Senna tea: what is it for, how to prepare it, benefits and more!

Senna tea, in general, contributes to helping those who suffer from constipation or other intestinal problems. This happens due to the presence of laxative, depurative and vermifuge properties, which stimulate the intestine to eliminate the accumulation of fecal cake.

In addition, this plant has in its composition other substances that keep the body free of parasites, inflammation and abdominal swelling. However, the consumption of this tea should be indicated by a health professional, since it may have adverse reactions and is not recommended for everyone.

So, learn all about this plant that has become popular, mainly to help with weight loss. But can senna tea really help you lose weight? To find out the answers to these and other questions, read on.

Senna tea is a medicinal plant popular for its laxative, depurative and vermifuge action, helping with constipation and other intestinal problems. However, the consumption of this drink has contraindications and its incorrect use can bring serious side effects and even aggravate existing diseases.

In this topic, understand better what it is for, what are the ingredients and how to prepare senna tea, in addition to knowing the possible reactions caused by its ingestion. Learn more below!

Senna (Senna alexandrina) is a plant that grows in semi-arid regions and its first seedlings appeared in Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. Used since antiquity by the Egyptians, Greeks, Arabs and Romans, its use was spread throughout the world as a medicinal herb, mainly for its purgative action.

Thus, sene also known as Cassia, dishwasher and Sena became very popular for having properties that improve intestinal transit. And today, senna tea is recommended to help people who suffer from constipation or who feel pain when defecating. In addition, it serves for other ailments that affect the intestinal system.

Senna tea contains components that help in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, especially in cases of intestinal constipation. Due to its laxative, vermifuge and anti-inflammatory properties, this plant helps fight inflammation in the body, in addition to eliminating parasites present in the intestine.

However, in cases of chronic constipation, that is, people who evacuate less than 3 times a week, ingesting the tea may not have the desired effect. Therefore, it is very important to seek medical help, in addition to eating well and doing physical activity.

To prepare senna tea, green and fresh leaves are the most suitable, as their effect tends to be stronger. However, if it is not possible to find them, buy dried senna in health food stores, which will be just as beneficial.

Therefore, you will need 1 to 2 grams of senna (equivalent to 1 shallow tablespoon) and 250 ml of water. Boil the water, then turn off the heat and add the senna. Cover the container and let it infuse for 5 to 10 minutes. The tea is ready for consumption and can be taken 2 to 3 times a day, but avoid taking large amounts.

The reaction of senna tea can be immediate or take a longer time to take effect. Therefore, the best time to drink tea should be according to each person’s availability. Thus, avoid ingesting the tea before leaving home or while doing some important task.

The main function of senna tea is to act as a natural laxative, stimulating the intestine and thus eliminating accumulated feces. However, its excessive use can cause side effects such as cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal swelling and, in women, increased menstrual flow.

In addition, it can generate severe cases of dehydration, as there tends to be a loss of mineral salts and other nutrients that are important for the functioning of the body. Therefore, do not consume senna tea for prolonged periods. Consumption is indicated for a maximum of 10 days in a row and, if you feel any reaction mentioned, suspend the drink immediately.

Even with beneficial properties, mainly due to its laxative effect, senna tea is contraindicated for:

– Pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding;
– Children under 12 years old;
– Women in the menstrual period;
– People who suffer from diseases such as kidney disease, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, cystitis, acute appendicitis, hemorrhoids or have stomach pains for no apparent reason;
– Who makes use of continuous medication for the heart, chronic diseases or uses synthetic medicine with laxative and diuretic action.

Despite being well known and recommended for regulating intestinal transit, senna tea is rich in active ingredients that bring many health benefits. Therefore, consuming this tended tea can be a great option to cure an inflammatory process or eliminate liquid retention, for example.

Next, find out what are the properties of senna tea and how they can improve the entire functioning of the organism. Check it out below.

The anti-inflammatory properties present in senna tea are able to help in the treatment of inflammations that cause pain in the joints and in the head. In this way, the drink is an excellent option to eliminate inflammation in the body, often caused by stress and poor diet.

Consuming foods and drinks with antioxidant properties are essential to ensure that the body’s cells are healthy and protected against free radicals. If not fought, they can trigger chronic diseases in the body, such as hypertension, diabetes and even degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Senna tea is an interesting option, as it is rich in flavonoids, senosides and glycosides, important antioxidant properties that protect health. Therefore, it is worth consulting with a doctor to receive the correct guidance on the use of this plant.

Due to the rush of everyday life, it is often not possible to eat healthy and according to nutritional needs. Soon, the body tends to be overloaded with harmful substances, causing poor absorption of food, causing gastric discomfort or even evolving into more serious illnesses.

Therefore, it is necessary to make use of healthy products that have a detox function in the body. As it is considered a natural depurative, senna tea eliminates all toxins and impurities in the body. And so, it keeps the body free from infections and illnesses.

Intestinal worms are usually transmitted through contaminated water and food, or by having contact with the eggs of these parasites in the soil, for example. In addition to lodging in the walls of the intestine, the worms can also penetrate other organs. Soon, the symptoms are: abdominal pains, gases, diarrhea and vomit.

Senna tea has antiparasitic actives and has proven to be very effective in acting as a vermifuge. Therefore, making use of this plant can be a natural alternative to eliminate the parasites present in the intestine. However, first seek your doctor to assess whether there are any contraindications.

The most common use of senna tea is due to its laxative properties that fight constipation. This plant acts on the muscles of the colon region, in the intestine, stimulating evacuation. In addition, other components such as senoside A and B increase intestinal activities, regularizing the entire functioning of the body.

However, it is not recommended to consume senna tea in large amounts and for a long time, as the tendency is for the body to get used to it, causing the opposite effect. That is, consuming this herb for long periods makes the intestine lazy, making constipation worse. So only use this plant if you really need it.

Senna tea also prevents fluid retention, as it acts as a diuretic, stimulating urine production and thus expelling excess water, sodium and other substances from the body that make the body swollen. However, it is worth mentioning that the use of this plant should not be done in an exaggerated way, so as not to cause dehydration.

There is a lot of information about senna tea, which can confuse and raise many questions about how this plant acts in the body. It is believed that its consumption can bring harm to health or help in the weight loss process. So, below check out the most common questions about senna tea.

So far, it has not been possible to scientifically prove whether senna tea causes cancer. However, ingesting the drink in large quantities tends to irritate the intestine, causing inflammation, hypersensitivity or intensifying diseases, such as hemorrhoids and anal fissure. Therefore, do not use the plant for more than two weeks in a row and without medical advice.

Intake of senna tea is not indicated for people who have high blood pressure, as to control hypertension you need to take continuous medication. Therefore, there is a risk of drug interaction, due to the presence of similar substances in the plant and in the drug.

Due to its laxative power, senna tea has become known not only for regulating the intestines, but also for being associated with weight loss. However, this plant does not contain actives that stimulate fat burning, which, in fact, causes body change.

What brings the feeling of weight loss with the ingestion of senna tea is due to the elimination of accumulated feces in the intestine, causing momentary weight loss to occur. Therefore, it is not correct to say that consuming this plant can help to lose weight. It is necessary to combine a healthy lifestyle and the practice of good habits to achieve this goal.

Although senna tea is used in the weight loss process, this plant is not safe for weight loss. In addition to not having components that stimulate fat loss, this tea, if consumed in excess, can be harmful to health and make the body dependent or cause a negative effect.