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Common Name: Blond Psyllium

General Information

Plantago ovata is a Annual
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Europe - Mediterranean to E. Asia - India.

Habitat

Dry open places[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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[, ]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[].

Edible Uses

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

Medicinal

Psyllium has been used as a safe and effective laxative for thousands of years in Western herbal medicine[].
Both the dried seeds and the seed husks are demulcent, emollient and laxative[, , , ]. They are used in the treatment of dysentery, catarrhal conditions of the genito-urinary tract, inflamed membranes of the intestinal canal etc[, , , ].
The seeds have a mucilaginous coat and swell to several times their volume when in water[]. 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[]. 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[, ]. 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[].
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[].
The oil in the seed embryo contains 50% linoleic acid and has been used as a preventative of atherosclerosis[]. It is also effective in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood[].

Other Uses

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

Propagation

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.