The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Psyllium Side Effects
Posted by April (Sumter, SC)
I recently wanted to try a colon cleanser and came across this product as one of the ingredients. I have mild asthma and did not think any of the ingredients for a colon cleanse would be harmful; However, I noticed extreme tightening of the chest and difficulty breathing after ingesting psyllium husk. Only after drinking an 8 oz. glass of water with 1/2 lemon did the tightness subside. Anyone ingesting psyllium should be aware of this reaction.
Psyllium Side Effects
Posted by Melissa (Raleigh, NC) on 12/20/2006
Hi, here is a warning about psyllium husks....I wanted to do a colon cleanse so I started taking psyllium husks mixed with bentonite clay liquid in a 8 oz. glass of water. After a day or so I began to feel very bloated and was not having regular bowel movements. I was shocked because this info had come highly recommended and I was expecting the opposite effect. I always drink atleast 64 oz. of water a day or more so I know that I was consuming enough water. I had to stop taking it because it was making me very constipated. Even before trying to cleanse my colon I had atleast one BM a day. Now I was having one every two days. I eventually went to a alternative therapist to have a colonic done. She explained to me that psyllium husks suck up all your fluids and can dehydrate you immensely. She only tells people who are having diahhrea to use this. During the colonic she said that my feces were very compacted and there was a lot of thick gel that was being flushed from my colon. She explained that was the psyllium husk. This seems to work for a lot of people but it you are having issues with constipation after taking this product...stop. You would have to almost double your water intake for it not to give you constipation. Hope this helps.
IBS
Posted by KC (Columbia, South Carolina) on 07/02/2006
★★★★★
I have tried and am still using this for constipation and bloating. This only cost me $6 for 1 lb. and it has been a miracle for me. I had tried Colonix for colon cleansing and it was a very dramatic experience for me. I believe it was more or less a laxative with additives to get you addicted and it gave you close to diarreah. I felt like had to go to the bathroom all of the time. So I had developed even more anxiety which lead to IBS I believe. Anyways- It has been a few months and I tried this cheap natural remedy and it works! I've been using it a little more than a week and I've seen greater results than Colonix had ever promised. I just followed the recipe on this site which had led me to the road of happiness. Thanks!
Digestive Issues
Posted by Den (Toronto) on 09/26/2006
★★★★★
psyllium is an excellent source of fibre. it definitely helps me go to the bathroom when the plumbing isn't doing its job, haha. i put it in a variety of things including hot cereal (red river, old fashion oatmeal, cream of wheat) with a touch of honey to sweeten; i have added a tbsp or so to a glass of orange juice too (it almost looks like very pulpy OJ). give it a shot, trust me... it works.
Detoxification
Posted by ELIZABETH (LONDON) on 02/20/2007
★★★★★
We came back from a spa in Thailand a few weeks ago. My husband & I were fasting for 7 days. We were taking detox drinks 5 times a day (Psyllium, Bentonite clay, lemon juice)& 5 times herbal supplements and intestinal cleansers. We were also allowed 2 cups of vegetable broth, 2 coconut waters and carrot juice or herbal tea. Our programme also included 2 colemas daily. During this period, we were feeling fine, no hunger pangs, no tiredness. I lost 9 pounds & my husband 10. We now fast for 1 or 2 days a week & instead of colemas drink a senna tea before bedtime.
Detoxification
Posted by Keith (Vancouver, BC, Canada) on 07/03/2007
★★★★★
I have used physillium for quite a few years. I take it with apple juice, and benonite clay (to remove toxins, as a milkshake). I make sure to put senna into it as a laxative to prevent constipation. I use 1/2 tsp senna, 8 oz. apple juice, 1 tbsp pysillium husk, and 1 tbsp of benonite. But you need to experiment with how much senna to use.
Psyllium Tips and Advice
Posted by Phil (Brisbane, Australia) on 08/23/2007
★★★★★
The cost of psyllium husk consumed for any purpose is offset in part by savings on toilet paper.
Chronic Diarrhea
Posted by Kris (Omaha, Nebraska) on 09/21/2007
★★★★★
I suffered from chronic diarrhea and painful gas for two months after taking a 10-week course of Prevacid (a ppi). Stopping the medication didn't help and eating a simpler diet didn't help. I started taking a teaspoon of psyllium husk in a glass of water every day. Within 48 hours the diarrhea and most of the gas were gone. I plan to continue with the psyllium for a while. Thank goodness for small miracles!
Detoxification
Posted by Sharon (Branson, MO)
★★★★★
Just a note to the readers and especially to Sharon from NYC. One thing that psyllium does so very well is clean out the bowell. In doing this it also cleans out toxins that have been stored in all those liittle folds of your intestines. The coating on your boyfriend's tongue was more likely just a sign that his body was releasing toxins and not a sign of candida overgrowth. Bad breath can also a sign of toxins being released. They have to come out somehow. Drinking more water sometimes helps. I am glad to know about the peroxide mouth wash although I don't think it would be good to do very often. BTW, Psyllium promotes growth of good bacteria for the stomach & intestines. Another reason a Candida overgrowth was unlikely.
Detoxification
Posted by Sharon (NYC)
★★★★★BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
My boyfriend started using pysllium a few weeks ago to cleanse his intestinal tract. He felt great, but my God! his breath became so foul!! After a few days of being polite, I finally figured that I needed to say something and help him find a cure. I figured it had to have been caused by a change in his intestinal flora from the pysillium. The change must have caused severe candida overgrowth. His tongue was coated in white -- a sure sign. I had him take a few capsules of ParaGone (as it was what was leftover in my medicine cabinet.) to start to kill off the candida. That seemed to help, but didn't completely stop the halitosis. The next day I had him soak his mouth in hydrogen peroxide for about 3 minutes. Once it foamed up, I had him to it again. Well, that was the cure! No more bad breath! The peroxide did make his tongue sensitive for a few days, so I would suggest to anyone trying this that they dilute the peroxide in water. I think that bad breath is often a sign of candida or yeast overgrowth so killing it in the mouth with peroxide AND taking some kind of candida cleanse is the answer. One more note: I read on the internet that it can take up to 3 weeks to cure bad breath. Well, this took a few minutes with the peroxide. Don't believe what you read! Hope this helps some of your readers. Thanks.
Psyllium Tips and Advice
Posted by Jong (Manila, Philippines) on 11/08/2007
★★★★★
About Halitosis caused by psyllium husk--It is not true that psyllium causes halitosis. In fact, it should have the reverse effect. If you notice, even your stool will start to become almost odor free when you take psyllium regularly. What likely could have happened is that the sufferer could have ingested a contaminted psyllium. These can be contaminated more often with yeasts and molds if left in a container or place where moisture can penetrate. These could also probably the source of the candida in the stomach. So, be careful when buying psyllium which are stored in open container or shelves. Best to buy those tightly packed.
Diverticulitis
Posted by Max (Coolum Beach, Queensland) on 11/14/2007
★★★★★
I recommend psyllium husk I take 5 teaspoons a day with plenty of water for preventing Diviticulitus, it works. Just get the powder from the supermarket.
Weight Loss
Posted by Tess (San Francisco, California) on 01/07/2008
★★★★★
After a colonoscopy last month I was suffering from constipation for the first time in my life, so I started taking psyllium (bought in bulk from a natural foods store). At first I had a lot of gas and some abdominal discomfort, because I was taking too much . I found out that it is better to start slow--about a teaspoonful in 8oz of water, gradually building up to 1-2 tablespoons. I have been taking this amount daily for the past month and am noticing a significant decrease in waist size and LOSS OF ABDOMINAL CELLULITE.I am thrilled!
NB: For the past year I have also followed a low fat diet, mostly plant based, no processed foods. I also do 30-45 minutes of cardio (swimming or running) 5-6 days per week. But still couldn't completely shed a pot belly and cellulite. Then I started taking psyllium. WOW. At the age of 54 I figured I was stuck with the dreaded "spare tire" around the middle. Not so! I am not sure if the effect would be so dramatic if I were not exercising and eating such a healthy diet...
Also there is some impressive scientific research, very reputable, indicating that psyllium can lower high blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and high cholesterol. It contributes to improved cardiac health by reducing atherosclerosis. Psyllium has been used for centuries in Indian and Chinese medicine to fight gout and inflammation. Wonderful stuff!
Gas
Posted by Jake (Chicago, IL) on 01/08/2008
★★★★★
Whipple operation for duodenal cancer: psyllium and flax seed meal.
After my cancer operation in 1991, I suffered terrible flatulence - gas in both directions. It was a difficult time for several years - my doctors prescribed pancreatic enzymes that were useless. Eventually I realized because of the removal of my duodenum, digestion of oils and fats especially was impeded. I was better avoiding all oils and fats, but that was not a long term solution. My triglycerides were elevated and I was slowly depleting my essential oils and drying out based on my skin condition. Adding back essential oils (flax mixture) brought my tryglicerides back to normal in the first week but my original gaseous problems were still there. Eventually, after 10 years or so, I discovered psyllium seed that cured the condition entirely when I added it mixed in water before major meals - or before oily or in some cases even when I indulged in pig-out foods. My movements still were not perfect and recently, only the last 5 months or so I discovered flax seed meal or powder is even better - not quite as course in elimination and adding substantially more vitamins and nutrients as I understand it. Either of course would be a life saver for anyone else out there who's an outcast because of runaway flatulence.
Long-Term Usage
Posted by Mable (Long Beach, CA) on 02/21/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Please check into the long term effects of using psyllium on a regular basis. It's addictive in that the more you use it, the more you'll be dependant on it. Psyllium causes the colon muscles to relax and actually does the work for them - they begin to weaken & possibly atrophe (as do all muscles that aren't used). It's possible/probably that if you take psyllium long enough, you'll end up taking it the rest of your life.
Menopause Symptoms
Posted by Sharon (Ann Arbor, MI) on 03/05/2008
★★★★★
Due to multiple food and gluten allergies, I've had a history of both constipation, and more recently chronic diarrhea. Psyllium capsules taken at night with a full glass of water, or between meals with a full glass of water has been a lifesaver. I find starting with 2 capsules a day of psyllium husk, then working up gradually by adding 1 or 2 capsules a day to a total of about 10 taken in divided doses of 2 or 3 at a time between meals with lots of water gives no symptoms of gas, bloating, or bad breath. After a week or two of this I usually back off to a small maintenaince dose of 3 capsules, which is about 2 grams of total additional fiber a day.
Unexpected side effects for me included the complete relief of menopausal type hormone flucuations and hot flashes because of the fact that the fiber binds to excess hormones like estrogen and escorts them safely out of the system before they can have side effects. For this reason I would recommend it to anyone who was suffering from hormone related cancers including prostate. It may also help in chemo therapy to bind to the toxins of the drugs that are used and to help remove dead cancer cells from the body. Also pysllium can be a lifesaver when a bout of food poisoning or flu occurs because it binds with the toxins that are the byproduct of the offending bad virus or bacterias. For ANY use of pysllium husks , make sure that after your body becomes healthy and regular, see if you can't wean down on the number of capsules you take by substituting high amounts of quality fruit and vegtables into your diet, then let your body have a complete pysllium break and see how you do. You may have fixed the problem. For some of us who are allergic to many grains we just can't get enough fiber into our normal diet and need to add a little extra. Another help has been to add additional enzymes like bromelain and papaya, to the diet to help properly break down foods and repair intestinal damage. It is important to note that pysllium is NOT a laxative and that your body does not develope a dependency on it, but it DOES bind to vitamins, minerals, and medicines so for that reason is best taken on an empty stomach at leaast 2 hours after food or medicine is ingested, and at least an hour before you eat again.
VERY IMPORTANT: Drink at least one extra 8 oz. glass of water for every 2 capsules taken!
