How Do You Use Senna Tea, and Is It Safe?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Senna?UsesSide EffectsPrecautionsDosageSimilar SupplementsSources & What to Look For

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Senna?

Uses

Side Effects

Precautions

Dosage

Similar Supplements

Sources & What to Look For

Senna tea contains active plant-based substances that help relieve constipation. The tea is made from the leaves of the senna plant. The most commonly used species areCassia acutifoliaorCassia angustifolia.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look forindependently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.

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Multiple studies have tested the effects of senna in powder or capsule form. However, there are very few studies about the potential benefits of drinking senna tea.

Most of the research studies on the health benefits of senna focus on its use in thetreatment of constipationand other gastrointestinal disorders.

Constipation

Senna tea is most commonly used for occasional constipation. In a systematic review (a summary of medical literature on a specific topic) of 41 studies, evidence emerged supporting the use of senna as a first-line choice for use in constipation.

Senna also prevents water and electrolytes from being reabsorbed from the colon. This increases the amount of fluid in the intestines and softens the stool.

Adequate doses of senna can vary depending on the product and preparation. Long-term use is not recommended due to the risk of becoming dependent on senna to have a bowel movement and developing other severe side effects.

Colonoscopy Prep

Senna has been used along with other agents (includingprobiotics) to clean the colon prior to acolonoscopy, a medical procedure used in screening for colon cancer.

Evidence reveals the use of senna, including premedication ahead of acapsule colonoscopy(a visual inspection of the colon using a tiny, swallowed camera), can improve the cleansing of the colon.

Other Gastrointestinal Disorders

Senna is sometimes used forirritable bowel syndrome(IBS).When looking specifically at irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), however, there is minimal research supporting the safe use of senna.More study of its use in IBS is needed.

No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease. Always consult your healthcare provider before using senna for any condition other than constipation.

What Are the Side Effects of Senna?

When senna is used as a short-term treatment of constipation, side effects are generally mild and limited.When taken for an extended period of time or in large amounts, senna may cause more severe health problems.

Common Side Effects

The most common side effects of senna tea include:

In some cases, senna tea may be used for a longer period of time when a person is under the care of a healthcare provider. Be aware that when used for extended periods of time, senna poses other health risks.

Using senna longer or in larger doses than recommended can impair the colon’s ability to function. As the muscles stop working , they stop pushing wastes through the colon and you develop chronic constipation. The ongoing constipation leads to a dependency on using senna, creating a worsening cycle.The senna products you purchase should have information about dosage and use. For example, one senna-containing laxative states you should use it no longer than one week.Stop drinking senna tea or taking laxatives and consult with your healthcare provider if you don’t have a bowel movement within one week.

Using senna longer or in larger doses than recommended can impair the colon’s ability to function. As the muscles stop working , they stop pushing wastes through the colon and you develop chronic constipation. The ongoing constipation leads to a dependency on using senna, creating a worsening cycle.

The senna products you purchase should have information about dosage and use. For example, one senna-containing laxative states you should use it no longer than one week.

Stop drinking senna tea or taking laxatives and consult with your healthcare provider if you don’t have a bowel movement within one week.

Severe Side Effects

Long-term use of senna, as well as higher doses, have been linked to serious health problems beyond chronic constipation. Severe side effects include:

Symptoms associated with liver damage when using senna include:

Liver damage typically occurs after senna use of three to five months.Most cases of liver damage will heal but permanent damage is possible.

Do not take senna tea without first discussing it with a healthcare provider if you have:

If you have any type ofliver condition, don’t use senna before talking with your healthcare provider. Likewise, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, seek a provider’s advice before using senna tea.

Weight Loss

Easing constipation is senna’s only proven health benefit. Using senna (or any other laxative) for weight loss is ineffective and potentially dangerous.

Senna tea has little or no impact on your weight, and if it does, it’s temporary. Your body continuously produces stool, so its minimal weight is always part of your total body weight.

Taking senna for weight loss may lead to prolonged use of the laxative, and that can lead to bowel dysfunction.

Using laxatives for weight loss poses another health risk: They may increase your risk of developing an eating disorder.

Researchers reviewed the records of more than 10,000 women diagnosed with an eating disorder. They discovered that using diet pills or laxatives for weight loss made them more likely to also develop an eating disorder.

Though they can’t pinpoint exactly why the connection exists, their results suggest that using these substances may be a sign of the early stages of disordered eating.

Interactions

Senna use can result in decreased levels of potassium. Diuretics can have the same effect on the body; so can other herbs, likelicoriceandhorsetail. None of these should be taken together with senna to prevent low potassium.

Dosage: How Much Senna Should I Take?

Senna is widely available in health food stores, vitamin shops, and online. However, there is no standardized dose.

Senna tea is likely safe when used in moderation for up to one week. It may beunsafeto take doses containing more than 34.4 mg of sennosides (senna’s primary active ingredient) or use senna for longer than a week. For constipation during pregnancy, it may be safe.

When researchers have studied it for the treatment of general constipation, the usual dose is 15 milligrams (mg) daily.In older adults, 17 mg daily has been used.

Be aware that it can be hard to know how much you’re getting in a cup of tea and how it will affect you. If you use fresh leaves and make your own tea, you can’t know the dose you might consume.

Many tea sellers list the use of a “proprietary blend” on their product labels. They do not list the amount of each herb in the tea, so you have no way of knowing how much senna it has.

It would still be hard to know the exact dose found in your cup of tea, even if you know the amount of senna in a product. Steeping time and water temperature can change the amount of senna released into the brew.

Supplements should state the dose per recommended serving. But keep in mind that there aren’t any guarantees that unregulated supplements contain what’s on the label.

Not all senna tea is alike. The amount of active ingredients varies from one product to the next. Some senna teas are blended with other herbs, likecascara sagradaor rhubarb, with laxative effects.

There are other supplements with similar laxative effects, including:

Taking senna with these supplements can result in diarrhea and low potassium levels.

Sources of Senna and What to Look For

Senna is available over the counter (OTC, without a prescription) at drugstores, groceries, and nutrition stores. Senna tablets can also be found online.

Summary

Senna tea is made from leaves containing active ingredients (sennosides) proven to effectively relieve constipation. This is currently the only safe and effective use of senna.

While it’s safe to use senna tea and other senna products for up to a week, taking it longer or in doses higher than recommended on the label can lead to mild and severe side effects. One of the most common is senna dependency. Drinking senna tea or taking senna products too long impairs colon function, leading to chronic constipation.

12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Senna.MedlinePlus.Senna.Zhong LLD, Cheng CW, Kun W, et al.Efficacy of MaZiRenWan, a Chinese Herbal Medicine, in Patients With Functional Constipation in a Randomized Controlled Trial.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jun;17(7):1303-1310.e18. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.04.005Rao SSC, Brenner DM.Efficacy and safety of over-the-counter therapies for chronic constipation: An updated systematic review.Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(6):1156-1181. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001222Kesavelu D Sr.The efficacy and safety of combined senna and probiotic-based bowel preparation for colonoscopy in children.Cureus. 2020 Sep 1;12(9):e10180. doi:10.7759/cureus.10180Rosa B, Donato H, Cúrdia Gonçalves T, Sousa-Pinto B, Cotter J.What is the optimal bowel preparation for capsule colonoscopy and pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Dig Dis Sci. 2023 Dec;68(12):4418-4431. doi:10.1007/s10620-023-08133-7Halmos EP.When the low FODMAP diet does not work.J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;32 Suppl 1:69-72. doi:10.1111/jgh.13701Fukudo S, Okumura T, Inamori M et al.Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome 2020.Journal of Gastroenterology.2021;56;193-217.Ballotin VR, Bigarella LG, Brandão ABM, Balbinot RA, Balbinot SS, Soldera J.Herb-induced liver injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Clin Cases. 2021 Jul 16;9(20):5490-5513. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i20.5490.National Health Service.Who can and cannot take senna.Levinson JA, Sarda V, Sonneville K, et al.Diet Pill and Laxative Use for Weight Control and Subsequent Incident Eating Disorder in US Young Women: 2001-2016.Am J Public Health. 2020 Jan;110(1):109-111. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2019.305390Ramchaner P, Middha A.Recent Advances on Senna as a Laxative: A Comprehensive Review.Journal ofPharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.2017;6(2): 349-353.

12 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Senna.MedlinePlus.Senna.Zhong LLD, Cheng CW, Kun W, et al.Efficacy of MaZiRenWan, a Chinese Herbal Medicine, in Patients With Functional Constipation in a Randomized Controlled Trial.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jun;17(7):1303-1310.e18. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.04.005Rao SSC, Brenner DM.Efficacy and safety of over-the-counter therapies for chronic constipation: An updated systematic review.Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(6):1156-1181. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001222Kesavelu D Sr.The efficacy and safety of combined senna and probiotic-based bowel preparation for colonoscopy in children.Cureus. 2020 Sep 1;12(9):e10180. doi:10.7759/cureus.10180Rosa B, Donato H, Cúrdia Gonçalves T, Sousa-Pinto B, Cotter J.What is the optimal bowel preparation for capsule colonoscopy and pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Dig Dis Sci. 2023 Dec;68(12):4418-4431. doi:10.1007/s10620-023-08133-7Halmos EP.When the low FODMAP diet does not work.J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;32 Suppl 1:69-72. doi:10.1111/jgh.13701Fukudo S, Okumura T, Inamori M et al.Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome 2020.Journal of Gastroenterology.2021;56;193-217.Ballotin VR, Bigarella LG, Brandão ABM, Balbinot RA, Balbinot SS, Soldera J.Herb-induced liver injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Clin Cases. 2021 Jul 16;9(20):5490-5513. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i20.5490.National Health Service.Who can and cannot take senna.Levinson JA, Sarda V, Sonneville K, et al.Diet Pill and Laxative Use for Weight Control and Subsequent Incident Eating Disorder in US Young Women: 2001-2016.Am J Public Health. 2020 Jan;110(1):109-111. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2019.305390Ramchaner P, Middha A.Recent Advances on Senna as a Laxative: A Comprehensive Review.Journal ofPharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.2017;6(2): 349-353.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Senna.MedlinePlus.Senna.Zhong LLD, Cheng CW, Kun W, et al.Efficacy of MaZiRenWan, a Chinese Herbal Medicine, in Patients With Functional Constipation in a Randomized Controlled Trial.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jun;17(7):1303-1310.e18. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.04.005Rao SSC, Brenner DM.Efficacy and safety of over-the-counter therapies for chronic constipation: An updated systematic review.Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(6):1156-1181. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001222Kesavelu D Sr.The efficacy and safety of combined senna and probiotic-based bowel preparation for colonoscopy in children.Cureus. 2020 Sep 1;12(9):e10180. doi:10.7759/cureus.10180Rosa B, Donato H, Cúrdia Gonçalves T, Sousa-Pinto B, Cotter J.What is the optimal bowel preparation for capsule colonoscopy and pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Dig Dis Sci. 2023 Dec;68(12):4418-4431. doi:10.1007/s10620-023-08133-7Halmos EP.When the low FODMAP diet does not work.J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;32 Suppl 1:69-72. doi:10.1111/jgh.13701Fukudo S, Okumura T, Inamori M et al.Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome 2020.Journal of Gastroenterology.2021;56;193-217.Ballotin VR, Bigarella LG, Brandão ABM, Balbinot RA, Balbinot SS, Soldera J.Herb-induced liver injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Clin Cases. 2021 Jul 16;9(20):5490-5513. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i20.5490.National Health Service.Who can and cannot take senna.Levinson JA, Sarda V, Sonneville K, et al.Diet Pill and Laxative Use for Weight Control and Subsequent Incident Eating Disorder in US Young Women: 2001-2016.Am J Public Health. 2020 Jan;110(1):109-111. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2019.305390Ramchaner P, Middha A.Recent Advances on Senna as a Laxative: A Comprehensive Review.Journal ofPharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.2017;6(2): 349-353.

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Senna.

MedlinePlus.Senna.

Zhong LLD, Cheng CW, Kun W, et al.Efficacy of MaZiRenWan, a Chinese Herbal Medicine, in Patients With Functional Constipation in a Randomized Controlled Trial.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jun;17(7):1303-1310.e18. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.04.005

Rao SSC, Brenner DM.Efficacy and safety of over-the-counter therapies for chronic constipation: An updated systematic review.Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(6):1156-1181. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001222

Kesavelu D Sr.The efficacy and safety of combined senna and probiotic-based bowel preparation for colonoscopy in children.Cureus. 2020 Sep 1;12(9):e10180. doi:10.7759/cureus.10180

Rosa B, Donato H, Cúrdia Gonçalves T, Sousa-Pinto B, Cotter J.What is the optimal bowel preparation for capsule colonoscopy and pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Dig Dis Sci. 2023 Dec;68(12):4418-4431. doi:10.1007/s10620-023-08133-7

Halmos EP.When the low FODMAP diet does not work.J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;32 Suppl 1:69-72. doi:10.1111/jgh.13701

Fukudo S, Okumura T, Inamori M et al.Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome 2020.Journal of Gastroenterology.2021;56;193-217.

Ballotin VR, Bigarella LG, Brandão ABM, Balbinot RA, Balbinot SS, Soldera J.Herb-induced liver injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Clin Cases. 2021 Jul 16;9(20):5490-5513. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i20.5490.

National Health Service.Who can and cannot take senna.

Levinson JA, Sarda V, Sonneville K, et al.Diet Pill and Laxative Use for Weight Control and Subsequent Incident Eating Disorder in US Young Women: 2001-2016.Am J Public Health. 2020 Jan;110(1):109-111. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2019.305390

Ramchaner P, Middha A.Recent Advances on Senna as a Laxative: A Comprehensive Review.Journal ofPharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.2017;6(2): 349-353.

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