HISTORY & TRADITIONAL USE

Where did it originate?

Psyllium is the common name used for over 200 species of the plant genus Plantago. Two species include; P. Ovata, P. arenaria.

The common name for P. Ovata in India is “Isabgol,” and this specie is indigenous to the Mediterranean region and West Asia. It is also distributed from Canary Islands across Southern Spain, North Africa, Middle East and North-Western Asia.

P. arenaria is produced commercially in several European countries such as, the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, and India.

How long has it been used?

Psyllium has a long history of use throughout the world. In India the use of P. Ovata dates back to the Ayurveda System of Medicine in 1500BC. Similarly, the Chinese have used it in traditional medicine for thousands of years, whereas European use of the herb dates back centuries. Psyllium became common in North American healing only near the end of the twentieth century.

Who/What cultures were using it and for what purposes?

Since 1500BC, Psyllium has been used for constipation by both the Indian and the Chinese. The traditional herbal systems of China and India also used it to treat diarrhea, hemorrhoids, bladder problems, and high blood pressure. It was also used topically by herbalists to treat skin irritations, such as; poison ivy reactions, insect bites and stings. Europeans and North Americans began using Psyllium for cholesterol, and blood glucose-lowering effects.

How was it administered?

Typically, Psyllium was administered in powder, flakes or granular form. These would then be diluted in liquids and drank or sprinkled over meals. Only recently have they been made available in tablets, capsules and liquid form, although the other forms are still widely used.

FUN FACT: India dominates the world market in the production and export of Psyllium.