Senna, also widely popular as cassia, is a well-known flowering plant that thrives in areas having warm climates. People use its leaves for various medicinal purposes, prominently as a laxative. Also, these medicinal leaves are key ingredients of many over-the-counter laxative medications. Even though the use of senna is quite safe, excess of its use can affect your health adversely. So, you should be aware of side effects of senna leaves.
Here Are Some Prominent Side Effects Of Senna Leaves That You Should Know When Using It:
Gastrointestinal Problems
Excess of intake of senna leaves can result in gastrointestinal problems. Its purgative effect may make you suffer from gastrointestinal issues, such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, cramps in stomach, diarrhea, and other digestive problems. To prevent these side effects, you should restrict the intake of this herb.
Electrolyte Abnormalities
Prolonged use of senna leaves can make you suffer from electrolyte imbalances. It may reduce levels of potassium in your body and can hamper your health. Electrolyte imbalances can cause muscular weakness, intestinal problems, cardiac arrhythmia, and confusion. So, make sure you don’t use these leaves for a long span of time.
Finger Clubbing
Misuse of senna leaves on account of health condition called anorexia can make your suffer from finger clubbing issue. Excess of use of these leaves for a long time can promote a great amount of weight loss in your body. This may make you suffer from finger clubbing problem which most often is not irreversible. So, watch out your intake of senna.
Hypersensitivity Problems
Although hypersensitivity is a rare adverse effect of excess intake of senna, you should not overlook it. Hypersensitivity can trigger problems such as asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and allergies and affect your health negatively.
Leads To Cathartic Colon
Various medical studies reveal that chronic use of senna leaves, which is about three times in every week for about an year, can alter your colon negatively resulting in the loss of haustral folds. Regular consumption of these leaves can lead to neuronal injury or damage the muscles of your colon significantly. So, you should avoid regular or excess consumption of senna.
Now that you are aware of potential side effects of senna leaves, make sure you limit the intake of these leaves to prevent the risk of hazardous health effects.
