Get the bowels moving with this Dried Fruit & Senna Leaf balls Recipe
By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, Registered Aromatherapist, LMT, RYT
Dried Fruit & Senna Leaf Balls Recipe Ingredients
- 1/4 pound of fig
- 1/4 pound of prune
- 1/4 pound of raisins
- 1/4 pound of dates
- 1/2 ounce of dried senna leaves ground
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger root minced
- 1/2 cup coconut shreds
Dried Fruit & Senna Leaf Balls Recipe Instructions
Mix all but the coconut shreds together in a food processor. Roll into about 30 one inch balls. Roll the balls into the coconut shreads. Serving size = one ball.
Dried Fruit & Senna Leaf Balls Recipe Research
- This review of research suggests senna is a safe laxative without genotoxic, carcinogenic, or digestive muscle risk. From: Morales, M. A., Hernández, D., Bustamante, S., Bachiller, I., & Rojas, A. (2009). Is senna laxative use associated to cathartic colon, genotoxicity, or carcinogenicity?. Journal of toxicology, 2009.
- Bulk laxative plus senna was efficient in the treatment for constipation in geriatric patients. From: Kinnunen, O., Winblad, I., Koistinen, P., & Salokannel, J. (1993). Safety and efficacy of a bulk laxative containing senna versus lactulose in the treatment of chronic constipation in geriatric patients. Pharmacology, 47(Suppl. 1), 253-255.
- Psyllium with senna improved bowel movements in constipated ambulatory patients. From: Marlett, J. A., Li, U. K., Patrow, C. J., & Bass, P. (1987). Comparative laxation of psyllium with and without senna in an ambulatory constipated population. American journal of gastroenterology, 82(4).
- A blend of Pimpinella anisum (anise), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), Sambucus nigra (elderberry), and Cassia angustifolia had a laxative efficacy and was a safe alternative option for the treatment of constipation. From: Picon, P. D., Picon, R. V., Costa, A. F., Sander, G. B., Amaral, K. M., Aboy, A. L., & Henriques, A. T. (2010). Randomized clinical trial of a phytotherapic compound containing Pimpinella anisum, Foeniculum vulgare, Sambucus nigra, and Cassia augustifolia for chronic constipation. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 10(1), 1.
- Ginger, peppermint, aniseed and fennel, citrus fruits, dandelion and artichoke, melissa and chamomile have digestive enhancing activities. From: Valussi, M. (2012). Functional foods with digestion-enhancing properties. International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 63(sup1), 82-89. Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/09637486.2011.627841
- The following methanol extracts showed activity against Helicobacter pylori which causes gastrointestinal disorders: Myristica fragrans (nutmeg seed), Zingiber officinale (ginger root), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary leaf), Achillea millefolium (yarrow), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel seed), Passiflora incarnata (passionflower), Origanum majorana (oregano), and others. From: Mahady, G. B., Pendland, S. L., Stoia, A., Hamill, F. A., Fabricant, D., Dietz, B. M., & Chadwick, L. R. (2005). In vitro susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to botanical extracts used traditionally for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Phytotherapy research, 19(11), 988-991.
- The antioxidant activity of gallic acid and the inhibitory activity of cinnamic acid against Helicobacter pylori found in ginger rhizomes contributed to its gastroprotective ability. From: Nanjundaiah, S. M., Annaiah, H. N. M., & Dharmesh, S. M. (2011). Gastroprotective effect of ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale) extract: role of gallic acid and cinnamic acid in H. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011.
- Ginger had a gastroprotective and anti-ulcerogenic effect in rats. From: Al-Yahya, M. A., Rafatullah, S., Mossa, J. S., Ageel, A. M., Parmar, N. S., & Tariq, M. (1989). Gastroprotective activity of ginger zingiber officinale rosc., in albino rats. The American journal of Chinese medicine, 17(01n02), 51-56.
- Ginger had a protective effect in rats induced with gastric ulcers, likely related to gingerol and shogaol constituents. From: Wang, Z., Hasegawa, J., Wang, X., Matsuda, A., Tokuda, T., Miura, N., & Watanabe, T. (2011). Protective effects of ginger against aspirin-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Yonago acta medica, 54(1), 11.
- In a review of four human trials, prunes helped to alleviate constipation; more research is necessary. Lever, E., Cole, J., Scott, S. M., Emery, P. W., & Whelan, K. (2014). Systematic review: the effect of prunes on gastrointestinal function. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 40(7), 750-758.
