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Plantain, Psyllium

Botanical: Plantago Psyllium (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Plantaginaceae

---Synonyms---Psyllium Seeds. Fleaseed. Psyllion. Psyllios.
(Barguthti) Barguthi.
---Parts Used---Seeds, leaves.


In Southern Europe, as well as in Northern Africa and Southern Asia, Plantago Psyllium (Linn.), Fleaseed is used similarly to P. major. The seeds are also used for their large yield of mucilage. Semen psyllii is the name given to the seeds of several species of European Plantago, but the best are those of P. Psyllium. They are dark brown on the convex side, shiny, inodorous and nearly tasteless, but mucilaginous when chewed. They are demulcent and emollient and may be used internally and externally in the same manner as flaxseed, which they closely resemble in medicinal properties.

P. Psyllium has once been found on ballast hills in Jersey, but has not permanently established itself.

Purchase from Richters
Pysllium (Plantago psyllium) Dried Seeds and Husks

Related
Barba di Cappuccino 'Buckhorn Plantain' (Plantago coronopus 'Minutina' aka Barbatella or Erba Stella) Seeds
Chinese Plantain (Plantago asiatica, aka Che quian) Seeds
Greater Plantain (Plantago major) Seeds and Bulk Dried Herb
Indian Pysllium (Plantago ovata) Seeds and Dried Husks
Ribgrass Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) Seeds and Bulk Dried Herb

See also...
Alisma (Alisma orientale, aka Asian Water Plantain or Ze Xie) Seeds

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Bear in mind "A Modern Herbal" was written with the conventional wisdom of the early 1900's. This should be taken into account as some of the information may now be considered inaccurate, or not in accordance with modern medicine.

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