Natural Laxative Tea

Are you suffering from constipation? Looking for an effective indigestion cure? If you are not too keen on using pills and syrups, you can use herbal remedies for treating digestive disorders. The best way to get relief from constipation is to use natural laxatives. It would be best to include foods that are natural laxatives into your diet. Drinking a natural laxative tea will also prove beneficial in treating constipation. Laxatives are components that help in cleansing the digestive system. Infrequent bowel movements, bloating, pain in the rectum, incomplete evacuation of the bowel and strain during bowel movement are the common symptoms of constipation. These can be treated with the help of laxatives. Laxatives induce bowel movement thereby helping in flushing out the toxins which get accumulated due to incomplete evacuation of the bowel. Instead of popping pills, you can drink herbal teas to promote good health. These herbal infusions are rich in antioxidants and can surely help in strengthening the immune system.

Herbs that are Natural Laxatives

Herbs such as senna, licorice, psyllium husks, aloe gel, alfalfa and cassia pulp are natural laxatives. Due to their ability to induce and regularize bowel movements, these have become a part of several weight loss programs and detox diet plans. Senna leaves, licorice root, rhubarb, dandelion and buckthorn bark are commonly used for making herbal infusions. Both senna and rhubarb root are stimulant laxatives, but rhubarb is somewhat milder. Other ingredients such as ginger, fennel seeds, caraway seeds and anise seeds which are known to aid in the digestive process might also be used for alleviating the symptoms of constipation. Besides, these can add an interesting flavor to the tea.

How to Brew a Laxative Tea

The market is flooded with brands that offer laxative tea. You can either buy one from the market or brew it on your own. Here are instructions on how to brew a herbal infusion. For this homemade tea, you will require 3 tablespoons senna leaves, 2 tablespoons elder flowers, 1 tablespoon fennel seeds and half a teaspoon of anise seeds.

• For making this herbal tea, add a cup of water to a container and place it on a flame.
• Once the water starts boiling, add the ingredients to it.
• Reduce the flame and cover the container with a lid and let it steep for five minutes.
• Get hold of a strainer and strain the tea into a cup.
• Your homemade herbal infusion is ready!

How Safe is Herbal Laxative Tea?

Most of these herbal teas are marketed as being therapeutic and energizing, but are these safe? Well, there is one aspect that you need to keep into mind. Since certain herbs such as senna and rhubarb are stimulant laxatives, excessive consumption of these could lead to certain problems. It has been seen that excessive consumption of herbal tea can cause diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting. Chronic diarrhea as a result of excessive consumption of herbal infusions made from laxatives can affect the absorption of nutrients and even lead to dehydration.

Electrolyte disorders is another side effect that could also be caused due to overuse of laxatives. A dip in the levels of potassium might be associated with the excessive consumption of herbal tea. Low levels of potassium can adversely affect the health of your heart and can make one vulnerable to paralysis. If you wish to use this tea for improving your digestive health, make sure that you consult your doctor. Pregnant women and nursing mothers must consult their doctor if they are planning to use herbal tea.

Though the benefits of herbal teas are numerous, that doesn't mean that you consume it every now and then. If you are keen on taking infusions made from herbs that are natural laxatives, you must consult your doctor in order to find out how often it can be safely consumed. If you experience any side effects, discontinue its use.