Table of contents:
- 1. Senna tea
- 2. Psyllium tea
- 3. Sacred Cascara Tea
- 4. Prune tea
- 5. Frangle tea
- 6. Rhubarb Tea
- Cautions when using laxative teas
- Other tips to treat constipation
Having a laxative tea such as senna, rhubarb or frangula tea is a great natural way to fight constipation and improve intestinal transit. These teas can be taken eventually to loosen the bowels when you cannot evacuate after 3 days or when the stools are very dry and fragmented.
Laxative teas have substance properties such as sennosides or mucilages, which help relieve symptoms of constipation, facilitate the elimination of feces and are easy to prepare at home.
Nevertheless, these teas should not be used for more than 1 to 2 weeks, especially rhubarb, cascara sagrada and senna tea, which can cause intestinal irritation and, therefore, should be used by maximum up to 3 days. If constipation does not improve within 1 week, a general practitioner or gastroenterologist should be consulted for the most appropriate treatment.
1. Senna tea
Senna tea helps to increase bowel movements, relieving constipation, but without causing increased gas, as it has senosides, mucilages and flavonoids in its composition that have a milder laxative effect. This tea can be made with the dried leaves of Senna alexandrina, also known as Alexandria senna or Cassia angustifolia.
Ingredients
- 0.5 to 2g of dried senna leaves;
- 250 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Add the dried senna leaves in a cup of boiling water. Let stand for 5 minutes, strain and drink immediately.
Another good option is to prepare a solution with 2 ml of senna fluid extract or 8 ml of senna syrup in 250 ml of water and drink.
These preparations can be taken 2 to 3 times a day and usually have a laxative effect within 6 hours of ingestion.
Senna should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, children under 12 years of age and in cases of chronic constipation, intestinal problems such as obstruction and narrowing of the intestine, absence of bowel movements, inflammatory bowel diseases, abdominal pain, hemorrhoids, appendicitis, menstrual period, urinary tract infection or liver, kidney or heart failure.
2. Psyllium tea
Psyllium, scientifically called Plantago ovata, is a medicinal plant that absorbs water in the intestine and makes bowel movements much easier, this is because the seed of this plant has a thick gel rich in soluble fibers that help in the formation of feces and regularization of the intestine, maintaining general digestive he alth.
Ingredients
- 3 g of psyllium seed;
- 100 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Place the psyllium seeds in a cup of boiling water. Let it rest, strain and drink up to 3 times a day.
Psyllium should not be used during pregnancy, breastfeeding and by children under 12 years of age.
3. Sacred Cascara Tea
Cascara sagrada, scientifically known as Rhamnus purshiana, is a medicinal plant that has cascarosides that act by causing irritation in the intestine, which leads to increased intestinal motility and, thus, favoring the elimination of feces.
Ingredients
- 0.5 g of cascara sagrada bark, equivalent to 1 teaspoon of bark;
- 150 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Add the cascara sagrada bark in a cup of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. Strain and drink immediately after preparation, before going to bed, as the effect of this tea occurs within 8 to 12 hours after ingestion.
Another option is to make a solution with 10 drops of fluid cascara sagrada extract in a glass of water and drink up to 3 times a day.
Cascara sagrada should not be used during pregnancy, by breastfeeding women, as it can pass through the milk and cause intoxication in the baby, and by children under 10 years old. In addition, tea or fluid extract should not be used in cases of abdominal pain or colic, anal or rectal fissure, hemorrhoids, intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, intestinal inflammation, dehydration, nausea or vomiting.
4. Prune tea
Prune is rich in soluble fibers such as pectin and insoluble fibers such as cellulose and hemicellulose that act by absorbing water from the digestive tract, forming a gel that helps regulate the intestines, promoting good intestinal functioning. In addition, the prune also contains sorbitol, which is a natural laxative that acts by facilitating the elimination of stools. Discover other fruits that help loosen the intestines.
Ingredients
- 3 prunes, pitted;
- 250 mL of water.
Preparation mode
Add the prunes in a container with 250 ml of water. Boil for 5 to 7 minutes, let cool and drink this tea spread throughout the day.
Another option is to soak 3 pitted prunes in 1 glass of water overnight and drink on an empty stomach the next day.
5. Frangle tea
Frângula, scientifically known as Rhamnus frangula, is a medicinal plant that has glucofrangulin, a substance that has laxative properties, by increasing stool hydration and stimulating intestinal and digestive movements, increasing bile production, which improves the digestion of food and helps to regulate the bowel.
Ingredients
- 5 to 10 g of frangula bark, equivalent to 1 tablespoon of the bark;
- 1 L of water.
Preparation mode
Place the frangula peel and water in a container and boil for 15 minutes. Let it rest for 2 hours, strain and drink 1 to 2 cups of the tea before bed, as the laxative effect usually occurs 10 to 12 hours after drinking the tea.
This tea should not be consumed during pregnancy and in cases of colitis or ulcers.
6. Rhubarb Tea
Rhubarb is rich in sennosides and rhein that have a powerful laxative action, and can be used to treat constipation. This plant has a more potent laxative effect than senna, cascara sagrada and frangula and therefore should be used with care. Check out other he alth benefits of rhubarb.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons rhubarb stem;
- 500 mL of water.
Preparation mode
Add the rhubarb stem and water in a bowl and boil for 10 minutes. Let cool, strain and drink 1 cup before bed.
This tea should not be used by pregnant women, children under 10 years of age or in cases of abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, nausea, vomiting, Crohn's disease, colitis or irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, consumption of this tea should be avoided by people who use drugs such as digoxin, diuretics, corticosteroids or anticoagulants.
Cautions when using laxative teas
Laxative teas should not be used for more than 1 to 2 weeks as they can cause loss of fluids and minerals and harm he alth, especially rhubarb, senna and cascara sagrada teas, as they are strong laxatives, should not be used. used for more than 3 days. In addition, laxative teas should not be used frequently or in excess, so it is important to drink these teas under the guidance of a doctor or an experienced herbal practitioner.
These teas can help relieve constipation, but if symptoms do not improve within 1 week, consult a general practitioner or gastroenterologist to initiate the most appropriate treatment.
Other tips to treat constipation
To improve constipation, it is important to drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water a day, practice physical activities such as walking and have a balanced diet, eating more fiber, avoiding processed foods and fast food.
