Another fan of psyllium seed powder

I ordered some psyllium seed powder a while ago and stashed it away. I was reluctant to try it as I follow the GAPS diet and it's not recommended. But... the past couple of weeks I had been getting worse and worse (I had been cheating on the diet for a while and I guess it caught up with me).

I came very close to going on prednisone again but decided to give it a try. I'm definitely not out of this flare yet but I've seen dramatic improvement since using it (2 tsps, twice a day).

I wanted to thank everyone who's recommended it on this forum, I wouldn't have heard of it otherwise. If you're in a flare and up for trying something new I'd definitely recommend giving it a try.

What advantages does psyllium seed powder bring? I know it bulks up your stool, but does it reduce urgency? Reduce the number of BMs?

Do you have a recommendation as far as brand goes? Looking on Amazon, I see that most (if not all) are "Psyllium Seed Husk Powder." Only one seems to be just seed powder.

I purchased mine from www.bulkherbstore.com/Psyllium-Seed-Powder_Organic

In another post someone recommended www.starwest-botanicals.com/product/1-psyllium-seed-powder.html

Post Edited (benji369) : 8/14/2012 9:20:25 AM (GMT-6)

When I flare my poops mainly come out as a bit of mush mixed with blood which lies at the bottom of the toilet bowl. Since starting the powder things are starting to hold together.

Here's some good info from the bulkherbstore.com website:

Psyllium seed powder is a bulk laxative that increases the volume of the intestinal contents. This stretching action on the wall of the intestine encourages peristaltic activity in the bowel. The indigestible mucilage (active principle) is found both in the whole seed and the husk and swells when it comes in contact with water. The husks are most often employed since the seed germ contains oils and tannins which are undesirable in bulk laxatives preparations.

Today there is a popular use for psyllium and indeed for many mucilaginous herbs in the area of chronic yeast infections. Candida infections can be eradicated with harsh antibiotics and very restrictive diets, but psyllium can be employed to prevent the systemic absorption of the yeast’s metabolic wastes that many individuals are sensitive to.

In their efforts to survive in one’s colon, these yeasts produce toxins that can cause many allergic reactions. It is difficult at best to try and kill them all and only a few remaining candida yeasts can cause the sensitive reactions in some individuals. Psyllium is proving more beneficial and practical for many individuals who suffer from chronic yeast infections.

Contains mucilaginous compounds that give bulk to the stool, absorb toxins, soothe inflamed tissues, and promote the growth of friendly colonic bacteria. It has been used to treat constipation, dysentery, chronic diarrhea, and cystitis.

Go with Bulk Herb Store over Starwest Botanicals. I am dead certain that the seed powder sold by Starwest is husk powder. Bulk Herb Store seed powder is a different color and actually does what Quincy says it does. I stir mine into a little applesauce to get it down quickly

It comes in a vacuum-sealed package with a zip lock. I put mine into a hermetically sealed canister so it's easier to use. I also have a dedicated measuring spoon that I keep in the canister, on the theory that the easier it is to access, the less likely I am to forgo or forget it.

Yes, although I have also purchased from Starwest and it comes in the same kind of packaging (but isn't true psyllium seed, as I mentioned above).

I just wanted to provide a short update as it's been about a month since starting to taking the psyllium seed (the less I'm on this site the better I tend to be doing). In short... this stuff rocks! Considering the side effects of the other medications we take I'd highly recommend giving this a try.

By taking 2 tsps, twice a day in water I've gone from 15 bloody BM's/day down to 1 or 2 w/o blood. I also take asacol and use suppositories/enemas as well as follow a low-carb/paleo diet (with tons of bone broth soup).

Sounds quite promising. I have order 1 pound of the psyllium seed powder from Bulk Herb Store. My stools currently are mustardy in texture and colour. I am hoping this stuff will set me straight.

Benji369 said...
By taking 2 tsps, twice a day in water I've gone from 15 bloody BM's/day down to 1 or 2 w/o blood

Psyllium seed is also very effective for me, it is my wonder drug. I probably should take it every day like you but for me it tastes terrible. I am in remission so I only need to take a heaping tablespoon every other day. But if I eat something bad or feel a flare coming on I will take it more often to nip the flare in the bud.

I mix it with a packet of VSL#3DS, apple sauce, blueberries, non-gmo lecithin for the phosphatidylcholines and lactaid free milk. I feel psyllium seed mixed with probiotics is much more effective than pseed alone.

Of course not everyone can tolerate milk or blueberries and the last time pseed was mentioned in this forum several people said they could not tolerate psyllium at all. But it definitely works for us.

Again I ask if anyone knows whether the seed is more beneficial than husk? And if so, how are they different? I take psyllium husk, and it seems to thicken things up a bit, but it is certainly no cure... Do you think the seed would be better?

benji - do you still take a probiotic along with your psyllium? If so, which do you recommend? I tried probiotics years ago and never felt they did anything for me.