Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Psyllium The Safety Factor
As a laxative, cholesterol cutter, and possible cancer preventive, psyllium does not work by itself. The seeds swell only in the presence of water. If you take psyllium but don’t drink more water, you could wind up like the man whose intestine became completely blocked by a large psyllium plug. He required abdominal surgery.
Inhaling dust from psyllium seeds may trigger allergic reaction. As a result, a person who is sensitive to psyllium could later experience allergy symptoms from ingesting it. Severe allergic reactions are extremely rare, but if you have breathing difficulties after ingesting psyllium, seek emergency help immediately.
Psyllium has no history as a menstruation promoter, but other Plantago species do. Constipation is a common complaint of pregnancy. Pregnant women should avoid psyllium as well as other laxatives and control constipation by eating other high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and wholegrain bread products.
Psyllium should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If psyllium causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.
Don’t Grow It
Psyllium is an annual that reaches 18 inches and produces inconspicuous white flowers in summer that soon give way to a small brown seed pod.
Most of the psyllium used in this country is imported from France. Although available from specialty seed houses, psyllium is not usually grown as a garden herb. It looks like a weed and, if the seed pods are not harvested before they break open, the wind scatters the seed-a major problem when you consider that each pod contains up to 15,000 seeds and that the plant grows aggressively.