One of the natural ways of cleaning up your digestive tract is using psyllium husk. Read on to know the benefits, guidelines, and contraindications of using it.
Psyllium husk is basically a type of fiber, as it is essentially made up of complex carbohydrates. It is extracted from the coating around the seed of the psyllium plant. Hence, it is one of the natural intestine cleansing agents.
Benefits
Psyllium seeds are used for not only colon cleansing, but also for various ailments. The husks are taken and inserted into capsules. They are then taken as supplements. They can also be taken in powder form. It has many health benefits, as it can help cure diarrhea, ease hemorrhoids and cystitis. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been said that it helps to reduce the cholesterol levels in the body. Thus, it helps to reduce the risks associated with heart disease. As it adds to the bulk of the stool, it ensures that it keeps the intestinal tract healthy.
When used as a colon cleanser, it acts by pushing the mucoid plaque out of the body. This is because the husk swells when it comes in contact with water and thus, absorbs anything that’s heavier than itself. This makes it an effective laxative, as it forms a gelatin-like mass in the colon, which keeps the bowel soft and clean. It stimulates peristalsis which aids in constipation. It has been claimed that this procedure is most effective when taken with bentonite clay.
How to Use
It is absolutely essential to increase your water intake when you are trying out this type of colon cleansing. Because, for the psyllium husk to be effective, it needs a lot of water to absorb and swell up. If you eat it alone, then you will have digestion problems. So, you can mix it with water, juice, milk, etc. You also need to consume a lot of water, because the husk will tend to cause a lot of dehydration as it tends to take up all the moisture content of the bowel. Be sure to consume this in between meals and never immediately after or before a meal. This is because it tends to interfere with the digestion by diluting the enzymes present in the gastrointestinal tract.
Contraindications
However, it is best to visit a doctor and get a prescription before usage. This is because while psyllium husk is generally regarded to be safe, a small minority of individuals do not take to it very well as they have low tolerance to this fiber. In such cases, there may be a slight discomfort in the abdominal region along with bloating and pain. Thus, one should always start a psyllium husk colon cleanse with very small amounts. Also, it can reduce the effectiveness of lithium and any antibiotics that a person may be taking. Also, try not to use it within two hours of consuming any medicine. Eat the husk at least half an hour before meals. It is not recommended for pregnant women.
It is important to visit a doctor to check for the pros and cons of going in for intestinal cleansing using psyllium husk. However, this is one of the best ways of ensuring that your digestive tract remains clean and healthy.
