Psyllium
Plantago Ovata
Found
in many over-the-counter laxatives, the word in Greek means flea relating
to its size. Psyllium is a hydrophilic, mucilaginous, bulking agent
that can increase the volume of the intestinal contents.
Used
properly Psyllium can stop loose bowels or prevent constipation.
Because Psyllium absorbs water (hydrophilic absorbs 8 to14 times its
weight in water) it can help stop loose bowels. Psyllium's scrubbing
action stimulates the bowels peristaltic action thus helps prevent
constipation.
Psyllium adds bulk to the stool, absorbs toxins, soothes inflamed
tissues, removes putrefaction, and promotes growth of friendly
bacteria. This action can help reduce
diverticulitis, and
diverticulosis.
Due
to the poor fiber content in the American diet the medical establishment
(see Merck Manual) expects that all Americans will in their lifetime have
diverticulitis and/or
diverticulosis
of the bowel (sack like protrusions
in the lining of the bowel from the pressure of constipation).
Naturopaths believe that this same fiber poor diet leads to a build-up
of old fecal matter on the walls of the colon that can putrefy and poison
(autointoxication). I have seen castings come out of people using the
formula below that were shaped like the inside of the colon from years
of build-up.
Psyllium taken in a combination with other ingredients of the same
nature
(bulking, cleansing, soothing and drawing)
can,
when used properly,
detoxify the bowel.
Bowel
Detox combination, look for these ingredients:
Psyllium seeds and husks
Pharmaceutical-Grade Bentonite Clay
Apple Fruit pectin
Flax seed
Slippery Elm inner bark
Activated Willow charcoal
*Water intake should be increased during the detox”.
To
detox the bowel properly you should take a bowel cleanse, before, during
and after the detox.
Warning:
Psyllium should not be taken for more than a week at a time as it has
been reported to pull the cilia off of the small intestine (cilia are
responsible for absorption in the small intestine).
Sources:
Little Herb Encyclopedia, by Jack Ritchason; N.D., Woodland Publishing Incorporated, 1995
Nutritional Herbology, by Mark Pedersen, Wendell W. Whitman Company, 1998
Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania 1987
The Ultimate Healing System, Course Manual, Copyright 1985, Don Lepore
Planetary Herbology, Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., Lotus Press, 1988
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