Botanical Index No. 822

Psyllium

plantago ovata

Medicinal Actions

Analysis pending research update.

Primary Conditions Treated

Colitis Constipation Cough Cramp Cystosis Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Diverticulosis Duodenosis Dysentery Dyspepsia Dysuria Enterosis Fever Furunculosis Gallstone Gas Gastrosis Gonorrhea Gout Hemorrhoid Hepatosis High Blood Pressure High Blood Sugar High Cholesterol High Triglycerides Hyperglycemia IBS Inflammation Low Blood Pressure Mastosis Mucososis Nephrosis Obesity Pain Parotosis Pharyngosis Pregnancy Proctosis Psoriasis Respirosis Rheumatism Sore Stomatosis Ulcer Ulcerative Colitis Urethrosis Urogenitosis UTI VD Whitlow Wound

General Dosage

2.5–10 g seed 2–3 ×/day; 5–10 g seed 3 ×/day; 10–30 g seed; 12–40 g seed; 6–12 g powdered seed; 56–112 ml bruised seed decoction; 2–4 ml liquid seed extract 3 ×/day; 2 tsp seed or 1 tsp husk/glass water; 0.5 cup fresh seed or hull; 1–2 tbsp dry seed or hull; 1 tbsp dry seed or hull/cup of water; 7.5 g seed or 5 g husks 1–2 ×/day; 3–5 g husks; 3–4 capsules 3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2d. Take with at least 8 oz liquid. Take 1 hour after taking other drugs, which it might chelate. Contraindicated in bowel, esophageal, or GI obstruction. Bulking agents should not be taken by those with stenotic lesions of the GI tract. May lead to bowel obstruction if fluid intake is inadequate.). Do not take bulking agents when laying down or at bedtime. Do not use with antiperistaltics. Physicians and other health care professionals are developing increasingly allergic reactions to psyllium powder. There are reports of a fatal bronchospasm after oral ingestion of ispaghula, identical with, or closely related to psyllium. Commission E reports contraindications for seed and seed-shell: GI obstruction, and diabetes, which is hard to control; adverse effects: allergic reactions; interactions: absorption of other drugs taken simultaneously. Other contraindications: intestinal obstruction. Based on early drafts, AHP repeats that psyllium is contraindicated in “diabetes mellitus which is difficult to regulate ...” There may be a need to reduce insulin dosage in insulin-dependent diabetes. If swallowed dry, psyllium can cause esophageal obstruction and flatulence. “Ispaghula husk depressed the growth of chickens by 15% when added to their diet at 2%.” By speeding transit time, bulk laxatives can lower absorption of some drugs. Wow! “Ispaghula may be used during pregnancy and lactation”. Alcoholic extract is hypotensive in small doses, hypertensive in large doses. Mucilage is hypoglycemic. Seeds of related species in China are used clinically to treat high blood pressure with ~50% success. “The FDA has proposed a rule that would amend the regulation permitting food labeling bearing a health claim on soluble fiber for a lower risk of coronary heart disease to include soluble fiber from psyllium husks.” The maker of one popular cereal petitioned, citing data from 57 clinical studies on psyllium’s ability to lower cholesterol and CHD risk. FASEB has determined that psyllium is safe at levels up to 25 g/day. FDA counters that high levels of psyllium husk “may enhance epithelial cell proliferation in the GI tract or cause allergies in some people”. FDA proposes health claim for psyllium. HerbalGram 41:28.). HH2 reports 8-week clinical trials on hyperuremia with 7 g psyllium husks a day for 8 weeks. Blood levels of urea were 19% lower after the 8 weeks.

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