History of Senna.
Grown primarily in Egypt and Sudan, the leaves and pods of the senna plant have been used as a natural laxative to relieve occasional constipation for centuries. Senna’s common name comes from the Hebrew ketziah or kiddah (cassia), which means “peeled back”, possibly referring to senna’s easily peeled bark. There are nearly 200 different species of senna.
This tall, elegant herb grows 3 to 6 feet high and is topped with star-like yellow flowers. The leaves and pods contain constituents called sennosides, which naturally stimulate your bowels to move.
Tea Recipe Suggestions
PoopingTea™ + Honey
After steeping your tea, add 1 tbsp of honey, stir and enjoy!
PoopingTea™ + Honey + Cinnamon
After steeping your tea, add 1 tbsp of honey, 1 tsp of cinnamon, stir and enjoy!
PoopingTea™ + Lemon + Ginger (Jenn’s fav!)
After steeping your tea, add the juice of a wedge of lemon, some thinly sliced ginger, stir and enjoy!
What is constipation?
Constipation is the infrequent passage of stools (less than three stools a week) that are difficult and painful to pass. It is the most common gastrointestinal complaint and results in 2.5 million doctor visits annually, which makes sense because everyone poops!
Though constipation is a common problem, it often comes with many varied symptoms. Symptoms can include painful stomach cramps, feeling bloated, strained bowel movements, and gas.
Why am I constipated?
There are various reasons why you may be experiencing constipation. Some of the most common causes are:
Diet
One of the most common causes of constipation is not consuming enough dietary fibre. Fibre helps move things along in your bowels by increasing bulk and softening your stools. It does so by absorbing the water in your gut, so make sure you increase your fluid intake as well. Eat that fibre and stay hydrated!
Physical Exercise
Physical activity stimulates your bowel muscles, giving you the urge to go to the bathroom more. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes three days a week. Get moving to get your bowels grooving!
Stress
Stress can be a very common culprit of constipation. Experiencing big life changes or bouts of stress and anxiety in your life can have a huge effect on your bowel function. Take 10 minutes a day to meditate! Training your mind is just as important as training your body.
Hormones
Hormones that change and fluctuate before the menstrual cycle and hormonal changes during menopause can also bring on constipation.
Certain Medications
Constipation can be a side effect of some drugs, such as codeine-based painkillers, iron tablets taken for anemia, antacids used to treat indigestion, some types of blood pressure medication, and more. Talk to your doctor if you are having problems with constipation after starting any new medication.
How does senna help ease constipation?
Senna is known as a stimulant laxative. Sennosides (or senna glycosides) found within the senna plant stimulate a series of comfortable wave-like contractions along the muscles that line your gut to help encourage bowel movements.
Senna leaves have been used as a natural laxative to relieve occasional constipation for centuries, mostly as a tea or in powdered form. If you find yourself in need of relief so you can re-lax(ative), we recommend that you unwind and unplug with a cup of PoopingTea™.
Find Your Perfect
Brewing Time.
To achieve ‘the perfect poop’, brewing your tea for the right amount of time is crucial. When brewing your tea, make sure you cover your cup because it helps activate that magic poop dust. Follow the suggested brew time carefully for optimal results.
Need to poop?
Brew your tea for 5 - 10 minutes for that extra push. It’s the solution for 1 to 2 days of constipation symptoms. Expect minor cramping.
Need a powerful push?
Pushing 3 days since you last took a poop? If that’s the case, brew your tea for 10 - 15 minutes and be ready for a powerful poop. With this dose, expect some cramping and multiple visits to your toilet.
Feeling adventurous?
Brew your tea for 15 - 20 minutes and prepare yourself for sh*t to get real. Use this brewing time for when you haven’t pooped in days. You’ll feel like you lost 5lbs. Expect a lot of cramping and several toilet visits.
