Senna leaf supplement: laxative, anti-constipation

SennaLax is a senna leaf supplement standardised in sennosides, the plant’s active ingredients. This powerful, natural laxative helps combat constipation fast.

SennaLax is part of our gastrointestinal health category.

Laxative benefits of senna leaf

Definition and digestive benefits of senna

Senna (Cassia angustifolia) is a small shrub from the Fabaceae family with elongated, oval-shaped leaves and 3-6 leaflets. It is grown, in particular, in India.

The plant is traditionally best known, at least since ancient Egyptian times, for its powerful, fast-acting laxative effect (1-3). Indeed, senna leaves support normal intestinal tract function and thus help to prevent and reduce constipation.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP) all consider senna to be a “short-term treatment for occasional constipation” (4).

How does senna leaf reduce constipation?

Senna contains sennosides A and B, anthracene derivatives.

Once metabolised by bacteria in the gut flora, these sennosides release active anthraquinones which have a two-fold action:

• they stimulate the muscles of the intestinal wall, which increases peristaltic contractions (the movements that propel the contents of the intestines towards the rectum);
• and they inhibit the absorption of water in digested food, which helps to keep stools soft.

These two mechanisms speed up intestinal transit and promote fast, effective bowel movements.

Three strengths of the supplement SennaLax

Our senna leaf tablets are notable in 3 key aspects:

1. the Sennagex® used in SennaLax is a recognised extract of senna leaf (Cassia angustifolia), standardised to 20% sennosides for maximum efficacy and safe use. It provides an excellent daily dose of 50mg, from 3 tablets a day;
2. this senna extract is enhanced by the addition of magnesium citrate. Magnesium supports normal muscle function including muscles involved in intestinal motility (essential for effective defecation). Magnesium citrate is also a form of magnesium known to have good bioavailability and an exceptional ability to attract water into the intestines through an osmotic effect, thus making stools softer (5-6). This form of magnesium is used at a high dose prior to a colonoscopy, to empty the bowel;
3. our SennaLax supplement contains neither emodin nor aloe-emodin in accordance with European regulations. These substances can have overly-powerful and potentially dangerous laxative effects, and their use in supplements has thus been banned by health authorities to protect consumers’ health.