INDICES> Psyllium (2)

["Jatinder Singh" <jatindersingh@hclinfinet.com>]

INDICES> Psyllium(2)
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Dear Roselle and other members,

The following is the introduction to an article on Psyllium written by a colleague:

Ispaghula husk  consists of the epidermis and collapsed adjacent layers
removed from the dried ripe seeds of Plantago ovata . Psyllium is
another derivative of the genus Plantago (Plantago psyllium) that
resembles ispaghula husk pharmacologically but has a higher swelling
factor.  The term psyllium is also used for Plantago ovata for
commercial and therapeutic purposes.

Ispaghula husk is commonly used as a laxative for the treatment of
chronic constipation and disorders in which excessive straining at
stools is to be avoided e.g. following ano-rectal surgery, haemorrhoids,
fissures etc . It has also been found useful in treatment of diarrhoea
of various etiologies including AIDS induced enteropathy . Its ability
to adjust fecal consistency is useful in patients who have undergone
colostomy or ileostomy . Besides these, the beneficial effect of use of
Isphagula husk has also been reported in hyperlipoproteinemia, diabetes
mellitus, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.

No, it does not contain gluten.

Regards,

Jatinder Singh, MD
Dept. of Pharmacology
Government Medical College
Amritsar 143 001
INDIA
GMT +5.5
Tel: 91-183-228935
Email: jatindersingh@vsnl.com

[Thanks, Jatinder! WB]
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