Senna

Senna, known in various other countries by other names such as locust plant, wild senna and aden senna, has long been know for its powerful laxative properties. Cleansing senna tea has been used from Asia to Arabia historically and was introduced to Europe in the 1600's. Species of wild senna are native to the plains of North America, and were used by the Native Indians for centuries to treat constipation and bowel irregularity.

Many people wonder what is senna and what are senna leaves used for? Senna is a small perennial plant that flowers during the summer months, forming seed pods which have a very high concentration of anthraquinone, a compound which actually increases the muscle contractions in the lower bowel. To know how to find senna in your area, it is important to know what senna leaf is and what it looks like. The senna bush is very dense, full of small stems with multiple branches, each having five to six pairs of senna leaves. The senna leaf, along with the senna pods, is stripped from the branches, dried completely, and then processed into either a senna leaf tea, senna powder or a senna extract. Senna powder is used in the capsule forms of herbal mixtures that are designed for dieters, detoxifying and overall improvement of digestive processes.

Senna is not typically used in clinical applications, simply because many people have an extreme reaction to the product. Since senna is a very concentrated herbal product, there is always the risk that the patient or individual may have a reaction to the anthraquinone in the senna. Laxative sensitivity can result in extreme cramping, abdominal spasms and pain, nausea, dizziness and in extreme reactions, electrolyte imbalances and dehydration due to severe diarrhea. Usually the senna tea will have much less severe reactions, but products such as senna slim tea, senna plus or dieter's tea may have higher concentrations of the senna leaf, leading to the above mentioned side effects.

People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, spastic colon problems, severe hemorrhoids, liver or kidney disease or those recovering from any gastrointestinal or cardiovascular surgery should not use senna unless under a doctor's care. Senna tea or senna herbal products should not be used for more than one week without consulting a doctor as over-use can result in serious dehydration and possible damage to the lower bowels. As with any laxative care must be taken to avoid using the product for purposes other than what it was intended.