Medically reviewed by Onikepe Adegbola, MD, PhD
Feeling constipated is possibly one of the worst feelings for anyone. Whether it is your body’s response to an unhealthy diet or a side effect of irritable bowel syndrome, irregular bowel movements can be exhausting and indicate poor health.
As per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, constipation is when an individual has less than three bowel movements a week. However, some people may feel constipated if they do not have a bowel movement every day. The stool may be dry, hard, and arduous to pass.
Unlike popular belief, tea can help relieve constipation. But what tea is good for constipation? This blog will cover the different teas that can get the bowels moving.
Top Teas That Help With Constipation
- Peppermint Tea
Not only is peppermint a sought-after natural remedy for digestive troubles, but many OTC medicines for digestive issues also contain peppermint extract.
Peppermint contains menthol that has a soothing effect and may help relax an upset stomach while moving stool through the intestine. Those who experience constipation should try drinking a cup of this tea, rich in anti-inflammatory properties, after every meal.
- Ginger Tea
In various instances, constipation results from poor digestion. What someone needs in such scenarios is ginger tea. That is because it can calm the irritation in the digestive system and enhance digestion.
It is especially beneficial for digestion after a heavy meal. Try to drink one to two cups of ginger tea every day after meals, as it will help your body process the food and produce bowel movements.
- Green Tea
Green tea naturally contains caffeine, a stimulant that speeds up bowel movements in numerous individuals. Globally, people drink it to wake themselves up and bring about a bowel movement. However, people sensitive to caffeine can give this a miss and opt for other teas.
- Chamomile
This fragment herb tea, known for its soothing effect, has been widely used in recent years.
Drinking a cup of chamomile tea towards the end of the day may help calm the muscles in your intestine. Moreover, it can speed up the time between a meal and a bowel movement.
- Dandelion Tea
While most people use dandelion tea to relieve water retention, it also acts as a mild laxative. So, it may help with digestive symptoms like occasional constipation and bloating.
Dandelion stimulates the liver to produce bile. That, in turn, indirectly helps with constipation.
This tea also acts as a diuretic in the body, adding more water to the stools and the digestive system. It helps relieve mild constipation. To make the most of this tea, try having a cup after meals.
- Senna Tea
Senna is among the most frequently used laxative ingredients in teas. Senna tea is made from the pods and dried leaves of the Senna Alexandrina shrub. It contains compounds like glycosides that stimulate the digestive system and has laxative effects.
Various OTC laxative pills contain high concentrations of senna. Senna tea tends to have a bitter taste, so you may want to add some flavoring to make it palatable.
- Licorice Root Tea
Licorice tea is made using licorice root, a popular tonic for digestive issues. This tea has an anti-inflammatory effect that makes it ideal for aiding digestion. After a meal has settled in the system, one can have a cup of licorice root tea to encourage a bowel movement.
- Parsley
Parsley is another sought-after herb that may help with digestive disorders. So, if you are looking to relieve mild constipation, having a tea that includes the seeds or leaves of the parsley plant can be exceedingly beneficial.
- Turmeric Tea
The active ingredient in turmeric is known as curcumin. It is rich in antioxidants and helps alkalise the gut. As a result, the effects of acid reflux in your gastrointestinal system get reduced. Moreover, it also has immune-boosting properties.
Conclusion
Individuals who feel constipated periodically are always on the lookout for a solution. While exercising and enhancing one’s diet is helpful, it doesn’t work for everyone. Fortunately, there’s a lesser-known home remedy that you can opt for to manage constipation. And that is tea.
Certain teas in the market can help with constipation either directly or indirectly. These include ginger, peppermint, parsley, senna, and chamomile, amongst others. Staying hydrated is a powerful method of easing constipation as extra water in the stool helps it pass effortlessly by softening it.
Most individuals suffer constipation as their body is low on fluids. For them, the teas mentioned above can be exceedingly beneficial. Moreover, these may stimulate the digestive system to help relieve the symptoms.
Another factor that adds to constipation is stress. Most of these teas enable the person to relax and relieve anxiety. However, one shouldn’t go overboard with their consumption. The recommended consumption for most herbal and laxative teas is one to two cups per day.
While the teas are favorable for short-term use, becoming dependent on them for bowel movements in the long term can be harmful. So, check with your doctor before consuming any of these teas in large quantities.
References
Bar, S. T. (2020, October 2). The Best Tea For Constipation. Sencha Tea Bar. https://senchateabar.com/blogs/blog/best-tea-for-constipation
Johnson, J. (2018, July 30). Nine herbal teas for constipation. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322624#can-tea-help-with-constipation
Roland, J. (2019, March 8). Teas for Constipation Relief. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/tea-for-constipation#prevention
Tiwari, S. (2018, January 16). 5 teas that can help relieve constipation acidity and improve digestion | TheHealthSite.com. TheHealthSite. https://www.thehealthsite.com/fitness/5-teas-that-can-help-relieve-constipation-acidity-and-improve-digestion-w0118-550568/
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