There are many herbs that help treat stomach disorders, including Senna, have you heard of it before? Learn about it in this article.

What is Senna?

Senna is an herb whose leaves make Senna tea. This herb thrives in the tropics, although some can grow in milder climates. The Senna herb is characterized by:

• Extracts and tea made from Senna has long been used as laxatives and stimulants in traditional herbal medicine, as Senna is an active ingredient in many common over-the-counter laxatives.

• The Senna herb originated from Egypt, and is now cultivated all over the world.

• Senna is a natural medicine that contains sennosides derived from the leaves of the Senna plant.

What are the benefits of Senna?

1 – The benefits of Senna for the abdomen

The active substances in the herb called Sennoside cannot be absorbed in the digestive tract, but can be broken down by gut bacteria, and their breakdown leads to mild irritation in the cells of the colon and irritation of the lining of the gut, which stimulates bowel movement, and produces a laxative effect. This laxative effect is one of the most prominent benefits of senna for the abdomen. Therefore, senna tea is used in the following cases:

• Short term treatment for constipation.

• One of the benefits of the Senna for the colon is also its use to empty the intestines, where the senna is used to clean the abdomen before doing a colonoscopy.

• The benefits of Senna for hemorrhoids caused by chronic constipation are also related to its laxative effect.

The benefits of Senna for the abdomen are among its most prominent health benefits, and it usually activates the bowel movement in general within 6 to 12 hours for most people. So it may be taken at bedtime to start a bowel movement the next day.

2 – The benefits of Senna for slimming

Senna is increasingly being included in herbal teas and supplements that tout the benefits of Senna for slimming and weight loss. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the use of Senna tea for any detox or weight loss routine.

3 – Benefits of Senna for hair

Senna offers wonderful benefits for hair, and Senna make is very similar to henna for hair in its effect. Its leaves contain a yellow pigment and are characterized by their high ability to moisturize the hair and make it soft. Most of the wonderful properties of henna are found in Senna, but without depositing a noticeable color on dark hair. The color effect you leave lasts for a maximum of 2-3 weeks.

What is the way to use Senna?

Many people ask how to use the Senna herb? Senna can be used in the form of tea (from the leaves), extract, or pills containing the active substances (Sennoside) and can be purchased from pharmacies without the need for a prescription. Senna tea is often described as having a mild, sweet and slightly bitter flavor, and many commercial teas combine Senna with other herbs to alter the final flavor and obtain the benefits of Senna.

To make Senna tea from scratch, you can steep 1-2 grams of dried Senna leaves in hot water for 10 minutes. And you should avoid drinking more than two servings a day.

What are the harms of Senna?

In addition to the many benefits of Senna, Senna may cause some side effects and unwanted damage, although not all of these side effects may occur, but they need medical attention if they occur. Possible damage to Senna includes the following:

• Mild stomach cramps.

• Severe diarrhea, especially after long-term use.

• black stools;

• nausea.

• Fainting due to severe diarrhea and fluid loss.