Psyllium is a soluble fiber that comes from an herb called Plantago ovata. Each plant can produce as many as 15,000 seeds, which provide the husks commonly used for medicinal purposes, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Check with your doctor before using products that contain psyllium husks. In rare cases, some people have experienced severe allergic reactions.
Constipation
Psyllium is one of the main ingredients in many laxatives used to relieve constipation. The husks swell when combined with water, producing heavier and bulkier stool. The increased weight and size of stool in the intestinal tract encourages the intestines to contract and move waste through the digestive tract and colon. The herb can contribute to an obstructed gastrointestinal tract, so talk to your doctor before using psyllium husks to relieve constipation if you have bowel problems or have had surgery on your bowel.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
If you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome, consider talking to your doctor about whether psyllium husks would be a good treatment option. Psyllium can help relieve mild and moderate bouts of diarrhea from inflammatory bowel disease. One study of people with inflammatory bowel disease showed psyllium to be as effective as the prescription drug mesalamine in controlling symptoms, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Excessive amounts of psyllium can actually make the condition worse, so it is important to take psyllium exactly as directed by your doctor.
Psyllium and other forms of soluble fiber can help relieve diarrhea and constipation caused by irritable bowel syndrome in some patients, though studies have shown mixed results regarding the use of psyllium for this condition, states the University of Maryland Medical Center.
High Cholesterol
Soluble fibers, including psyllium husks, can help lower your total cholesterol. Psyllium also actively lowers blood levels of low-density lipoprotein, the "bad" cholesterol, when combined with a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Healthy cholesterol levels reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Psyllium typically causes small decreases in cholesterol, so patients with extremely high cholesterol often see better improvement from other, more conventional treatment methods.
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