Senna Tea: How to Make It and Use It Safely

Senna tea is a stimulant-laxative herbal infusion that takes about 15 minutes to prepare and makes 1 cup (240 mL). Unlike an everyday herbal detox tea, it is best treated as a short-term constipation product rather than a routine beverage.

What is senna tea?

Senna tea is made with senna, a plant containing compounds called sennosides. These compounds stimulate bowel movements, which is why senna is used as a short-term laxative for occasional constipation.

Products vary in strength and preparation, and some contain other herbs. The effects of a standardized senna laxative should not be assumed to establish the dose or effect of every senna tea. Read more about senna tea benefits.

How do you make senna tea?

This method uses Traditional Medicinals Organic Smooth Move Senna tea bags. It is a blend containing senna and other herbs, including licorice, rather than a single-ingredient senna tea. Check your package before preparing it: formulations and directions can change.

Yield: 1 cup (240 mL). Total time: About 15 minutes, allowing about 5 minutes to heat the water and 10 minutes to steep; heating time can vary.

Ingredients

1 Traditional Medicinals Organic Smooth Move Senna tea bag (1.5 g of tea blend), portioned for 1 cup of water. The bag is pre-portioned rather than measured in cups.
1 cup (240 mL) water.

Steps

Check the package for its serving directions and warnings.
Heat 1 cup (240 mL) of water to a boil.
Pour the freshly boiled water over the tea bag in a cup.
Cover and steep for 10 minutes, within the product's 10–15-minute range.
Squeeze the tea bag into the cup, then remove and discard it. Drink only the labeled serving.

For other recipe ideas, use the ai detox recipe generator.

Do not add another bag or steep longer to make the tea stronger. If your package gives different directions, follow that label instead. If you do not drink the prepared serving immediately, refrigerate it and use it within 24 hours; do not drink extra later to make up a missed serving.

What does senna tea do for detox?

Senna tea can stimulate a bowel movement, but that is not the same as removing toxins from the body. The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification; the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste, while sweat removes only trace amounts.

Drinking fluids supports hydration, but there is no good evidence that senna tea cleanses organs or provides lasting weight loss. A bowel movement or temporary change on the scale is not evidence of detoxification.

How much senna tea should you drink, and when?

Follow the serving and timing on your product’s label. The tea used in this recipe directs adults and children aged 12 years and older to drink 1 cup, preferably at bedtime. Senna laxatives commonly work within 6–12 hours, although a particular tea’s effect can vary.

Do not take extra because it has not worked immediately. Do not use senna for more than 1 week unless a clinician advises it. If constipation persists, speak with a clinician rather than increasing the amount or continuing the tea.

What are senna tea’s side effects, and who should be careful?

Senna tea can cause abdominal cramps, loose stools or diarrhea. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, and prolonged or excessive use can contribute to low potassium and other electrolyte problems. Read more about senna tea side effects.

Do not use senna without medical advice if you have severe abdominal pain, vomiting, unexplained rectal bleeding or a suspected bowel obstruction. Ask a clinician first if you have inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or heart disease, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are considering senna for a child younger than 12 years.

Also check with a clinician if you take medicines such as diuretics or heart medicines, as electrolyte changes can be especially concerning. The licorice in this particular blend is another reason to check if you have high blood pressure or heart or kidney disease.

Seek urgent medical care for severe or worsening abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, fainting, blood in the stool, or signs of significant dehydration such as very little urine.

Frequently asked questions about senna tea

What does senna tea taste like?

Senna tea can taste earthy or bitter. The flavor of a blend also depends on its other herbs; do not make it stronger to change the taste.

Can you sweeten senna tea?

You can add a little sweetener for taste, but it will not reliably prevent the tea’s laxative effects. Follow the product’s serving directions regardless of what you add.