Nine herbal teas for constipation

For centuries, people have used herbal teas to ease digestive issues. Certain teas can stimulate the digestive system and help to relieve constipation.

Constipation is when someone has fewer than three bowel movements in a week. However, some people may feel constipated if they do not have a bowel movement every day. The stool may be hard, dry, and difficult to pass.

In this article, we look at how different teas can help to get the bowels moving, and we discuss the causes and risk factors of using herbal teas.

Can tea help with constipation?

Certain teas may help with constipation, either directly or indirectly.

Drinking warm liquids is a great way to get more water into the body, and staying hydrated is a powerful natural method for easing constipation.

Extra water in the stool makes it softer and helps it to pass more smoothly. In fact, being low on fluids is a common cause of constipation.

The warmth of tea may also stimulate the digestive system and help to relieve symptoms.

Stress may play an additional role. Authors of a 2014 review concluded that stress can cause problems with the digestive system.

This may explain why so many people use herbal teas to relax and relieve anxiety. To relieve stress, try adding herbal teas into a self-care routine.

Nine herbal teas for constipation

The following teas may have laxative or muscle-relaxing effects that help to relieve constipation and encourage bowel movements.

1. Senna

Senna is among the most well-known and frequently used laxative ingredients in teas. Senna tea is made from the dried leaves and pods of the Senna alexandrina shrub.

The senna plant contains compounds called glycosides that stimulate the digestive system. This can have laxative effects.

Many over-the-counter (OTC) laxative pills contain higher concentrations of senna than the teas. These pills can be highly effective in relieving constipation.

2. Peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is a popular natural remedy for digestive issues, and many OTC medicines for digestive issues contain peppermint extract.

The soothing effect of the menthol in peppermint may help to relax an upset stomach while moving stool through the intestines.

Drinking a cup of peppermint tea after each meal may benefit people who experience constipation and an upset stomach.

3. Ginger

When constipation stems from poor digestion, ginger root may help. Many people use ginger tea to calm irritation in the digestive system and improve digestion.

Ginger tea can help with digestion after a heavy meal. Drinking 1 or 2 cups each day, after meals, may help the body to process food and produce bowel movements.

4. Dandelion

Dandelion tea may help with mild digestive symptoms, such as bloating or occasional constipation.

Dandelion can stimulate the liver to produce bile, which can indirectly help with constipation.

Dandelion tea can also act as a diuretic in the body, adding more water to the digestive system and the stools. This can help to relieve mild constipation.

To ease the digestive process, try drinking a cup of dandelion tea after meals.

5. Black tea, green tea, or coffee

Stimulating teas and coffee also have a laxative effect.

Black tea, green tea, and coffee naturally contain caffeine, a stimulant that speeds up bowel movements in many people.

People often drink these beverages in the morning to wake themselves up and encourage a bowel movement.

Caffeine can have negative side effects in people who are sensitive to it, however.

Source: Medical News Today