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Senna is a herbal tea made of dried senna leaves for brewing, used by people who want to lose weight. Senna, however, is not a neutral product that can be drunk several times a day instead of tea.
What does senna consist of and how does it work?
Senna is the name of a plant with laxative properties. The tea known under this trade name consists of the dried leaves of this plant. The substances contained in senna cause painful abdominal cramps, activating the intestinal peristalsis. This makes bowel movement easier, but is not a good way to lose weight. The laxative effect of senna will temporarily reduce weight, but this is mainly due to water loss. Together with it, we also lose valuable minerals necessary for the proper functioning of the body.
In what cases should senna not be used?
Senna is not recommended for people with inflammation of the large intestine, tuberculosis, kidney failure and cardiovascular diseases. Senna tea should not be drunk by pregnant women and during menstruation. It must not be used in the inflammation of nerve bundles, in ulcer disease and haemorrhoids. If you drink it to counter constipation, it’s a good idea to take antispasmodics at the same time.
Is senna safe for health?
Senna is not toxic, but using it as a weight loss remedy is not a good idea. Senna tea causes diarrhea, which dehydrates the body and leaches mineral salts out of the body. What’s more, some manufacturers advertise senna as a great way to lose weight without having to take up physical activity, and some consumers believe in these claims. When we drink senna tea, we lose kilos because we lose water. However, adipose tissue remains unchanged and therefore we can even gain weight – when the water shortages are replenished, it may turn out that we weigh more than before starting the treatment. People who are slimming, deluded by the effect of losing kilograms due to water loss, can eat more food, and excess calories will be stored in the form of adipose tissue. In addition, according to nutritionists, senna disturbs the rhythm of the digestive tract. The intestines stimulated to work by senna become lazy and their peristalsis decreases. When we stop drinking senna leaf tea, constipation may appear. Drinking senna infusion may also result in the need to increase the amount of it in order to maintain regular bowel movements. Such a condition can be dangerous not only to health, but also to life, because the constant diarrhea caused by senna can lead to severe dehydration and malnutrition – mineral salts and other components important for the proper functioning of the body are lost. Senna can cause abdominal pain and cramps and cause urine discoloration.
How to safely use senna?
Senna tea can be used on an ad hoc basis when having problems with defecation. It usually takes place 8-12 hours after drinking the infusion. Do not increase the amount of senna tea you drink to accelerate this effect – then you may experience diarrhea that is troublesome and dangerous to your health. It is recommended to use senna no more than 2 to 3 times a week, for no longer than 1-2 weeks. Senna infusion should not be given to children under 12 years of age.