Psyllium seed vs psyllium husk: finally a good answer

I've started taking psyllium seed powder after reading up on it here and the net to try and induce remission to my very, very active colitis. A lot of members on this forum were very confused on the difference between psyllium seed powder and psyllium husk powder. A brilliant explanation of the difference is here, as well as the benefits of both:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_2_7/ai_85522988/

Here's the paragraph from that site that I find the most pertinent:

"Anaerobic fermentation of the soluble non-starch polysaccharides from psyllium seed results in the production of the short-chain fatty acids acetate, propionate, and butyrate in the intestines. (4) Psyllium husk contains only the epidermis of the seed, while the actual seed has a higher amount of fermentable fiber. Because of this fiber content, psyllium seed degrades more slowly than pectin and produces fairly large amounts of butyrate and acetate. Butyric acid exhibits antineoplastic activity against colorectal cancer, is the preferred oxidative substrate for colonocytes, and may be helpful in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. In a study of resected colorectal cancer patients, those given 20 grams of psyllium seed daily for three months exhibited an average increase of butyric acid production of 42 percent, which decreased to pretreatment levels within two months of cessation of supplementation. (5)"

20 minutes of research on HW and google will reveal just how important butyric acid is to the function of the intestinal wall.

I've only been taking psyllium seed for a few days now, and will post my results here should significant improvement occur. I'm taking two tablespoons a day, once in the AM and again in the PM, mixed with apple sauce to get it down. Another member (screen name "tap" I believe) reported going from 12 stools a day to 3-4 within two weeks of taking 2 heaping teaspoons of psyllium seed twice a day (about two tablespoons daily).

Psyllium seed powder, not husk powder, can be found on the net for purchase. Psyllium husk powder seems to be widely available in health food stores, and should be easy to find locally in your area.

Cheers!

Powdered psyllium seed is my wonder drug. Whenever I begin to see gastro symptoms I mix powdered psyllium seed, kefir, blueberries (frozen are cheaper), and VSL#3DS into a gunk that clears things up very quickly. Ideally I should take this every day but to tell the truth it tastes terrible. I question if I should take Metamucil husks instead of the seed because it tastes better and I would take it more regularly. But I can tell from how I feel that psyllium seed is far superior.

Another factor is that since I have been in remission my health care costs have plummeted and I am not making my high insurance deductible. That means I really cannot afford to take prescription VSL3 everyday. I substitute cheaper probiotics. But on problem days that concoction of gunk is my wonder drug and has repeatedly nipped flares in the bud for well over a year.

Monitoring my diet is still my mainstay. For me supplements like psyllium are mostly effective for quickly recovering after eating something bad. And I am still learning what the bad foods are.

badslinke

Thanks for that information. I think I'll give PSeed powder a try when my Citrucel runs out. I like the fact that butyrate is created with PSeed. Heck I might even try growing it since I live in Florida and I'm a gardener

I've started taking psyllium seed powder after reading up on it here and the net to try and induce remission to my very, very active colitis

I hope it works for you. I know this is effective for MAINTAINING remission but do not know if this helps to end a full-blown flare. And I do not want to experience another flare again to find out. We will see if it ends your flare.

Mackster...are you taking probiotics as well?

q

You are all very welcome.

The psyllium has definitely had a positive impact, either seed or husk, but they seem to do different things, as outlined above. It doesn't look like anything less than two tablespoons (not teaspoons) a day will really impact things. That was at least the experience of the other member mentioned above in my first post.

Probiotics work synergistically with soluble fibers to create butyrate and heal the colon, etc. I should mention that right now I'm taking super massive doses of VSL 3 (3.6 trillion bacteria a day) alongside the psyllium

Mackster said...
badslinke, thanks for the info. The pseed powder I have is a 'sandy' texture.
Similar to your description of the phusk powder.
Plus it tastes brutal.
I took about a heaped teaspoon daily mixed with an equal amt of metamucil (phusk powder)for about six months and didn't notice any major improvements.
I will try increasing the amt and give it another shot.

Ya it does taste brutal haha. THat's why I take mine with apple sauce, and that's still difficult. Lots of water helps. Are you sure what you have is pure seed powder, with no husks mixed in? The stuff I'm using is this:
http://www.starwest-botanicals.com/product/1-psyllium-seed-powder.html
As you can see from the picture, it's pretty fine, and not really sandy. The husk powder is definitely more like a coarse sand. Definitely give your intake a kick in the pants and see if it has a real impact. One tablespoon a day for me didn't do much, but two does. Note that these are tablespoons, not teaspoons.

Results to come! Mackster you might consider posting yours as well.

I'm glad we know the answer. I'm planning on introducing psyllium soon. I know that when first taking psyllium you can have increased gas. But I'm not sure on what would be the right dose starting out.

Should people start out at 1-2 tsp. a day then gradually increase the dose?

Thanks for the information. Much appreciated.

Sibby said...
I'm glad we know the answer. I'm planning on introducing psyllium soon. I know that when first taking psyllium you can have increased gas. But I'm not sure on what would be the right dose starting out.

Should people start out at 1-2 tsp. a day then gradually increase the dose?

Thanks for the information. Much appreciated.

Ya, definitely start out small and increase. A lot of people have reported excessive bloating and gas when first starting, especially if you start high. I started with 1 tablespoon a day and then increased to two. I definitely felt some bloating, and still do, but not nearly as much.

UCPop said...
Psyllium seed powder also mixes well with peanut butter and can be premixed as the peanut butter doesn't have enough moisture for the psyllium seed powder to absorb. Once you mix it with the applesauce you need to eat it pretty quickly. The psyllium seed powder will absorb the water in the applesauce and turn in pretty pasty.

Absolutely true. Once I mix mine, I slam it in about 4-5 mouthfuls and with a full glass of water. It takes some discipline, but man does it have an effect. I skipped my AM dose earlier today because of an insane work day and no time to rest to take it, and by 8:30pm I had a return to a near liquid movement, which I haven't seen since I started 2 tbsp. a day several days ago. I've noticed it takes affect in the colon within about 3-4 hours for me, and will last for about 12. That's why splitting the dose into AM and PM is best, so you have coverage throughout the day.

I'd also like to report that I am already having far less cramps and pains. I can tell the inflammation has receded quite a bit, and is once again mostly focused on the left side of my large intestine, instead of the entire thing, left and right. Definitely getting better, and psyllium has a LOT to do with it, without question. I haven't seen a significant decrease in the number of BMs yet, but the level of pain and form of the movements have both changed noticeably in just the past week.

Firms the stools, exercises the colon, evens out peristalsis rhythm, helps with the production of butyrate while it becomes food for probiotics which helps heal/maintain the integrity of the colon lining...etc.

It also helps with weight control, helps sweep out invaders...etc

q

I don't consider it a treatment for UC....but some UCers may see improvent in some symptoms of a flare or IBS (which is difficult to sometimes differentiate), therefore, it could be considered part of the "treatment".

One thing with those who cut many carbs and take probiotics, this is the perfect way to add the food for the probiotics to work better.

q

Eph said...
What's your favorite beverage for mixing psyllium into? I'd like to combine my VSL#3DS and psyllium in one glass of 8-10oz of some liquid.

Thanks.
Eph

I haven't the slightest. I tried slamming it with just water before, and that was not a pleasant experience. Apple sauce seems to be my best bet. I can take VSL straight with water, but not psyllium.

I know some, however, have taken with things like chocolate milk, and done just fine. One member said he mixed it with Nestle Quik, let it sit for a while so it thickened up the drink, then stirred it once more, and then drank it. That might work for you.

Just be careful of all the unnatural sugary crap in things like Nestle Quik haha. High doses of refined sugars are known to set off flares for a lot of people.

I'm also curious as to whether it's a good idea to take your probiotics and the psyllium together. Psyillium bags and containers almost always say to take it one hour after any given medication, but probiotic bacteria are mobile, so I'm not sure they would just get sucked into the soluble fibers and be wasted through excrement like other meds. On top of that, certain strains feed off soluble fibers like psyllium seed, so there may be some advantage to taking them together.

Personally, I always take my psyllium before my probiotics, just based on the fact that psyllium is a PREbiotic, which to me says it ought to come before That's loose logic, though.

Take your probiotics at night before bedtime. Take the fibre during the day with meals.

q

UCPop said...
We mix powdered psyllium seed with VSL#3DS, applesauce and some cinnamon for taste...
Best of Luck to everyone - I know I sound like a broken record, but I just can't emphasize enough how much we believe psyllium seed powder has helped us!

I agree. I find that taking VSL3 separately is not as effective as mixing it with psyllium seed powder. I sense that VSL3 alone mostly just goes through me. I have seen research indicating that blueberries and apple sauce are synergistic with the probiotics. I mix it with my morning oatmeal and in the evening with apple sauce. Apple sauce seems slightly more effective. I add kefir because it needs to be diluted with some liquid and I figure probiotic kefir is as good as anything.

I can sense the psyllium seed fiber expanding in my intestines. That expansion takes place whether it is intermingled with VSL3 probiotic or not. But I think the mixture of fiber and VSL3 is more beneficial than either taken separately. That mixture expanding in my intestine may mimic what Dr. Q may describe as a retention enema. Maybe or maybe not, but for me it feels better than taking them separately.