Some of the oldest remedies are still the best, and senna is one of them. Drawn from a plant used for centuries, it gently stimulates the bowel into action while you sleep, so relief from occasional constipation arrives by morning without drama.

It is a familiar friend to anyone on a GLP-1 weight treatment. Those medicines slow digestion as part of how they work, and a slower gut can mean things back up. A measured dose of senna at night is often all it takes to keep everything moving comfortably.

• A naturally derived stimulant that works while you sleep
• Helpful when GLP-1 treatment slows the bowel
• Available without a prescription

It is meant for occasional use. If constipation lingers beyond a week, that is the moment to seek advice rather than keep dosing. Keep it well away from children.

Take at night so it works while you sleep, starting with the lowest effective number of tablets with a glass of water. Expect a result within six to twelve hours. Do not exceed the stated dose, and stop once your bowel habit returns to normal.

Sennosides standardized from natural senna, the active component.

Mild stomach cramping is the usual effect, with looser stools or diarrhea if overused. Urine may take on a harmless reddish tint.

For occasional use only. Do not use for more than a week without advice, and avoid in undiagnosed abdominal pain. Long term overuse can make the bowel reliant on laxatives. Keep well away from children.