- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Blond psyllium from India, Pakistan and Iran; the related black psyllium from the Mediterranean. Plantago ovata, Plantago afra
- Sanskrit
- Ashwagolam
- Other names
- Ispaghula
Asia · Herb · № 133
Plantago ovata
Herb · Asia
Psyllium
Plantago ovata
The seed husks form a mucilaginous gel: an established bulk-forming fibre for constipation and mild diarrhoea that can also modestly lower LDL cholesterol.
Safety notes
Always take with plenty of water, or it may block the throat or bowel. Separate from medicines by a few hours. Allergy to the dust occurs.
Preparation
Seed or husk with plenty of water; often in over-the-counter fibre products. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
In India it is called isabgol and has long been used in Unani and Ayurvedic medicine. Ody discusses it as a relative of European plantain.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Ayurvedic materia medica
Attributed effects
Cooling, soothing, mildly astringent, softens the skin, laxative, diuretic; for catarrh, chronic dysentery, diarrhoea, bladder, urethra and kidney complaints, painful urination, haemorrhoids; compress for rheumatism, gout, swollen glands and irritated skin.
Preparation and amount
Seed powder 6–12 g; decoction of bruised seeds 56–112 ml 3 times a day; compress of bruised seeds.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionCompress, poultice and paste