Laxative tea: How to use it correctly

You should only use laxative tea if you are constipated and should not overdose or drink it to lose weight. But how and why does the laxative tea made from senna leaves work?

Laxative tea consists mainly of senna leaves: either Tinnevelly senna from India or Alexandrian senna from Egypt. Furthermore, laxative teas often contain ingredients such as caraway, fennel, peppermint leaves or strawberry leaves.

These are mostly for taste, but can also have positive side effects. For example, fennel tea and caraway tea have a calming effect on the stomach.

This is how laxative tea works

According to Pharmacy Umschau, senna has a laxative effect because the ingredients in the senna leaves retain more fluid and salts in the intestines. Salty water collects in the digestive tract and the plant substances also increase intestinal movements. You may know a similar effect from bowel movements with Glauber’s salt.

Before you resort to laxative tea, you should adjust your eating habits: Eat digestive-promoting, fiber-rich foods such as flaxseed. In combination with enough water, this can often lead to improvement. Or you can try prunes as a natural home remedy for constipation.

If you drink too much laxative tea, your electrolyte balance will be disrupted and minerals can be washed out. So be sure to pay attention to the dosage recommendation on the package. There are also reports of abdominal cramps as a side effect.

This is how you use laxative tea correctly

You should only use laxative tea if you are constipated. Anyone who uses the tea to reduce their weight risks serious side effects such as a mineral deficiency.

According to Pharmacy Umschau, you should also note the following when using laxative tea:

• Only take the laxative tea for a short period of time (two weeks at most).
• Drink enough water.
• The effect occurs after eight to twelve hours.

And this is how you make the laxative tea:

1. Boil 150 milliliters of water.
2. Pour the hot, no longer boiling water over the tea bag or 0.75 to 1.5 grams of finely chopped senna leaves.
3. Cover and let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes.

Laxative tea is available from a pharmacy. You can find it in pharmacies and online.

When you shouldn’t use laxative tea

In general, caution is advised when using laxative tea. But there are also cases in which you should definitely not drink laxative tea:

• Pregnant women, breastfeeding women and children under the age of twelve should not drink laxative tea.

• If you suffer from intestinal obstruction, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or appendicitis, the laxative tea is also not for you.
• Even if you take medication regularly, you should ideally discuss taking laxative tea with your doctor to rule out interactions. This can be the case, for example, with heart medication.

Edited by Laura Hintereder

Read more on Techzle\.com:

• Intestinal cleansing and intestinal cleansing: these are the differences
• Constipation in babies: These home remedies help
• Gastrointestinal: home remedies for the symptoms

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