Senna
Senna alexandrinaMany “slimming teas” owe their effect to the laxative senna inside them.
What is Senna?
Senna (Senna alexandrina) is a plant of the Fabaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Part used: leaves, pods.
What is Senna used for?
Traditional use: Since Ottoman times one of the best-selling laxatives in herbal shops; its Turkish name means “senna of Mecca”. Scientific evidence: clinical. The EMA recognises senna leaf and pod for short-term treatment of occasional constipation as a well-established use.
Is Senna safe?
Safety label: caution. Do not use for more than a week; long use causes a lazy bowel and potassium loss. Using it for weight loss is dangerous: it only removes water and salts. Not for children under 12, in pregnancy or with bowel obstruction.
Traditional use
Since Ottoman times one of the best-selling laxatives in herbal shops; its Turkish name means “senna of Mecca”. In recent years it has also been mixed into slimming teas.
Medieval Arab and Persian physicians used it as a laxative; it spread through the Islamic world along the Hajj route.
In nature
Mix-up risk
May be mixed with other laxative leaves in herbal shops; choose reliable, labelled products.
Preparation
Leaves or pods are soaked in cold or warm water; used short-term.
What science says
The EMA recognises senna leaf and pod for short-term treatment of occasional constipation as a well-established use. Its active compounds are sennosides.
Safety
Do not use for more than a week; long use causes a lazy bowel and potassium loss. Using it for weight loss is dangerous: it only removes water and salts. Not for children under 12, in pregnancy or with bowel obstruction.
Drug interactions
| Medicine or substance | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Diuretics, corticosteroids, licorice | Increase potassium loss. |
| Digoxin and heart rhythm drugs | Low potassium raises the risk of toxicity. |
| Oral medicines | Faster bowel transit may reduce absorption. |
This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Senna.
Similar plants
Sources
- EMA monographSennae folium: European Medicines Agency herbal assessment
- BookBaytop T. Türkiye’de Bitkiler ile Tedavi: Geçmişte ve Bugün. 2. baskı. İstanbul: Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri; 1999.
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Senna alexandrina
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe