Psyllium seed husks
Encyclopedia
Psyllium seed husks also known as ispaghula, isabgol, or psyllium
, are portions of the seed
s of the plant Plantago ovata
, (genus Plantago
), a native of India
. They are soluble
in water, expanding and becoming mucilaginous
when wet. Ayurveda
recommends its use for colon cleansing as well as for better blood circulation.
Psyllium seed husks are indigestible in human beings and are often used as a source of dietary fiber
. They are used to relieve constipation
, irritable bowel syndrome
, diverticular disease, and diarrhea
. They are also used as a regular dietary supplement
to improve and maintain regular GI transit. The inert bulk of the husks helps provide a constant volume of solid material irrespective of other aspects of the diet or any disease condition of the gut. Some recent research is also showing them to be promising in lowering cholesterol
and controlling diabetes.
Other uses include gluten-free baking, where ground psyllium seed husks bind moisture and help make the bread less crumbly.
The husks are used whole in their natural state, or dried and chopped or powdered for easier consumption. In either of these forms, one takes them by mixing them with water or another fluid.
Sometimes they are combined with clay as a detoxification drink. They are also available in capsules. Over-the-counter laxative
s and fiber supplements
such as Metamucil
, Colon Cleanse, Serutan
, Fybogel, Bonvit, and Effersyllium have psyllium husks as their main ingredient.
The husks may also be combined with other ingredients. For example, Blackstrap molasses
is sometimes used with psyllium seed husks for its high mineral and vitamin content, as well as being an excellent carrier. A typical dose is one to three teaspoons per glass of water. Psyllium seeds can be used for the same purpose at a lower cost.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has established a tangible benefit of psyllium seed husk intake and a decreased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Psyllium's soluble fiber, in addition to a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, has potential to decrease the risk of CHD via decreasing the blood cholesterol levels.
, especially among those having had regular exposure to psyllium dust. Gastrointestinal tract obstruction may occur, especially for those with prior bowel surgeries or anatomic abnormalities, or if taken with inadequate amounts of water. Psyllium seed husk intake should be initiated only with medical consultation. The human body will require additional water intake due to the psyllium husk's effect of absorbing water and creating a mass.
Psyllium seed husk consumption has noteworthy negative and positive attributes. A properly trained person can address the potential side-effects between prescription medications and psyllium seed husk, and the potential interactions between herbs or supplements and psyllium seed husk.
The FDA has published that psyllium, among other water-soluble gums, have been linked to medical reports of esophageal
obstruction (Esophageal food bolus obstruction
), choking
, and asphyxiation.
To be specific, the FDA reports.
and "when marketed in a dry or incompletely hydrated form" are required to have the following warning labels:
and
Psyllium
Psyllium , or Ispaghula , is the common name used for several members of the plant genus Plantago whose seeds are used commercially for the production of mucilage.-History:...
, are portions of the seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s of the plant Plantago ovata
Psyllium
Psyllium , or Ispaghula , is the common name used for several members of the plant genus Plantago whose seeds are used commercially for the production of mucilage.-History:...
, (genus Plantago
Plantago
Plantago is a genus of about 200 species of small, inconspicuous plants commonly called plantains. They share this name with the very dissimilar plantain, a kind of banana. Most are herbaceous plants, though a few are subshrubs growing to 60 cm tall. The leaves are sessile, but have a narrow...
), a native of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. They are soluble
Solubility
Solubility is the property of a solid, liquid, or gaseous chemical substance called solute to dissolve in a solid, liquid, or gaseous solvent to form a homogeneous solution of the solute in the solvent. The solubility of a substance fundamentally depends on the used solvent as well as on...
in water, expanding and becoming mucilaginous
Mucilage
Mucilage is a thick, gluey substance produced by most plants and some microorganisms. It is a polar glycoprotein and an exopolysaccharide.It occurs in various parts of nearly all classes of plant, usually in relatively small percentages, and is frequently associated with other substances, such as...
when wet. Ayurveda
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
recommends its use for colon cleansing as well as for better blood circulation.
Psyllium seed husks are indigestible in human beings and are often used as a source of dietary fiber
Dietary fiber
Dietary fiber, dietary fibre, or sometimes roughage is the indigestible portion of plant foods having two main components:* soluble fiber that is readily fermented in the colon into gases and physiologically active byproducts, and* insoluble fiber that is metabolically inert, absorbing water as it...
. They are used to relieve constipation
Constipation
Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. Constipation is a common cause of painful defecation...
, irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is a functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits in the absence of any detectable organic cause. In some cases, the symptoms are relieved by bowel movements...
, diverticular disease, and diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
. They are also used as a regular dietary supplement
Dietary supplement
A dietary supplement, also known as food supplement or nutritional supplement, is a preparation intended to supplement the diet and provide nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, or amino acids, that may be missing or may not be consumed in sufficient quantities in a person's diet...
to improve and maintain regular GI transit. The inert bulk of the husks helps provide a constant volume of solid material irrespective of other aspects of the diet or any disease condition of the gut. Some recent research is also showing them to be promising in lowering cholesterol
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
and controlling diabetes.
Other uses include gluten-free baking, where ground psyllium seed husks bind moisture and help make the bread less crumbly.
The husks are used whole in their natural state, or dried and chopped or powdered for easier consumption. In either of these forms, one takes them by mixing them with water or another fluid.
Sometimes they are combined with clay as a detoxification drink. They are also available in capsules. Over-the-counter laxative
Laxative
Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and/or bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under...
s and fiber supplements
Dietary fiber
Dietary fiber, dietary fibre, or sometimes roughage is the indigestible portion of plant foods having two main components:* soluble fiber that is readily fermented in the colon into gases and physiologically active byproducts, and* insoluble fiber that is metabolically inert, absorbing water as it...
such as Metamucil
Metamucil
Metamucil is a bulk-producing laxative and fiber supplement. The Metamucil brand has existed since 1934, and was owned by G.D. Searle & Company until 1985 when Procter & Gamble acquired the brand. The active ingredient is psyllium seed husks. It may also reduce cholesterol when taken daily....
, Colon Cleanse, Serutan
Serutan
Serutan was an early fiber-type laxative product which was widely promoted on U.S. radio and television from the 1930s through the 1960s. It was manufactured by the J. B. Williams Co., which was founded in 1885 and bought out by Nabisco in 1971....
, Fybogel, Bonvit, and Effersyllium have psyllium husks as their main ingredient.
The husks may also be combined with other ingredients. For example, Blackstrap molasses
Molasses
Molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar cane, grapes or sugar beets into sugar. The word molasses comes from the Portuguese word melaço, which ultimately comes from mel, the Latin word for "honey". The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or sugar beet,...
is sometimes used with psyllium seed husks for its high mineral and vitamin content, as well as being an excellent carrier. A typical dose is one to three teaspoons per glass of water. Psyllium seeds can be used for the same purpose at a lower cost.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
(FDA) has established a tangible benefit of psyllium seed husk intake and a decreased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Psyllium's soluble fiber, in addition to a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, has potential to decrease the risk of CHD via decreasing the blood cholesterol levels.
Adverse reactions and warnings
Possible adverse reactions include allergic reactions such as anaphylaxisAnaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is defined as "a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death". It typically results in a number of symptoms including throat swelling, an itchy rash, and low blood pressure...
, especially among those having had regular exposure to psyllium dust. Gastrointestinal tract obstruction may occur, especially for those with prior bowel surgeries or anatomic abnormalities, or if taken with inadequate amounts of water. Psyllium seed husk intake should be initiated only with medical consultation. The human body will require additional water intake due to the psyllium husk's effect of absorbing water and creating a mass.
Psyllium seed husk consumption has noteworthy negative and positive attributes. A properly trained person can address the potential side-effects between prescription medications and psyllium seed husk, and the potential interactions between herbs or supplements and psyllium seed husk.
The FDA has published that psyllium, among other water-soluble gums, have been linked to medical reports of esophageal
Esophageal
Esophageal can refer to:* The esophagus* Esophageal arteries* Esophageal glands...
obstruction (Esophageal food bolus obstruction
Esophageal food bolus obstruction
An esophageal food bolus obstruction is a medical emergency caused by the obstruction of the esophagus by an ingested foreign body...
), choking
Choking
Choking is the mechanical obstruction of the flow of air from the environment into the lungs. Choking prevents breathing, and can be partial or complete, with partial choking allowing some, although inadequate, flow of air into the lungs. Prolonged or complete choking results in asphyxia which...
, and asphyxiation.
To be specific, the FDA reports.
- "Esophageal obstruction and asphyxiation due to orally-administered drug products containing water-soluble gums, hydrophilic gums, and hydrophilic mucilloids as active ingredients are significant health risks when these products are taken without adequate fluid or when they are used by individuals with esophageal narrowing or dysfunction, or with difficulty in swallowing."
and "when marketed in a dry or incompletely hydrated form" are required to have the following warning labels:
- "Choking [highlighted in bold type]:
- Taking this product without adequate fluid may cause it to swell and block your throat or esophagus and may cause choking. Do not take this product if you have difficulty in swallowing. If you experience chest pain, vomiting, or difficulty in swallowing or breathing after taking this product, seek immediate medical attention;"
and
- "Directions [highlighted in bold type]:" (Select one of the following, as appropriate: "Take" or "Mix") "this product (child or adult dose) with at least 8 ounces (a full glass) of water or other fluid. Taking this product without enough liquid may cause choking. See choking warning."