Indian Plantago

The scientific name of Indian Plantago: Plantago Psyllium, Ovata Forsk

Family: Plantaginaceae

Name of in different languages:

English: Psyllium, Plantain

Sanskrit: अस्वगोल Asvagola

Hindi: Lahuriya, ईसबगोल Isabgol

Tamil: Ishappukol vitai

Malayalam: Ishadgol-ഇഷദ്ഗോൾ 

Useful plant parts:

Seed/husk, leaves

Plant description:

It is an annual herb that grows up to 46 cm. Leaves are arranged opposite, linear or linear-lanceolate size to 1 cm × 19 cm. The root is taproot with few fibrous secondary roots. A large number of flowering shoots arise from the base of the plant. Flowers are white, small and numerous. The seeds are enclosed in capsules that open at maturity.

Medicinal uses:

constipation, diarrhoea, cough, cold, bronchial infection, cholesterol, tract related problems, c piles, rheumatism, urinary infection and rheumatism.

Chemical content:

lipid, sterol, galactose, glucose, xylose, arabinose, alkaloids, tannins and proteins

Medicinal properties:

emollient, demulcent and a laxative

How to prepare medicines:

Dried seed can consume as oats, it very helps in constipation.

It is one of the ingredients in the Ayurveda medicines like:-