Fabaceae
Senna
Senna alexandrina
⚠ Use with Caution
Avoid in Pregnancy
Native to: North Africa, Middle East
Also known as: Alexandria Senna, Alexandrian Senna, Khartoum Senna, Tinnevelly Senna
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
LeafPod
Therapeutic Uses
Constipation (short-term — most evidence-based stimulant laxative), pre-procedure bowel preparation. Commission E approved. Most widely used pharmaceutical laxative globally (Ex-Lax, Senokot).
Herbal Actions
Stimulant laxative (anthraquinone-mediated), colon motility stimulant
Active Constituents
Anthraquinone glycosides (sennosides A and B — primary actives, rhein, aloe-emodin), flavonoids, mucilage
Preparation Methods
☕ Herbal Tea💊 Capsule🏺 Tincture
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | 0.5–1 tsp dried leaf per 250ml, steep 10 min, take at bedtime — effect in 6–12 hours |
| Tincture | 1–3 ml (1:5, 25% ethanol), once daily at bedtime |
| Notes | USE SHORT-TERM ONLY (max 1–2 weeks). Standardized sennoside content: 12–36mg sennosides daily. Pods gentler than leaves. Not for chronic constipation — causes dependence. Address underlying causes. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
⚠ Use with Caution
Pregnancy
Avoid in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
Possible — consult doctor
Contraindications: Avoid in pregnancy (uterotonic). Avoid in IBS, Crohn's, obstruction, appendicitis. Chronic use: electrolyte imbalance, hypokalemia, melanosis coli, cathartic colon.
Side Effects: Cramping, diarrhea. Chronic use: hypokalemia, dependence, cathartic colon, loss of normal bowel function. Urine may turn yellow-brown (harmless).