17- Benefits of senna makki herb
The benefits of senna makki
according to the degree of effectiveness The senna herb provides many health benefits for the body, which vary according to the degree of its effectiveness, and the following is a detail of that
Likely Effective
Reducing constipation: Senna makki has been used for thousands of years to relieve constipation, and it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a laxative without the need for a prescription, and it can be used to clean the intestines before performing surgeries, or diagnostic tests for the digestive system; As with a colonoscopy, the active substance in senna is called sennosides
which is a plant compound that irritates the lining of the intestine, giving a strong laxative effect. It is worth noting that a bowel movement begins about 6 to 12 hours after taking senna orally
It is more effective if taken rectally; Where the bowel movement begins after only 10 minutes,[1][2] and senna was found to be more effective in treating persistent constipation in the elderly if used with psyllium, in addition to using it with sodium docusate (English: Sodium ducosate) makes it more effective in older adults who have had colon and rectal surgery
Possibly Effective
Intestinal preparation
before colonoscopy: Senna maki has an effect similar to that of castor oil and bisacodyl in cleaning the intestines, and some evidence has found that senna has an effect similar to polyethylene glycol used to clean the intestines, but it is worth noting that the evidence is conflicting. in that; Since it is not clear whether taking senna with polyethylene glycol is more effective than taking polyethylene glycol alone
it is worth noting that senna is less effective than sodium picosulfate in cleaning the intestines, but taking a mixture of senna and polyethylene glycol Sodium picosulfate is more effective than sodium picosulfate alone in preparing the intestines before colonoscopy
Insufficient Evidence
Helping with weight loss: Some researchers suggest that drinking senna tea may stimulate weight loss, however there is no evidence that senna tea has these benefits, in addition to the fact that the use of laxatives is not a safe way to lose weight, or reduce body fat
To achieve weight loss using senna, it must be taken for longer periods than recommended, and in larger doses as well, and this may cause serious health problems, as anorexia nervosa was recorded for a person who used to take approximately 100 tablets of senna. I cry every day, and this has led to a condition called nephrocalcinosis. That is, high levels of calcium in the kidneys, and clubbing of the fingers
It is a distortion in the shape of the fingers, in addition to diseases in the joints, and bones
Other benefits There is insufficient evidence for its effectiveness: There is not enough evidence to show the benefits of senna in some cases, including: hemorrhoids, colon irritation, and others. It does not appear to improve visualization of organs in the abdominal area
Safe Dosages of Senna Makki Senna is a non-prescription approved laxative approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Where people 12 years of age and over are recommended to consume 17.2 milligrams per day, taking care not to exceed the permissible limit, which is 34.4 milligrams per day, and 8.5 milligrams per day is recommended for children with constipation
Possible side effects of using senna makki
may cause some annoying and sometimes dangerous side effects, including: diarrhea. convulsions Fluid loss. Abdominal pain. feel helpless. Electrolyte imbalance. It should be noted that long-term use of senna may cause bowel movement dependence on it, in addition to finger clubbing – which can be treated – and rectal bleeding, and wasting
and a doctor should be consulted in case of any of these symptoms It is important to drink ample amounts of fluids and solutions that supply the body with the lost electrolytes when consuming senna, in order to avoid fluid or electrolyte loss, especially in the case of diarrhea
For the treatment of cramps, or abdominal pain, the dose should be reduced until the symptoms disappear
The degree of safety
and precautions of using senna maki For a short period of time, it is safe for most adults and children over two years of age, but it may not be safe when taken for long periods or in high doses, and therefore experts advise to avoid using senna for a period exceeding two weeks, as the use of senna for a period of more than two weeks Its long-term may lead to the cessation of normal bowel functions
, and may cause dependence on the laxative effect of the herb, and may also lead to a change in the amounts of chemicals and electrolytes in the blood or its imbalance, and this may cause problems in heart function, muscle weakness, and liver damage. and other problems, and in addition to this, some cases must take caution when using the Makki senna, and we mention from these cases the following
Pregnant and lactating women
It can be said that eating senna maki for a short period is likely to be safe for pregnant and lactating women, but it is likely not to be safe when consumed for long periods and in large doses continuously, as this is linked to liver damage, and reliance on laxatives to perform bowel functions, despite Although senna makki runs out of breast milk for the child
, this does not seem to affect the infant; It does not change the frequency or consistency of the child’s stool. People suffering from dehydration and diarrhea: Senna Makki should not be used in case of these conditions. Because it may make it worse
People with gastrointestinal diseases Senna should be avoided if you have abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or appendicitis. , gastritis, rectal prolapse, diarrhea, or hemorrhoids. People with heart disease
Senna may cause electrolyte disturbances, which worsens the condition of people with heart disease. Hepatotoxicity: Consuming senna for long periods, and in quantities greater than recommended, may cause liver damage, as symptoms usually appear 3 to 5 months after consumption
Re-exposure to senna for rapid recurrence causes liver damage again
Drug interactions with senna makki
senna may interfere with some types of medications, including the following: Contraceptive pills: Ethinyl estradiol is a form of estrogen found in some birth control pills, and senna may reduce the amount of The hormone estradiol is absorbed by the body, which may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Digoxin: (in English: Digoxin)
Senna is an active laxative that may reduce potassium levels in the body, which may cause an increased risk of side effects of this drug
Estrogen
Some hormone replacement pills contain a chemical called estrone, and senna may reduce levels of this substance in the body, thus affecting the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy. Warfarin: Senna may cause diarrhea in some people, and this may increase the effect resulting from the use of warfarin, and thus increase the risk of bleeding, and therefore you should avoid consuming large quantities of senna with this drug
Diuretics
Laxatives such as senna may cause a decrease in potassium levels in the blood, and diuretics may also cause this. Therefore, the use of senna with diuretics at the same time should be avoided to avoid a sharp drop in potassium levels
These diuretics include: Chlorothiazide: Chlorothiazide), chlorthalidone (English: Chlortalidone), furosemide (English: Furosemide), and others. Some herbal supplements: Horsetail and licorice are believed to be herbs that may reduce potassium levels in some people, so taking senna with these herbs may cause a severe drop in potassium levels in the blood
How to use senna
The senna is taken in the form of tea prepared from the leaves of the herb and sometimes it is prepared by adding other herbs to it, and this herb is also available in the form of food supplements. The effect of senna usually begins within 8 hours of eating it, as it was mentioned earlier that its leaves and fruits have a laxative effect that may contribute to relieving constipation
Cultivation of senna makki
usually grows in areas with warm temperatures and tropical regions, and prefers sandy soil of medium fertility and good drainage, but it does not tolerate a significant increase in irrigation, and it is worth noting that senna makki is usually grown as an annual plant
– that is, it grows for a season One agricultural one -, but it can also stay for two to three years, as for the crop it produces, it varies according to soil and irrigation conditions, for example, India produces in one year about 700 kilograms of senna leaves irrigated with rain water only per 0.01 square kilometers , while the same area produces 1400 kilograms of senna leaves when irrigated
