P
(f; CRC; DEM); Stomatosis (2; KOM; PHR; PH2); Stone (f; CRC); Swelling (f; DEM); Tapeworm
(f; PH2); Tonsilosis (f; CRC); Tuberculosis (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Tumor (f; JLH); Ulcer (f; JLH;
WOI); Vaginosis (f; CRC); Water Retention (1; CRC; LMP; PHR; PH2); Worm (f; CRC; DAA;
LMP; WOI); Wound (1; DAA; DEM).
Dosages (Prostrate Knotweed) — 2–3 tsp herb (4.8–7.2 g) in hot teas/day (HHB); 5 g herb (HH2);
2 g herb/cup tea (HH2); 4–6 g/day or cup of tea (1.5 g herb) 3–5 ×/day (PHR); food farmacy in
India where eaten as a veggie (WOI).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Prostrate Knotweed) — Not covered (AHP).
None at proper dosage (PHR). 1% soluble silicic acid, partially water soluble (PHR). Shoot tincture
LD50 = 500 mg/kg ipr rat (HH2). Flavonoids are an antiaggregant (PH2).
PSYLLIUM, BLONDE ISPAGHULA (Plantago ovata Forsk.) +++Synonym: P. ispaghula Roxb. ex Fleming.
WHO defines Semen Plantaginis as dried ripe seed of Plantago afra L., P. asiatica L., P. indica
L., and/or P. ovata Forsk. It is interesting to see how Blumenthal et al. (1998) and Fleming et al.
(1998) separate two species of psyllium, one of which Blumenthal et al. call blonde, P. ovata, and
the other black, P. psyllium (P. afra). I doubt that many botanists can tell all the plantain species
apart, even in the field with flowers, fruits, and leaves present. I maintain that unvouchered studies
on these closely related species are almost meaningless and the medical literature built on a
mountain of toothpicks. I have read that our local weed, the plantain, Plantago major, was at one
time substituted, successfully for psyllium, but I doubt if the vouchers are there to back up that
story either. I think that the husks and seeds of several species have been confused and share many
similar activities.
Activities (Psyllium) — Allergenic (1; APA); Antibacterial (f; WOI); Anticancer (1; HH2); Anti-
cholinergic (1; PNC); Antipyretic (f; KAB); Astringent (f; DEP; KAB); Cardiodepressant (1; PNC);
Demulcent (1; CAN; DEP; KAB; PED); Digestive (1; KAB); Diuretic (f; KAB; PED; WHO);
Emollient (f; DEP); Flatugenic (1; CAN); Hepatoprotective (1; PNC); Hypertensive (1; KAP);
Hypocholesterolemic (1; BGB; HH2; KAB; KOM; LAF); Hypoglycemic (1; BGB; HH2; PNC);
Hypotensive (1; KAP; PNC); Hypouricemic (1; HH2); Laxative (2; BGB; DEP; KAP; PNC);
Pectiniferous (2; JAD); Peristaltic (2; PIP; PNC; WHO).
Indications (Psyllium) — Adenopathy (f; JLH; KAP; WHO); Atherosclerosis (f; SKY); Bacteria
(f; WOI); Bleeding (1; KAP); Blennorrhea (f; KAP); Cacoethes (f; JLH); Cancer (1; HH2; JLH);
Cancer, breast (f; JLH); Cancer, colon (f; JLH); Cancer, ear (f; JLH); Cancer, intestine, (f; JLH);
Cancer, liver (f; JLH); Cancer, mouth (f; JLH); Cancer, neck (f; JLH); Cancer, parotid (f; JLH);
Cancer, throat (f; JLH); Cancer, uterus (f; JLH); Candida (1; PED); Cardiopathy (2; BGB); Catarrh
(f; DEP; KAP); Chelation, cyclamate (1; PNC); Cold (f; DEP); Colitis (2; BGB; KOM; PH2; SHT);
Constipation (2; BGB; DEP; KAP; KOM; PH2; PNC; SHT; WHO); Cough (1; DEP; PED; PH2);
Cramp (1; APA); Cystosis (f; CAN; DEP; KAP); Dermatosis (f; CAN); Diabetes (1; APA; HH2;
PH2); Diarrhea (2; DEP; KOM; PH2; SKY; WHO); Diverticulosis (1; CAN; SHT); Duodenosis
(f; PH2); Dysentery (1; CAN; DEP; KAB; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; DEP); Dysuria (f; DEP; KAP;
PH2); Enterosis (1; APA; PH2); Fever (f; DEP; KAB); Furunculosis (f; CAN; PH2); Gallstone
(preventive) (1; BGB; PH2); Gas (f; PH2); Gastrosis (f; PH2); Gonorrhea (f; DEP; KAP; PH2);
Gout (1; HH2; KAP; PH2; WHO); Hemorrhoid (2; DEP; KAP; KOM; PH2; SKY); Hepatosis (f;
JLH; PNC); High Blood Pressure (1; APA; KAP; PED; PNC); High Blood Sugar (1; PH2); High
Cholesterol (2; BGB; HH2; KAB; KOM; LAF; PHR; PH2; SKY); High Triglycerides (1; PH2;
SKY); Hyperglycemia (1; BGB; HH2; PNC); IBS (1; APA; KOM; PH2; SKY); Inflammation (f;
DEP; KAP); Low Blood Pressure (1; KAP); Mastosis (f; JLH); Mucososis (2; DEP; KOM; PH2;