Some issues that plague women during pregnancy can reemerge in the postpartum period also. One such recurring issue during the postpartum period is constipation. The postpartum period is also the time the mother breastfeeds her baby. Even though several medicines can relieve constipation, you should make sure that the medicines that are used would not pass through the breast milk to the baby. In fact, there are many herbs that help relieve constipation.
Senna is one of the many herbs that acts as a laxative and relieves constipation. But is it safe to use Senna during breastfeeding? Continue reading to find out.
In This Article
- What is Senna?
- Six Amazing Health Benefits of Senna
- Side Effects of Senna While Breastfeeding
- When to Avoid Senna?
- Is it Safe to Consume Senna During Breastfeeding?
- FAQ’s
What is Senna?
Senna is a flowering plant that belongs to the legume family. Since ancient times, almost all the parts including the leaves, fruit, roots, and seeds of this shrub have been used to make medicines. Pods are also used, but are less effective than leaves and seeds.
A laxative is derived from the leaves and seeds of the Senna herb. In fact, Senna gets a green signal from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as an over-the-counter laxative.
Senna contains chemicals called sennosides. It is this chemical that will irritate the lining of the intestine, which brings out a laxative effect. Senna fruit is found to be gentler than Senna leaf.
Six Amazing Health Benefits of Senna
Some of the health benefits of Senna are:
1. Beautifies Skin and Hair
The antibacterial property of senna can help in treating skin issues. The paste made from senna leaves is effective in treating skin infections like acne as well as inflammatory conditions like eczema.Preparing a hair pack by mixing the senna powder with water and yogurt, and applying it on the scalp hair helps to attain smooth, shiny, and strong hair. Senna not only makes your hair beautiful but also makes the condition of the scalp better and prevents the attack of dandruff. Being an excellent conditioning herb, it can prevent hair loss also.
2. Treating Intestinal Worms
The laxative properties of senna make it an excellent option in the treatment of intestinal worms.
3. Oral Health
Chewing senna leaf helps to cure mouth infections and gingivitis.
4. Treating Digestive Issues
Senna, when consumed with cardamom, ginger, peppermint, and fennel, helps to reduce the gas formation in the stomach.
5. Helps to Lose Weight
It aids in the eradication of toxins and undigested food in the large intestine. This cleansing and detoxification aids proper absorption of nutrients and ideal metabolism, bringing about weight loss.
6. Treating
Senna is very effective in the treatment of hemorrhoids. It helps to reduce swelling and clear the way for speedy healing. Besides, as it promotes soft stools, it helps in bringing down the pressure that the stool puts on anal lacerations during defecation.
Side Effects of Senna While Breastfeeding
Usually, short term use of senna in limited quantities will not trigger any side effects. However, if taken for an extended period of time or at high doses, senna could be potentially unsafe.
- Try not to take senna for longer than two weeks.When used long-term, laxatives may cause your bowels to stop working normally as they rely on them completely.
- Besides, long-term use of senna changes the electrolyte level. This, in turn, can compromise heart function, cause muscle weakness, and damage the liver.
- In some lactating mothers, senna may bring about small abdominal cramping. Senna can get into the breast milk. Even though limited intake wont cause diarrhea in babies, over consumption of senna by the mother can increase the frequency of the baby poops and even cause loose motion.
[Read : Is It Safe To Use Garcinia Cambogia While You Are Breastfeeding?]
When to Avoid Senna?
Intake of Senna is not recommended, if:
1. You are Experiencing Abdominal Pain
If you are suffering from abdominal cramps, diarrhea, or intestinal obstruction, you are not recommended to take senna as it increases abdominal cramps.
2. You are Taking Heart Medication
It may interfere with heart medications in the light of the fact that it lowers the potassium levels. Potassium is needed for normal heartbeats. And so, incredibly low potassium levels can be life threatening.
3. You are Using a Blood Thinner
If taken along with blood thinners, senna increases the chances of bleeding.
4. You are Taking Other Laxatives
If taken with other laxatives, it will increase the risk of gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea etc.
5. You are Taking Diuretics
Senna can interfere with diuretics, the drugs that remove excess water from the body, giving rise to excessive dehydration.
[Read : Benefits Of Chia Seeds During Breastfeeding]
Is it Safe to Consume Senna During Breastfeeding?
Senna and its usage during the time of breastfeeding have always been a debatable topic. Short-term use of senna while breastfeeding is acceptable as only a negligible amount of sennosides, the chemical which gives the laxative property to senna, will get into the breast milk. So it will not cause any problems for the nursing baby. However, make sure the recommended dosage does not exceed or else it may lead to complications. Likewise, long-term use of senna can create issues for both mother and child. As mentioned above,
- Long term use of senna increases the risk of muscle weakness, heart issues and can damage the liver. Never use it more than two weeks under any circumstances.
- Excess consumption of senna can irritate the lining in the stomach and lead to laxative dependency.
In short, having senna in a limited dose for a short term will not cause much harm. Even then, it is better to ask your doctor before consuming it. Also, if you notice any symptoms of loose stools or diarrhea, immediately stop the usage of senna.
[Read : Spicy Food During Breastfeeding – Is It Okay?]
FAQ’s
1. Can I Eat Senna After Delivery to Lose Pregnancy Weight?
Please check with your doctor first. Senna might cause some stomach cramps in new mothers. It might also get transferred to the breast milk and can make the baby poop more.
2. Will Eating Senna During Breastfeeding Harm my Baby?
It won’t harm your baby. However, if you are consuming too much senna, it might impact your child’s bowel movements. Your baby might need more diaper changes.
3. How Frequently Can I Consume Senna When I am Breastfeeding?
Senna should not be consumed for a prolonged period of time. Continuous consumption can change electrolyte levels in the body. It can even alter your bowel movements.
4. How Long Does Senna Take to Work?
Senna will take anywhere between 6 to 12 hours. You can have them in tablet form or even as a powder mixed with water. The best time to consume would be before bedtime.
Read Also: Is Spirulina Safe To Consume During Breastfeeding?
