Senna for fertility: How It Can Affect Menstruation and Pregnancy

Both WHO and FDA have recognized senna as an herb with constipation-relieving potential due to its anthraquinone and sennosides content which plays a role in bowel evacuation [1].

Senna tea with its blood-cleansing properties offers several benefits for women who are trying to conceive especially those who may have battled infection or blocked fallopian tubes.

What is Senna?

Senna is an herbal plant that is native to Africa and Asia, It was originally from Egypt but is currently found in other countries of the world such as India and Somalia.

It has been used for centuries as a laxative to treat constipation. Senna leaves and fruits are dried and used to make tea, capsules, and tablets.

Senna tea‘s bioactive compounds

Senna tea contains several bioactive compounds, including:

• Sennosides: These are the compounds that give senna its laxative effect [2]. They work by stimulating the muscles of the colon, which helps to move stool through the digestive system.
• Flavonoids: These compounds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Anthraquinones: These compounds are also responsible for senna’s laxative effect. However, they can also cause some side effects, such as diarrhea and stomach cramps

How is Senna tea made?

To make senna tea, steep 1-2 teaspoons of dried senna leaves in hot water for 5-10 minutes. You can add honey or lemon to taste.
To make it more potent and effective add 2 slices of fresh ginger and a few cloves. Since both ginger and clove have a reputation for their health-boosting potential, ginger can stimulate blood flow and clove can boost antioxidant activities in our body.

Senna Tea During Menstruation

According to anecdotal evidence, moderate intake of senna tea during menstruation may prevent menstrual irregularities, due to its blood cleansing property, it can aid detoxification and helps clear blocked fallopian tubes (washing the uterus) [3] thereby increasing women’s chance of getting pregnant.

CHECK OUT: Impact of bitter leaf juice on menstruation

Senna tea may help induce menses [4] in someone with amenorrhea. One scientific review suggests sennosides in senna may aid the treatment of amenorrhea, a condition referred to as the absence of menstruation in someone.

Clove water: Have you tried Clove water during menstruation?

Contrary to this, another reputable scientific study [5] suggests against using senna medicine during menstruation, nursing, or pregnancy due to its laxative properties [6] which may lead to excessive bleeding.

However, scientific research to back up senna fertility boosting potential is ongoing. Senna tea can boost your ovulation and prepare your womb for pregnancy as purported by some herbal experts.

SUMMARY:
There is some evidence to suggest that senna may help to induce menstruation and treat amenorrhea. Additionally, some herbal experts believe that senna can boost ovulation and prepare the womb for pregnancy due to its uterus-cleansing properties.

CHECKOUT: How scent leaf juice can affect ovulation and menstruation

However, senna can have side effects, such as diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Additionally, senna may interact with certain medications.

Impact of Senna Tea During Pregnancy

Senna is unsafe to use during pregnancy due to its uterus-cleansing properties. Regulate intake of it may be detrimental.

Studies supporting this claim have linked the abortifacient potential of senna leave to its alkaloid content which affects the reproductive hormones of pregnant Wistar rats [7].

Another piece of evidence to suggest that senna is unsafe during pregnancy is noted by another reputable study on rat models confirming that senna can wash the uterus, therefore it is not recommended during pregnancy due to its abortifacient potential [8]

Aside above evidence, Senna can cause diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, this may also affect pregnancy.

If you insist on taking it during pregnancy talk to your doctor who can recommend a safe dose for you. It is also important to note that senna can interact with certain medications.

Can Senna Leave Cause Miscarriage?

Can Senna Leave Cause Miscarriage? Evidence from reputable scientific studies has noted that water extract from senna may increase the risk of miscarriage due to its diarrhea-causing effect which could lead to dehydration, a condition harmful to the developing fetus.

There is also some evidence from studies where senna leaf extract demonstrated an abortifacient effect on pregnant rats. However, more research is needed to confirm this. It is generally recommended that pregnant women avoid using senna leaves.

Senna tea and hormones

Does senna affect hormones? Senna tea does not appear to have a direct effect on hormones. However, it can cause diarrhea, a condition that can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. These imbalances can potentially interfere with hormone production and function.

Benefits of Senna for Fertility

Available scientific evidence from a study that investigated the reproductive toxicity of sennosides in senna leaves found no harmful effect on the reproductive potential of the treated rats [9]

Currently, there is limited evidence to suggest that senna can be beneficial or can reduce fertility [10]. However, It may help clean the uterus, and induce menstruation in the case of amenorrhea but can be detrimental to tea tea during pregnancy.

What Does Senna Leaves Do to the Body?

Senna leaves contain compounds called sennosides. Sennosides irritate the lining of the bowel, which causes a laxative effect. Senna typically works within 6-12 hours of taking it.

The senna laxative effect works by stimulating the muscles of the colon, which helps to move stool through the digestive system.

This laxative effect can help relieve constipation. However, it is important to note that senna leaves can also cause side effects, such as diarrhea and stomach cramps.

Safety guidelines while taking senna tea

• Cassia Alata is a strong herb that should not be consumed by pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children.
• Pregnant women: Cassia Alata can cause miscarriage.
• Nursing mothers: Cassia Alata can be passed to the baby through breast milk, causing diarrhea.
• Children: Children’s livers and kidneys are not yet developed enough to excrete Cassia Alata safely.
• Long use may have hepatoxic effects and may damage the liver [k4].

Conclusion

Senna is a plant that has been used for centuries as a laxative. It is generally considered unsafe to use during pregnancy. Senna can cause diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. It is also important to note that senna can interact with certain medications.