The Senna Herb: A Common Natural Laxative
In late 2002, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration decided to restrict the sale of aloe and cascara products which were being marketed for laxative purposes. After this, senna became the sole surviving class of herbal laxatives being sold on large scale in the U.S. The plant has its origins in the East African region and Middle East, but can also be found in more temperate locations.
The name senna has an interesting background, stemming from the Semitic languages such as Arabic and Hebrew, which is suggested by the geographical origins of the plant. The active agent is a compound that is known as an anthraquinone. In broader terms, anthraquinones are found in other substances that have purgative or laxative effects which stimulate the gastrointestinal tract.
As one might guess, the application of the senna herb as a constipation treatment goes back hundreds or even thousands of years. Senna was used in its raw, unprocessed form, without the benefit of modern methods in purification of the active compounds. Today it can be found in semi-processed form like tea leaves, or in more processed forms like capsules.
Despite its categorization as a natural laxative, all consumers must remain sensitive to the quality standards of the manufacturing company or producer. In the hands of an unscrupulous company, herbal treatments can become dangerous. Furthermore, even if companies take pains to maintain high quality, taking could have side effects and consequences because of its unregulated status. There’s no reason that a natural laxative can have dangers too. Although allergic responses have not been reported frequently, it’s still something to be aware of.
For additional safety, all buyers of senna should be well-informed of the warnings related to taking the senna herb. Medical and scientific studies have indicated that those who have a history of problems with heart disease, and those with hypertensive tendencies may react poorly to senna. The bottom line is that anyone who wants to try a new kind of laxative treatment, whether its natural or not, should ask for information from his personal physician.
Though it originally was taken as an herb, modern day formulations of senna are quite varied. A senna tea is available for people who wish to brew it and drink it. It’s possible that the usage of senna in antiquity was based largely on the tea form. Some nutritional and supplement stores carry it in a tablet or capsule form. The capsules might have other types of minerals or supplements to give it additional bulk and health value such as calcium.
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