Psyllium is a natural, water-soluble, gel-reducing fiber which is extracted from the husks of blond psyllium seeds (plantago ovata). Psyllium is a member of a class of soluble fibers referred to as mucilages. Mucilages, which retain water, tend to be rather thick and jelly-like in nature. Also in the mucilage family is guar gum, an ingredient in most beans. It is used as a stabilizing and thickening agent in many salad dressings, soups, lotions, and creams.

Psyllium is popularly used to combat a variety of digestive complaints such as constipation, diarrhea, diverticular disease and colitis. In addition, it is being utilized as part of many herbal colon cleansing programs and even in the prevention of colon cancer. During a lifetime, one consumes approximately 90,000 pounds of food and 55,000 quarts of liquid. For a majority of Americans, a large percentage of these totals consist of hamburgers, sodas, candy, cakes, cookies, pastries, potato chips, pizza, and ice cream. It is no wonder that almost one in every four of us suffers some type of digestive illness.