What is senna?
Senna is also known as Cassia senna, tinnevelly senna, India senna, Alexandrian senna, and Khartoum senna.
Senna has been used in alternative medicine as an aid to treat constipation.
Not all uses for senna have been approved by the FDA. Senna should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.
Senna is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Senna may also be used for other purposes not listed in this product guide.
What is the most important information I should know about senna?
Not all uses for senna have been approved by the FDA. Senna should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.
Senna is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Use senna as directed on the label, or as your healthcare provider has prescribed. Do not use this product in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.
Call your healthcare provider if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using senna. Do not use this product for longer than 1 week without the advice of a healthcare provider.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking senna?
Ask a doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have:
a bowel disorder such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis;
heart disease; or
stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting.
Before using senna, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider. You may not be able to use senna if you have any other medical conditions, allergies, or if you take other medicines or herbal/health supplements.
Do not take senna without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant.
Do not take senna without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Some forms of senna are made for use by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without the advice of a doctor.