Many people like herbal teas for their soothing and relaxing properties. Some teas may help relieve constipation. Certain ingredients, including the herbs cascara and senna, have natural laxative properties. Herbal teas can be potent, though. You should limit how much herbal tea you drink and how often you drink it.
Constipation is characterized by infrequent bowel movements or difficulty having a bowel movement. It can be an uncomfortable condition. It may also leave you feeling bloated. The Mayo Clinic describes constipation as having fewer than three bowel movements per week. Because stools aren’t moving regularly, they tend to get dry and hard. This makes them more difficult to pass.
Why is tea used to treat constipation?
Regularly consuming fluids such as water and tea is one of the best ways to prevent constipation or treat it when symptoms develop. The more hydrated you are, the better lubricated your intestines are and the more moisture remains in your stools.
Certain herbs in teas can help with more than meeting your daily fluid requirements. Cascara, for example, has been used as a laxative for centuries. It’s found in some herbal teas and in supplement form, too.
Senna is another herb that many people use as a laxative. Like cascara, it’s in herbal remedy teas and you can take it as a supplement. This herb interferes with water reabsorption by your colon so that more moisture stays in your stools.
You should only use herbal teas, such as those containing senna or cascara, for short-term constipation relief.
What causes constipation?
The three most common causes of constipation are:
- a low-fiber diet
- a sedentary lifestyle
- dehydration
- Sometimes, traveling can lead to a change in bowel habits. Stress and anxiety may have a similar effect.
If you’re pregnant, you may find constipation to be a temporary but uncomfortable problem. Your child may become constipated if they’ve learned how to use the toilet but they try to hold in bowel movements.
Medical problems
Constipation can also be a symptom of a more serious medical problem, such as :
- irritable bowel syndrome and other intestinal conditions
- thyroid disease
- cystic fibrosis
- a mood disorder
- some neurological problems, especially those affecting the nerves around the bowel and rectum
Delaying going to the bathroom
If you often delay going to the bathroom, this may also lead to constipation. It’s common for people who have hemorrhoids to experience this issue. Because hemorrhoids can make it painful to pass stool, people may delay going to the bathroom. If waiting to pass stool leads to constipation, it can make the next bowel movement even more painful.
Side effects of medication
Constipation is a potential side effect of many medications. These include:
- certain narcotic pain medications
- certain antidepressants
- certain over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as antihistamines and antacids
Risk factors to consider
Only adults should consume teas that include herbs with laxative properties. If your child is constipated, consider exercise, more fluids, and adding more high-fiber foods to their diet. Some OTC laxatives also have doses designed for children.
If you’re generally healthy, it’s likely safe for you to try a commercial product, such as an herbal tea, to treat a bout of constipation. Be cautious about using herbal teas with unusual-sounding ingredients and promises that seem too good to be true.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate teas for constipation relief. Therefore, you can’t be entirely sure what ingredients are included in the tea. It’s not possible for you to know if there has been any reliable testing on the product’s safety and effectiveness.
If you’re pregnant, you should avoid certain herbal products due to potential risks. For example, teas with senna may raise your risk of diarrhea and dehydration if you’re pregnant. Talk to your doctor before trying any herbal or OTC product. (Healthline.com)
Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. — Written by James Roland
