Application

It increases the passage to the bowel content through formation of bond water. Psyllium contains gel-forming fibers composed of micro-polysaccharides and cellulose.
This plant starch is hydrophilic in nature; hence they add moisture and bulk to stool in colon. The gel like starch softens the feces making hardened stool easier to eliminate without any kind of damage to bowel wall.

Psyllium has been used in connection with the following conditions

• Constipation
• Diverticular disease
• High cholesterol
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Type 2 diabetes
• Atherosclerosis
• Diarrhea
• Hemorrhoids
• High triglycerides
• Ulcerative colitis (to maintain remission)
• Parkinson’s disease (for constipation)
• Weight loss and obesity

IN CONSTIPATION: It increases the passage to the bowel content through formation of bond water. Psyllium contains gel-forming fibers composed of micro-polysaccharides and cellulose. This plant starch is hydrophilic in nature; hence they add moisture and bulk to stool in colon. The gel like starch softens the feces making hardened stool easier to eliminate without any kind of damage to bowel wall. The mucilage forms a temporary gelatinous layer that protects intestinal walls from irritation caused by caustic material in the intestine, thus allowing the repair of adjoining tissues. IN DIARRHOEA: The mucilage contents forms bond with water and hence creates a surface of mucous membrane, forming a sticky masses, which are not easily distributed. Hence this avoids watery outlet during diarrhoea and dysentery.

IN CHOLESTEROL CONTROL: The content has cellulose fibre, which is responsible for decreasing the absorption of cholesterol into the blood stream. They also add the filling of fullness without adding calories.

IN DIABETES:The fibre content reduces the release of dietary sugar from the digestive tract into the blood stream, thus assisting in the stabilization of blood sugar level.

IN COLON CANCER:  Insoluble fibre content dilutes cancer-causing bile acids or moves feces out of the colon more quickly, hence it reduces contact-time of feces in digestive system reducing chances of producing carcinogens (cancer-causing substance).

ETHNOBOTANICAL / TRADITIONAL USES: It has also been used in traditional herbal systems of India and China to treat diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, bladder problems, Diverticular diseases, Urinary disorder, Coronary heart diseases and high blood pressure. Psyllium was also used topically to treat skin irritations, including poison ivy reactions and insect’s bits and stings.