8 Incredible health benefits of Senna, a potent medicinal herb
11/14/2020 / By Joanne Washburn / Comments
8 Incredible health benefits of Senna, a potent medicinal herb

Senna is a medicinal plant that natural healers in India, Africa and Egypt have used for thousands of years to combat constipation. In fact, senna is so effective at treating constipation that there are many FDA-approved senna products, including senna fruit extract and senna syrup, sold as over-the-counter laxatives.

The leaves, fruits and flowers of the two most popular kinds of senna, Cassia senna and C. angustifolia were also used to make herbal remedies for weight loss. If taken as an herbal tea alongside a nutritious diet, senna could help you keep off weight in the long run.

The health benefits of senna

There’s more to senna than its laxative properties. Here’s the rundown on senna’s most touted health benefits:

  1. Boosts digestion – Senna contains natural enzymes that help to restore gastric juice secretions in your stomach. You need these secretions to split up the proteins from the foods that you ate and to absorb the nutrients from those foods.
  2. Supports weight loss – Because of senna’s powerful laxative properties, drinking tea made with senna or taking senna supplements can help with weight loss. This explains why many senna products are often marketed as weight loss tools or products despite their reputation as laxatives.
  3. Regulates bowel movement – Senna owes its laxative properties to sennosides, which are a kind of aromatic plant compound. Sennosides restore bowel movement by irritating the lining of the intestines, which stimulates the digestive tract to move stool through it.
  4. Relieves asthma attacks – In ancient Greek medicine, senna leaves were used to make preparations for easing asthma, especially the kind that occurs with left heart failure.
  5. Treats aches and pains – Natural healers in ancient Greece also used senna leaf preparations to ease joint pain, backache and hip pain. Senna has positive effects against pain because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
  6. May help treat gout – There is documented use of senna for the treatment of gout, a common type of arthritis characterized by severe attacks of pain and tenderness in the joints.
  7. Helps treat acne – Herbalists would also prepare a paste with senna leaves to treat acne, clear rashes and soothe other skin problems.
  8. Relieves edema – In Chinese medicine, healers used senna leaves to treat edema, which occurs when fluid builds up in the tissues and causes swelling.

How to make senna tea

Most health food stores sell senna tea. But more often than not, the tea leaves are mixed with other ingredients that lessen their effects. Therefore, it’s important to read product labels before purchasing senna tea.

Or, even better, just make senna tea at home. Here’s an easy recipe you can follow:

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried senna leaves
  • Organic honey

Preparation:

  1. Boil water in a pot. Once boiling, add senna leaves.
  2. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. Strain the tea into a glass.
  4. Add honey to taste.

Senna will take effect six to 12 hours after taking it. Therefore, it’s best to drink senna tea before bed. Doing so will help you “go” in the morning. Listed below are the most common dosages of senna that people take.

  • Adults: 17.12–34.4 mg daily
  • Adults (Postpartum): 28 mg daily
  • Adults (Elderly): 17.2 mg daily
  • Children aged 12 years and above: 2–4 tablets (8.6 mg sennosides per tablet) daily
  • Children aged 6 to 11 years: 1–2 tablets (8.6 mg sennosides per tablet) daily
  • Children aged 2 to 5 years: 1/2–1 tablet (4.3 mg sennosides per tablet) daily

Take note that there is no standardized dose of senna for constipation. When in doubt, consult a natural health practitioner. People with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, appendicitis and heart disease are also discouraged from using senna.

Sources:

CMS.HerbalGram.org

TimesOfIndia.IndiaTimes.com

VeryWellHealth.com

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