What Is Isabgol? Psyllium husk is commonly known as isabgol, ispaghula in India. The name psyllium derived from the seeds of the Plantago ovate plant that are found in the northwestern region of India. Isabgol plant is native to India and Pakistan and is the annual crop that is grown in the northwest region of India. Psyllium seed husk is a part of the seeds of plant Plantago ovate. The Seed so-called husk is a natural fiber that is soluble in water with reducing gel that becomes mucilaginous when wet.
This plant contains some soluble fiber and 30% to 70% are
insoluble. It consists of the epidermis and collapsed adjacent layers that are
removed and dried from the ripe seeds of Plantago ovata. It is light brown to
white, depending on the purity; the fibrous shells that are processed from
psyllium seeds are used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foods, and various
related industries.
It is used in traditional herbal systems of India and China for
various treatments such as bladder problems, coronary heart disease, diverticular disease,
hemorrhoids, hypertension, and urinary disorder.
It is also used to treat skin irritation, reactions to poison ivy,
and insect bites bits. India is the world’s largest producer of psyllium that
is about 60% of world production It is grown on more than 50,000 hectares in
Mehsana, Banaskantha and Sabarkantha of Gujarat and Jalore, Pali, Jodhpur,
Barmer, Nagaur, and Sirohi district of Rajasthan districts.
Isabgol is a traditional medicine that has is used in
Ayurveda for the treatment of problems associated with constipation.
In Ayurveda, psyllium is considered to have pungent, astringent,
and cooling properties. It balances the three senses of humor Vata, Pitta, and
Kapha; it reduces inflammation of the digestive tract and alleviates
constipation and hemorrhoids. Isabgol is rich in fiber so it may initially
cause gas.In Ayurveda, Psyllium husk is known as Ashvagola or Ashwakarna.
Literally (Ashva+gola) means (horse+round) and the other word
(Ashwa+karna ) means (horse+ear) it is perhaps so-called perhaps because of the
appearance of the seeds that are concave and elongated as the horse’s ear.
§ Rasa: Madhura
(sweet)
§ Guna: Snigdha
(smooth), guru (heavy), pichchil (mucilagenous)
§ Virya: Sheeta
(cold)
§ Vipaka: Madhura
(sweet)
§ Tridosha: Vata-pitta
shamaka
§ Parts
Used: Seeds and seed husk.
Isabgul Husk Other Indian
Names
§ English:
Ispaghula, Psyllium, Blond Psyllium, Spogel Seeds, Ripple Grass
§ Sanskrit:
Ashwagol, Ishadgola, Ashwakarna, Ashwakarnabeeja
§ Hindi:
Isabgol, Isabgul, Issufgul, Ispaghul, Isubgol
§ Bengali:
Esphopgol, Isabgul, Isshopgul, Ispaghul, Yusuf gul
§ Gujarati:
Isapgol, Isafghol, Ghoda Jeeru, Umtojeeru, Uthamujeerun
§ Kanada:
Isofgolu, Visamagolu, issabagolu, Isabakolu
§ Malayam:
Karkatasringi, Snigddhajirakam, Ispaghal
§ Marathi:
Isabgola, Isapghol
§ Punjabi:
Lisapghol, Bartang, Abghol
§ Tamil:
Iskolvirai, Iskol, Isphagol, Ishappukolvirai, Ishappukol
§ Telugu:
Isphagula, Isapgaluvittulu, Isapagala
§ Kashmiri:
Is-mogul
§ Oriya: Isabgul
Isabgul Seed Husks Health
Benefits
Isabgol in English is so-called psyllium husk, it can be found in
almost every household in Indian families as it is an effective home remedy for
treating and relieving common problems related to gastrointestinal
troubles.
The health benefits are not just limited to digestive health but
it has numerous benefits. Below are some of them that will compel you to
include this husk in your diet.
Isabgol is a wonderful herb that can help you achieve your
weight loss goals. Psyllium husk when mix with water swells to 10 to 20 times
its original size. It is rich in fiber so when consuming it reduces the amount
of hunger you feel and thus helps in weight loss.
If it took before a meal it makes you feel full longer and curbs
appetite. It is recommended that psyllium husk is taken about 20 to 30 minutes
before your meal, and drink plenty of waterAccording to Ayurveda, isabgol helps
to clear the AMA (toxic waste products lining the walls of the stomach) also
helps keep other digestive disorders at bay.
Isabgol is rich in fiber which helps for reducing cholesterol
levels, which can ultimately, turn protective to your heart. As it is high in
fiber and low in fat the doctors recommend it when it comes to preventing heart
disease.
It forms a thin layer in your intestinal walls thus prevents the
absorption of cholesterol from the foods you eat. It effectively reduces the
serum cholesterol levels in the blood.
This way it helps remove any excess cholesterol that is blocking
the arteries of your heart and protects you from the heart and coronary artery
disease.
Today’s lifestyle and diet are often creating a problem of acidity
and isabgol can be the best natural remedy for the condition. When consumed the
husk creates a protective layer in the stomach and protects from irritation
caused due to the acidity.
Moreover, it aids in digestion and proper secretion of stomach
acids. Isabgol also reduces the number of episodes of heartburn that
one could suffer.
Since the fibers in isabgol are both insoluble and soluble in
nature, it is best and beneficial for those who suffer from painful conditions
such as piles and hemorrhoids.
It not only helps to clean the intestines effectively but also
softens the stool by absorbing water from surrounding parts of the intestine
causing the passage of stool soft and free of pain.Moreover, because of its
innate nature, it helps in easy defecation. Isabgol also helps in the healing
of cracks and it protects the anus stretching too. When the person passes
motion it prevents the cracks of healing wounds.
Can you imagine a home remedy that can relieve constipation and
diarrhea together, it sounds incredible but yes isabgol can help with this
problem.
Isabgol, when consumed with curd, can effectively relieve stomach
upset adding bulk to the stool. The Curd gives your stomach the right amount of
probiotics to cure the infection and helps to harden the runny stool treating
diarrhea in a jiffy.
6. It relieves constipation
quickly
Isabgol is an herb that is popularly used for constipation and for
relieving common gastrointestinal troubles. Isabgol or so-called psyllium husk
has the bulk-forming laxative that is rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.
The isabgol fiber initially binds with partially digested or
undigested food that passes from the stomach into the small intestine.
Isabgol has natural hygroscopic properties that absorb the water
from the digestive tract and improves the consistency of stools. Drinking extra
water with Isabgol will pass down to the bowel and will make it easier for the
stool to move.
Besides many health benefits, Isabgol or so-called psyllium husk
can also be a great remedy for lowering of sugar. The people with diabetes are
enabling to produce enough insulin into the body, so they have to use insulin
to keep blood glucose levels under control.
The fiber contains in Isabgol has properties that can help to
control glycemic response after a meal and reduce insulin and blood sugar
levels.Isabgol is also very effective in lowering blood sugar due to its
gel-forming fibers, which slow down the digestion process which helps in
regulating the blood sugar levels.
Isabgol can be the best remedy for the people suffering from a
painful situation like anal fissures or piles. Generally, people feel pain when
the hard stool passes through the intestine to an anal; the hard stool cuts or
tears the anus and anal canal tissue and results in bleeding.
As fibers present in isabgol are both insoluble and soluble
natures it helps to soften the stools by absorbing water from the surrounding
parts of the intestine.
Isabgol also has gentle laxative, diuretic, and cooling properties
and is innate in nature, which helps to easy defecation.
Isabgol in addition helps to aid the healing of fissures by
protecting the anus from stretching too much when the person passes the motion,
this way it prevents the crack of fissures or piles.
9. It helps to control blood
sugar
Diabetes is an ailment in which Isabgol husk can be helpful.
Diabetes is an ailment in which individuals have problems in producing enough
insulin or insulin produced in very least to keep blood glucose levels under
control. Isabgol husk has properties that can help modulate a blood-sugar
level.
Moreover, the fiber supplement in Isabgol husk also helps to lower
blood lipid levels in diabetic patients. According to the report by the
Department of Medicine, King George’s Medical College, Lucknow, it was found
that the total cholesterol level was dropped by 8.9 percent.
Besides they also found LDL cholesterol levels dropped by 23.7%
percent in a diabetic patient. The patients were given a dose of 3.5 g dose of
psyllium twice a day for 90 days.
10. It helps in Irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS)
It is ailments or disorder that mostly affects the large intestine
and results in abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, bloating, gas, constipation,
etc.
Irritable bowel syndrome is chronic conditions that can easily be
managed by isabgol husk along with managing diet, lifestyle and reduction of
stress levels.
Isabgol husk is beneficial due to its rich sources of fiber that
indirectly helps to maintain blood glucose by increasing insulin levels.
Insulin is a hormone that boosts inflammation in your body.
In a study on patients with IBS, it was found that they got more
relief from psyllium supplementation rather than wheat bran or a placebo. It
was also concluded that the optimum dose of ispaghula husk in irritable bowel
syndrome should be 20 g per day.
There is various way to consume Isabgol How to take isabgol
depends on your comfort. Isabgol Husk is available in a tablet as well as
powder form. Tablet is probably the easiest way to take but it depends on your
choice.
§ To take
isabgol husk to add a tablespoon of the powder form in a glass of water. You
must quickly mix and drink immediately as the mixture turns into a gel and is
likely to be too difficult to drink.
§ After
drinking the mixture of isabgol husk make sure to take another glass of water.
If you are not used to taking isabgol husk powder, it is recommended to start
with half a tablespoon, but your ultimate goal is to work up to 2 tablespoons a
day to enjoy all its advantages.
§ Note: Although
there are many benefits of isabgol there are some disadvantages. Excessive use
can hampered digestive power as it is in itself very hard to digest. It is also
not absorbed by the small intestine due to its very high fiber content. The
patients of arthritis or other joint pains may aggravate the pain due to its
cool potency. So use isabgol with precaution and consult the expert before
taking any dose.
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