Senna Tea
An herbal alternative
The senna herb, whether in senna tea or other forms, has a long history of being used as a laxative inducing agent. The secret lies in a family of compounds known as sennosides, which are in high abundance in each senna plant. Actually, this natural laxative is not just available in tea form, although that's one of the most popular ways to take senna.
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Many people also opt to take the tablet form, available under the brand name Senokot. In tablet form, the sennosides have been purified out of the herb and mixed with fillers or other nutritional supplements. For example, the regular formulation comes in a calcium tablet, whereas Senokot S is bound with docusate, a stool softening agent (although it is not strictly a member of the family of natural remedies. This combination form is a dual treatment of constipation.
The origins of senna
The senna herb is properly a group of plants that can be traced natively to the Middle Eastern parts of the world, such as Egypt and Sudan. More temperate climates such as the U.S. are home to a few species also. The plants comes in a variety of shapes, ranging from small to medium-sized shrubs. While the tablet form is popular, senna tea formulation has been around for about a thousand years. Descriptions in Arab texts tell of brewing the leaves and administering them for the purpose of inducing bowel movements.
Modern usage
In modern times, there have been many medical studies which confirm its efficacy in treating patients with constipation, from the elderly, to psychiatric patients, to those with paraplegia caused by spinal injuries. When it was being tested as a cancer treatment, it was also found to induce anticonstipatory effects. It's use by pregnant women is controversial, with some reports suggesting it can have negative effects on the mother and fetus, and other reports suggesting it is the stimulant laxative of choice. Senna has also been studied for its ability to clear the colon before a colonoscopy, which results in clearer and sharper images that make it easier for physicians to make a medical decision based on the images.
Senna tea
Tea leaves made from the senna plant are available for purchase as nutritional supplements or as senna tea. Be aware of the quality of the product. The amount of sennoside chemical in senna tea leaves is uneven, and overdosing has been reported. To control the quantity ingested, it may be better to use a purified capsule or tablet form which has specific weights introduced into each dose.
Sources
Hookey LC, Vanner S., Can J Gastroenterol. 2007 Feb;21(2):105-11.
Miles CL, Fellowes D, Goodman ML, Wilkinson S., Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Oct 18;(4):CD003448.