Senna Laxative

A family of plants
The plant senna is actually a family of plants that found foremostly in the Middle East, such as Egypt, Sudan and Somalia. A few species can also be found in temperate climates such as the United States. The shape of the plant can be small, herb-like, or medium-sized like a shrub.

The etymology of the word is of both Hebrew and Arabic origins, giving us today two forms: senna and cassia. You may see references to senna using both these words.

An old herbal treatment
Senna's use as a laxative dates back for thousands of years. Amongst civilizations that indulged in herbal medicine, senna held a status as a purgative and natural laxative. Even today, the plant is harnessed for its naturla laxative ability to induce defectation. But just because it's an herbal medicine, it doesn't mean that there are no safety issues associated with it. For example, people who have heart diseases, high blood pressure, or suffer from anxiety attacks, should not take Senna laxative. Use of any laxative, natural or not, should always be done under supervision of a physician.

Be aware of quality
Even if its benefits outweigh the risks or costs of taking it according to a physician, because of its unregulated status, products with Senna laxative may not have high quality standards. Refer to organizations that can ensure the company that produces the Senna has no history of serious issues.

Many choices for the consumer
Nowadays, Senna laxative does not have to be taken like an herb. Companies produce senna in tablet form that are sold through health supplement stores. One popular formulation is the tablet made by the company Senokot. The tablets are sometimes mixed with other nutritional supplements, such as calcium or another synergistic stool softener. The senna laxative can also be found in tea leaf form, much as people might have used it a thousand years ago.

Be safe
While there are no restrictions on what kinds of foods you need to avoid while taking senna, it is best that you seek the advice of a physician in case of adverse drug interactions with other things you might be taking, or to prepare against possible allergies. There are some reported side effects of senna also that need to be taken seriously. Allergic reactions to senna have rarely been reported, but if you experience one you need to seek emergency medical attention.

Similarly, watch out for long term use which has been reported to lead to problems such as excessive diarrhea or electrolytic imbalance.