a dose of 30 and 60mg/kg for 110 weeks, there was no tumor activity. On the other hand, when the rats were administered with the same amount of senna extracts, as well as tumor-initiating agent, the study showed that senna could actually help reduce the tumor. [rx]
A 2011 study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine suggests that there is no relation between the occurrence of colon cancer and consumption of senna.[rx] With all the research out, consuming a moderate amount of senna tea is a great way for you to stay healthy and avoid any risks.
- Possibly Anti-inflammatory – Traditionally, senna tea has been used for a wide variety of inflammatory conditions, including headaches, fevers, and inflammation of joints and tissues. [rx]
How To Make Senna Tea?
Senna tea can easily be made at home and requires only a small amount of senna leaves for its preparation. Despite being native to the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, the senna plant has also been cultivated in the US and other parts of the world. So you can also grow your own senna shrub, as it is much easier to access the leaflets to make this tea. Once the leaflets are harvested and dried, they can be used to their full effect.
Detoxifying Senna Tea Recipe
- Course: Tea
- Cuisine: Indian, Middle East
- Keyword: Senna Tea
- Appliance: Saucepan
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Steeping time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Servings: 1 cup
Ingredients
- 1/4 tsp dried senna leaves
- 2 cups water filtered
- 1/2 tsp honey or sugar
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat.
- Add the senna leaves, cover the pot, and allow them to steep for 8-10 minutes.
- Strain the mixture into a teacup, or larger pitcher if you’re making a bigger batch. Add honey or sugar, if desired, and enjoy!
If you want to use senna tea for overall health, start with a mild brew to see what effects it will have on your body. The laxative effect can be rather intense and may affect people with sensitive stomachs. Find a comfortable strength for senna tea based on your own body, and remember this tea should not be taken for an extended period of time.
Senna is not recommended for frequent or long-term use, as it may alter normal bowel tissue function and cause laxative dependence (rx).
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 (rx).
If you’re trying to lose weight, dietary and lifestyle modifications are your best bet — not supplements or laxatives.
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.
Safety, precautions, and side effects
Senna tea is generally considered safe for most adults and children over age 12. Nonetheless, it comes with several risks and side effects.
The most common side effects are stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. However, these symptoms are usually mild and tend to resolve relatively quickly (rx).
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 (rx).
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 (rx).
Long-term senna tea intake may lead to laxative dependence, electrolyte disturbances, and liver damage.
Furthermore, senna may negatively interact with certain types of medications, such as (rx):
- blood thinners
- diuretics
- steroids
- licorice root
- heart rhythm medications
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 (rx). Senna is not generally recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding (rx).
Common senna tea side effects include stomach cramps, diarrhea, and nausea. More serious side effects, such as liver damage, may occur from long-term use.
Recommended Dosage
The following doses have been studied in scientific research
ADULTS BY MOUTH:
- For constipation: For general constipation, the usual dose is 17.2 mg daily. Don’t take more than 34.4 mg twice daily. In elderly people, 17 mg daily has been used. For constipation following pregnancy, 28 mg in 2 divided doses has been used.
- For bowel preparation: Doses of senna containing 75 mg or sennosides taken the day before the colonoscopy, or 120-150 mg taken once or twice the day before the colonoscopy, have been used.
CHILDREN BY MOUTH:
- In children age 12 and over, the usual dose is 2 tablets, with 8.6 mg sennosides per tablet, once daily. The maximum dose is 4 tablets (34.4 mg sennosides) twice daily. In children ages 6 to 11 years, the usual dose is 1 tablet (8.6 mg sennosides) daily. The maximum dose is 2 tablets (17.2 mg sennosides) twice daily. In children ages 2 to 5 years, the usual dose is 1/2 tablet (4.3 mg sennosides) daily. The maximum dose is 1 tablet (8.6 mg sennosides) twice daily.
- A typical dose of a senna-based supplement is 15–30 mg per day for no longer than 1 week (rx). 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.
- Although no clear guidelines exist for senna tea dosage, you shouldn’t take more than directed on the package
How to prepare senna tea at home
- 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.
- 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 (rx).
- You can also add a touch of sweeteners like honey or stevia.
Side Effects of Senna Tea
Senna tea is very potent and should only be consumed for a purpose. It is best to consult a qualified healthcare provider before you incorporate this tea into your diet. Possible side effects of excessive consumption of the tea include the following:
- Dependency – Long-term use of senna tea can actually cause the bowels to stop functioning normally because they have become dependent on the sennosides found in this tea. This type of dependence can be difficult to break and will cause constipation and stomach discomfort when you don’t use the tea. Using this tea consistently for more than two weeks is not recommended. [rx]
- Electrolyte Complications – Regular use of senna tea can cause changes to the chemical balance in the body, typically in the form of lower electrolyte levels, particularly potassium, which can be life-threatening at extremely low levels.
- Blood Thinner and Heart Health – Senna tea also has blood-thinning qualities, so if you are already taking anticoagulant medication, drinking this tea could cause complications.
- Pregnant and Nursing – Pregnant and lactating women are advised to avoid consuming senna tea as it directly affects the gut.
- Liver Toxicity – Prolonged consumption of senna tea may also cause liver toxicity.
The tea can also have milder side effects, which include
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Abdominal cramps
- Muscle weakness
- Excess urination
From Where To Buy
- Relieves occasional constipation generally within 6-12 hours.*
- Non-GMO verified. All Ingredients Certified Organic. Kosher. Caffeine Free.
- Consistently high quality herbs from ethical trading partnerships.
- Taste: Fresh and earthy with notes of sweet peppermint.
- Case of two boxes, each box containing 16 sealed tea bags
References
