- Teas sold specifically as constipation treatments, such cascara teas and teas with senna, are intended for short-term use just.
- Only adults ought to take in teas that include herbs with laxative properties.
- Be cautious about using herbal teas with components that sound unusual and assures that seem too great to be true.
How do You Get Rid of Constipation at Home?
Many individuals like herbal teas for their relaxing and peaceful properties. Some teas may help ease constipation. Particular components, including the herbs cascara and senna, have natural laxative properties. Herbal teas can be potent, though. You need to limit how much herbal tea you drink and how frequently you drink it.
Constipation is defined by irregular bowel movements or problem having a defecation. It can be an uncomfortable condition. It might likewise leave you feeling bloated. The Mayo Clinic explains constipation as having less than three bowel movements per week. Due to the fact that stools aren’t moving routinely, they tend to get dry and hard. This makes them harder to pass.
Routinely taking in fluids such as water and tea is one of the best ways to avoid constipation or treat it when symptoms establish. The more hydrated you are, the much better lubricated your intestinal tracts are and the more moisture remains in your stools.
Particular herbs in teas can aid with more than fulfilling your everyday fluid requirements. Cascara, for example, has been used as a laxative for centuries. It’s discovered in some herbal teas and in supplement kind, 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 disrupts water reabsorption by your colon so that more moisture stays in your stools.
You should just use herbal teas, such as those including senna or cascara, for short-term constipation relief.
What Causes Constipation?
The three most typical causes of constipation are:
- a low-fiber diet
- an inactive lifestyle
- dehydration.
In some cases, taking a trip can result in a change in bowel practices. Stress and anxiety might have a comparable effect.
If you’re pregnant, you might find constipation to be a temporary but uncomfortable issue. Your child may become constipated if they’ve discovered how to use the toilet but they try to keep in defecation.
Medical problems
Constipation can likewise be a symptom of a more serious medical issue, such as:
- irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive tract conditions
- thyroid disease
- cystic fibrosis
- a state of mind disorder
- some neurological problems, specifically those affecting the nerves around the bowel and anus.
Delaying going to the bathroom
If you typically delay going to the bathroom, this may likewise cause constipation. It’s typical for individuals who have hemorrhoids to experience this problem. Due to the fact that hemorrhoids can make it painful to pass stool, people might delay going to the bathroom. If waiting to pass stool results in constipation, it can make the next defecation a lot more painful.
Side effects of medication
Constipation is a possible side effect of lots of medications. These include:
- particular narcotic pain medications
- specific antidepressants
- specific over the counter (OTC) medications, such as antihistamines and antacids.
Risk factors to consider
Only adults need to take in 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 likewise have doses developed for children.
If you’re typically healthy, it’s most likely safe for you to try a commercial product, such as an herbal tea, to treat a bout of constipation. Beware about using herbal teas with unusual-sounding active ingredients and guarantees that seem too great to be true.
The United States Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate teas for constipation relief. Therefore, you cannot be totally sure what active ingredients are included in the tea. It’s not possible for you to understand if there has been any reliable screening on the item’s safety and efficiency.
If you’re pregnant, you must avoid certain herbal products due to possible threats. For instance, teas with senna may raise your risk of diarrhea and dehydration if you’re pregnant. Talk to your doctor before attempting any herbal or OTC product.
Which Teas do People Use to Treat Constipation?
Herbal teas can be made from a mixture of herbs, or a mix of herbs and tea leaves. You should always examine the active ingredients on the label so that you know what you’re consuming.
These teas are the most frequently used to relieve constipation:
- Senna tea functions as a stimulant laxative, which works by promoting the intestinal tracts to move stool along. Senna tea tends to have a bitter taste, so you may want to add honey or some other flavoring to make it more tasty.
- Green tea also seems to have favorable results on digestive health. It has been used to assist treat queasiness, diarrhea, and constipation.
- Some individuals use dandelion tea to eliminate water retention, but it can serve as a mild laxative, too.
- Cascara tea can have a strong laxative result. You should not have more than is suggested. Cascara is readily available in laxative capsules along with teas.
- Peppermint tea may help treat and prevent cases of constipation Peppermint is supposed to be great for digestive health.
- Hot or iced black tea may have a mild adequate laxative impact that it can help avoid constipation, however you can consume it daily without long-lasting health dangers. Including honey or molasses to your tea might enhance its laxative properties.
How Much Tea should You Drink?
Numerous teas marketed for their laxative results feature guidelines that recommend taking in one cup right prior to bedtime. Make sure to check out the label and follow the directions thoroughly. Herbal teas, consisting of those that help treat constipation, are offered in grocery stores, health food stores, and online.
For most laxative teas, the instructions suggest only one cup daily. However, if your constipation persists for more than a few days, you might need a more powerful laxative medication. You ought to visit your doctor if your constipation lasts a week or more.
See also: How Effective is Mineral Oil for Constipation
What are the Side Effects?
Teas offered particularly as constipation treatments are meant for short-term use only. Long-term use of these products may have dangers. For example, your bowels might become based on these products, and you might ultimately discover it harder to have a defecation without them. Constipation might also be a symptom of a more serious medical condition.
Speak to your doctor if you have constipation associated to a chronic health condition. Your doctor may advise certain laxatives that you can take more regularly. You need to take laxatives of any type as rarely as possible.
It’s important to look into the possible long-term side effects of any herbal item that you take frequently. For instance, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has reported that long-lasting use of cascara and senna can cause liver damage.
Herbal teas might likewise interact with medications you currently take. If you take a prescription drug, be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist prior to using a laxative tea.
What is the outlook?
If your constipation is because of a low-fiber diet or not drinking enough fluids, one cup of laxative tea may suffice to assist return your system to typical. But constipation has various possible causes. If a hidden medical condition is causing your constipation, you might have to look for a stronger treatment.
You should help these teas and other treatments do their job by getting more physically active and following a high-fiber diet.
How to Avoid Future Constipation
Preventing constipation is the best way to guarantee that it doesn’t disrupt your quality of life. If you have a medical condition that causes constipation, prevention alternatives might not work for you. Making sure lifestyle options can help keep you routine if you’re in excellent overall health.
Diet
Eating a high-fiber diet can help prevent constipation. High-fiber foods include green, leafy veggies, fruits, such as berries, and whole grains. These foods are in some cases called “roughage.” Aim to fill at least half your plate with vegetables and fruits and every meal. Throughout the day, attempt to make certain that a minimum of half of the grain products you eat are entire grain. These foods have components that benefit your digestive system and promote your general health.
Remaining well-hydrated is likewise necessary for excellent digestive health. All your body’s systems need water to work properly.
Exercise
You should likewise attempt to exercise for a minimum of 150 minutes weekly. You can break that objective down into 5 sessions weekly that last 30 minutes each. Many different types of exercise might help avoid constipation, including:
- walking
- running
- swimming
- aerobics.
Getting more workout likewise supports great heart health, and it might likewise help you feel healthier and more energized.
