Ishabgula — Psyllium Husk

Ayurvedic herb Ishabgula (Plantago ovata) — Psyllium Husk. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Madhura, Virya Sheeta, Vipaka Madhura. Balances Vata, Pitta.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read

Psyllium Husk is a bulk-forming laxative used to relieve constipation and soothe the digestive tract.

ⓘ Information

Property	Value	Description
Rasa	Madhura	Madhura (Sweet) — nourishing, grounding, promotes tissue growth
Guna	Guru, Snigdha	Guru (Heavy) — increases bulk, grounding; Snigdha (Oily/Unctuous) — moistening, nourishing
Virya	Sheeta	Sheeta (Cold) — cooling, decreases Pitta and inflammation
Vipaka	Madhura	Madhura (Sweet) — post-digestive sweet, nourishing
Prabhava	Virechana, Grahi	Virechana — purgative, therapeutic cleansing; Grahi — absorbent, improves assimilation, stops diarrhea

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Ishabgula is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Ashwakarna bheda, Snigdhajibha, Ishadgola

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Ishabgula are: bija twak, bija.

Main Indications

Ishabgula is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Malabaddhata, Atisara, Pravahika, Amashaya Shotha.

Dosha Effects

Ishabgula pacifies Vata, Pitta.

It may aggravate Kapha when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Ishabgula is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH

Rasa (Taste)Kaṣ¡ya, Madhura

Guna (Quality)Snigdha, Guru

Virya (Potency)śita

Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Madhura

Karma (Action)Mūtrala, Rakta-stambhana, Ras¡yana, śothahara, Sraṇsana, Vedan¡¿¡maka

DosePatra Svarasa (Leaf juice): 5 to 10 ml

Therapeutic Uses: Ar¿a (piles), Karḍa¿ūla (otalgia), Asragdara (menorrhagia or

Important Formulations: Used as single drug

Botanical Name: Plantago lanceolata (Plantaginaceae)

Part Used: Fresh Leaf

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part Used	Therapeutic Use	Identifiers	References
seed	Anti-inflammatory agents	MESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1	ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Aphrodisiacs	MESH:D001046,UMLS:C0003567	ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Astringents	MESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6	ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Cholinergic antagonists	MESH:D018680,UMLS:C0242897	ISBN:9780387706375
seed	Colic	MESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4	ISBN:9788171360536
seed	Colitis, ulcerative	MESH:D003093,UMLS:C0009324, DOID:8577, ICD-11:DD71.Z	Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - II
seed	Constipation	MESH:D003248,UMLS:C0009806, DOID:2089, ICD-11:ME05.0	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788183602525, Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - II
seed	Cough	MESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12	ISBN:9780387706375, Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - II
seed	Demulcents	MESH:D065106,UMLS:C0302232	ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266
seed	Diarrhea	MESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Diuretics	MESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06	ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Dysentery	MESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788183602525, Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - II
seed	Emollients	MESH:D004643,UMLS:C0013983, ICD-11:XM1C59	ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Erysipelas	MESH:D004886,UMLS:C0014733, DOID:11330, ICD-11:1B70.0	ISBN:9788171360536
seed	Expectorants	MESH:D005100,UMLS:C0015314	ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Fever	MESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26	ISBN:9788172361792
seed	Gastritis	MESH:D005756,UMLS:C0017152, DOID:4029, ICD-11:DA42	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Gonorrhea	MESH:D006069,UMLS:C0018081, DOID:7551, ICD-11:1A7Z	ISBN:9788171360536
seed	Gout	MESH:D006073,UMLS:C0018099, DOID:13189, ICD-11:FA25	ISBN:9788171360536
seed	Hypercholesterolemia	MESH:D006937,UMLS:C0020443, ICD-11:5C80.0	ISBN:9780387706375
seed	Inflammation	MESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368	Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - II
seed	Kidney diseases	MESH:D007674,UMLS:C0022658, DOID:557, ICD-11:GC2Z	ISBN:9788172361792
seed	Laxatives	MESH:D054368,UMLS:C0282090, ICD-11:XM62T3	ISBN:9788183602525, Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - II
seed	Pain	MESH:D010146,UMLS:C0030193, ICD-11:MG3Z	ISBN:9788183602525
seed	General tonic for rejuvenation	MESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016	ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Stomach diseases	MESH:D013272,UMLS:C0038354, DOID:76, ICD-11:DA4Y	ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Thirst	MESH:D013894	Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - II
seed	Urinary tract infections	MESH:D014552,UMLS:C0042029, DOID:0080784, ICD-11:GC08	ISBN:9788172361792
seed	Urination disorders	MESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0Y	ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Urogenital system	MESH:D014566,UMLS:C0042066	ISBN:9788172361266
seed	Colonic diseases	MESH:D003108,UMLS:C0009373, DOID:5353	ISBN:9788183602525
seed	Urethral diseases	MESH:D014522,UMLS:C0041969, DOID:732, ICD-11:GC0Y	ISBN:9788172361792
seed	Cooling effect on body	UMLS:C0678568	ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788183602525
whole plant	Constipation	MESH:D003248,UMLS:C0009806, DOID:2089, ICD-11:ME05.0	ISBN:9789327275590
whole plant	Diarrhea	MESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1	ISBN:9789327275590
whole plant	Flatulence	MESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08	ISBN:9789327275590
whole plant	Laxatives	MESH:D054368,UMLS:C0282090, ICD-11:XM62T3	ISBN:9789327275590
	Anti-inflammatory agents	MESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1	ISBN:9788173717055
	Antirheumatic agents	MESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2	ISBN:9788172361792
	Aphrodisiacs	MESH:D001046,UMLS:C0003567	ISBN:9788173717055
	Asthenia	MESH:D001247,UMLS:C0004093, ICD-11:MG22	ISBN:9788173717055
	Astringents	MESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6	ISBN:9788172361792
	Common cold	MESH:D003139,UMLS:C0009443, DOID:10459, ICD-11:CA00	ISBN:9788172361792
	Constipation	MESH:D003248,UMLS:C0009806, DOID:2089, ICD-11:ME05.0	ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361792
	Cough	MESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12	ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717055
	Demulcents	MESH:D065106,UMLS:C0302232	ISBN:9788172361792
	Diarrhea	MESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1	ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717055
	Diuretics	MESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06	ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717055
	Dysentery	MESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717055
	Dysentery, amebic	MESH:D004404,UMLS:C0013370, ICD-11:1A36.00	ISBN:9788172361792
	Emaciation	MESH:D004614,UMLS:C0013911, ICD-11:5B51	ISBN:9788173717055
	Emollients	MESH:D004643,UMLS:C0013983, ICD-11:XM1C59	ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717055
	Erysipelas	MESH:D004886,UMLS:C0014733, DOID:11330, ICD-11:1B70.0	ISBN:9788173717055
	Expectorants	MESH:D005100,UMLS:C0015314	ISBN:9788173717055
	Gastritis	MESH:D005756,UMLS:C0017152, DOID:4029, ICD-11:DA42	ISBN:9788173717055
	Gastrointestinal diseases	MESH:D005767,UMLS:C0017178, DOID:77, ICD-11:DE2Z	ISBN:9788172361792
	Gonorrhea	MESH:D006069,UMLS:C0018081, DOID:7551, ICD-11:1A7Z	ISBN:9788173717055
	Gout	MESH:D006073,UMLS:C0018099, DOID:13189, ICD-11:FA25	ISBN:9788173717055
	Hemorrhoids	MESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.Z	ISBN:9788172361792
	Laxatives	MESH:D054368,UMLS:C0282090, ICD-11:XM62T3	ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717055
	Lymphadenitis	MESH:D008199,UMLS:C0024205, DOID:1602, ICD-11:BD90	ISBN:9788172361792
	Pain	MESH:D010146,UMLS:C0030193, ICD-11:MG3Z	ISBN:9788173717055
	Urination disorders	MESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0Y	ISBN:9788173717055
	Disorder of the genitourinary system	UMLS:C0080276	ISBN:9788172361792
	Colonic diseases	MESH:D003108,UMLS:C0009373, DOID:5353	ISBN:9788173717055