Practical
Plants

Plantago ovata

Blond Psyllium

an annual member of the Plantago genus in the family Plantaginaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Fertility
Self fertile, Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - raw or cooked. The mucilage contained in the seedcoat is used as a stabilizer in ice cream, chocolate etc[1][4][5]. Seed - sprouted and eaten in salads[5].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed
Product or use
Stabilizer

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Psyllium has been used as a safe and effective laxative for thousands of years in Western herbal medicine[8]. Both the dried seeds and the seed husks are demulcent, emollient and laxative[9][13][10][8]. They are used in the treatment of dysentery, catarrhal conditions of the genito-urinary tract, inflamed membranes of the intestinal canal etc[9][10][2][3]. The seeds have a mucilaginous coat and swell to several times their volume when in water[13]. The seeds and the husks contain high levels of fibre, they expand and become highly gelatinous when soaked in water. By maintaining a high water content within the large bowel they increase the bulk of the stool, easing its passage[8]. They are used as a demulcent and as a bulk laxative in the treatment of constipation, dysentery and other intestinal complaints, having a soothing and regulatory effect upon the system[9][13]. Their regulatory effect on the digestive system means that they can also be used in the treatment of diarrhoea and by helping to soften the stool they reduce the irritation of haemorrhoids[8]. The jelly-like mucilage produced when psyllium is soaked in water has the ability to absorb toxins within the large bowel. Thus it helps to remove toxins from the body and can be used to reduce auto-toxicity[8]. The oil in the seed embryo contains 50% linoleic acid and has been used as a preventative of atherosclerosis[7]. It is also effective in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood[7].

Product or use
Anticholesterolemic
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Laxative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A mucilage found in the seed coat is sometimes used as a starch to stiffen linen[9].

Product or use
Starch

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean to E. Asia - India.
Habitat
Dry open places[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. A sowing can be made outdoors in situ in mid to late spring if you have enough seeds.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native habitat it should succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. This plant is cultivated for its seed in India[10][12]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[6].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  2. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

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  3. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

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  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  7. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  9. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  13. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

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