Marketed extensively as a treatment for constipation and a ‘detox’ tea, senna herbal tea is quite a popular herbal medicine. It has proven health benefits and has been used as a medicine in traditional Chinese treatments for inflammation, constipation, and colon cleansing, among others. Senna is a powerful herb and comes with quite a few side effects as well. Let’s discuss in detail the health benefits of senna herb tea.
Top 12 Health Benefits of Senna Herbal Tea
1. Senna tea for relief from constipation
Modern lifestyle comes with its health challenges, constipation being one such major issue battled by people across all age groups. The herb has been recognized as a laxative and a helpful natural remedy to treat the condition.
Within hours of taking senna herb tea, the intestine muscles get stimulated, and fecal matter is expelled. Furthermore, senna assists the large intestine to absorb more water, thus softening the stool for quick and easy bowel movements.
2. Improve skin conditions
How your skin looks is directly related to how your digestive system performs. Skin conditions like acne can be indicative of poor digestion and constipation issues. The tea can cleanse the colon and get healthy, better-looking skin.
Senna leaves can also be applied topically on the skin in case of eczema and acne is persistent.
3. Get rid of intestinal worms
Seena is well known for its laxative properties that help in expelling out intestinal worms and parasites. The fecal material inside the intestines that stays due to constipation provides an excellent environment for them to breed.
The herb works as an agent that helps to destroy or expel the parasitic worms. It works best when added with other anthelmintic herbs like fennel or ginger. It helps in getting the regularity back. The tea leaves also help in reducing the chances of bowel cramps.
4. Diuretic
Senna herb tea stimulates excess urination, acting as a diuretic. It can help the body to flush out excess salts, toxins, fats, and other waste products through urination. As the kidneys remove excess salt accumulation, it helps control blood pressure by preventing extra fluid build-up in the blood vessels.
However, diuretics can cause dehydration as well, leaving too little potassium in the blood. So never use senna or any other OTC as a diuretic unless advised by a doctor.
5. Cleanses colon
A healthy, clean colon can boost your energy levels and immunity, keeping you healthy and fit. Colon cleansing has numerous benefits- from helping you improve your concentration levels to maintaining good digestive health.
The toxins present in the gastrointestinal tract might be responsible for health-related issues. Some of them include blood pressure and arthritis. Seena tea helps in colon cleansing and thereby improves overall health. The effect is due to toxin removal from the body. The primary benefit includes but is not limited to a boost in energy, immune system, and enabling the body to function efficiently. A healthy colon also helps absorb more vitamins and minerals from food, giving you the best health.
6. Anti-inflammatory properties
Senna herb has anti-inflammatory properties that can help heal internal and external swellings. Senna herb tea can help patients battling asthma and other respiratory diseases by reducing inflammation of the lungs. It may also help with hemorrhoids by reducing the swelling in the anal area.
In traditional medicine, senna has been used to treat headaches, fevers, mild aches and pains, and inflammation of joints and tissues. Senna is also known to possess antibacterial properties that help combat-related irritations.
7. Good for weight loss
For people looking to lose weight in an instant, senna tea might come in handy. The accumulation of toxins in the body causes one to gain weight. As senna acts as a laxative and contracts the intestines to eliminate waste, the scale numbers may come down instantly. Also, senna does increase the rate of metabolism, which may aid in losing weight quickly.
The herb is also a primary ingredient in herbal teas prepared to purge impurities from the body and weight loss. The glucosides(sennosides) and anthraquinone derivatives are some of the components of the extracts. These help the colon by promoting peristalsis in the process of evacuation. (1)
However, it may be noted here that weight loss with senna herb tea is often loss of water from the body, and that will again come up as you rehydrate yourself. It is not regarded as the safest way to lose weight.
8. Hair loss
Senna has been used topically to color and condition hair for centuries. When applied to hair, it naturally imparts an ash blonde or a golden color. Applying senna to your hair will result in stronger, shinier, and thick hair. Senna tea increases the blood flow to hair follicles, making them grow faster and thicker.
Senna may also help people with hair issues like dandruff and hair loss. It has antibacterial properties that can fight poor hair health.
9. Herb tea as a purgative
Senna tea can be an excellent purgative, given its laxative properties. Senna herb promotes bowel movements, cleanses the colon, and helps if you battle bloating, indigestion, flatulence, or constipation. The gastrointestinal tract gets soothed due to the elimination of toxins, and the body can absorb vital nutrients from food easily. There is less stress on the digestive tract, and senna can help treat related issues.
10. Boosting immunity
Senna works by detoxifying the body and getting rid of waste products. In the process, foreign pathogens and harmful parasites are expelled from the body. As the digestive system works more efficiently, the body can digest food by absorbing the maximum nutrients, thus boosting overall immunity.
Senna herb is also known to promote and help white blood cells to fight infections and diseases efficiently.
11. Get rid of bad breath
The primary indicator of poor dental hygiene is bad breath, which can often be bad-putting and cause embarrassment. Soak senna leaves in hot water and wait for them to cool. Rinse the mouth with this water. Senna water can help fight bad breath and improve your confidence.
12. Prevents colon cancer
Senna herb tea has antioxidants that can fight the free radicals causing oxidative stress. These antioxidants neutralize these free radicals, protecting us from various chronic diseases and some types of cancers, especially colon cancer.
Moreover, senna helps the colon to stay healthy by not letting waste products build up.
More about Senna Herb Tea
What is Senna Herb Tea?
Senna is a herb, and senna herb tea is derived from the leaves of Cassia plants, which comprise more than 250 different species. The plant is native to tropical areas, though some species can also thrive well in temperate climates. Cassia plants thrive well in North Africa but are now primarily cultivated in India and China.
The FDA recognizes senna as a non-prescription laxative, an active ingredient in many laxatives and OTC stool softeners. The leaves of the Senna plant are made into a tea that can be had simply as it is.
Related Article: Health Benefits Of Cassia Seed
How does Senna Herb Tea taste?
Senna herb is not very pleasing to the palette, given its strong undertones. Though it may taste slightly sweet initially, the bitter undertones make drinking unpleasant. Most people add some green tea or honey to improve the flavor of senna herbal tea. It also does not have a pleasing aroma and comes across as smelling bland.
What are the Side effects of Senna Herbal Tea?
Senna herb is likely considered safe when administered in a controlled dosage. It can be consumed by children above 2 years and adults. However, senna herbal tea can have side effects such as –
1. Long-Term Usage Effects: Long-term herb usage is found to be related to liver injury. The liver injury was seen after 3 to 5 months of herb use. The injury could be mild in most cases and moderate in some. However, this could be healed by discontinuing the herb. (2)
Avoid long-term, un-administered high oral dosage. Consumption for more than 2 weeks at a stretch is not recommended. Long-term use may cause prolonged dependence on laxatives.
2. Dehydration is : The leaf tea should not be taken by people suffering from any of the conditions like diarrhea, dehydration, and people suffering from long, unsupervised loose stool problems.
3. Potassium Deficiency: People suffering from potassium deficiency or electrolyte disturbances should avoid it altogether. The herb could further worsen the condition. It may also change the electrolyte balance in the body.
4. Birth Control Pills: Women taking birth control pills should also avoid taking tea regularly. Seena affects the absorption of estradiol in the body. Estradiol is present in a lot of birth control pills. Consult your doctor first if you are taking the pills. (3)
Precautions for Pregnant and Lactating Mothers
Though considered safe during pregnancy, it may be mentioned here that sometimes prolonged use of laxatives can cause uterine contractions and complications. Do not ever consume laxatives without consulting your doctor if you are pregnant.
Breastfeeding mothers can use the herb tea but in small dosages. It is not likely to cause problems with nursing babies.
Check with your doctor before using senna for any purpose, even as a laxative. Senna may interact with some medications, including blood thinners, birth control pills, estrogen pills, and diuretics.
