Psyllium husks are the shells of the plantain-like Plantago indica/ovata. When the fruits of the plant are ripe, the small seeds which spring up resemble fleas. This appearance gives the plant its name ("psulla" is Greek for flea). Psyllium has also be used in Europe since ancient times.
It is mostly the husks of the psyllium that contain the valuable, mucous-forming fibre (mucilage). This fibre swells up when in contact with liquid and, when consumed, forms a large, gel-like mass. The powder, which is produced through gentle milling, has a much larger surface area and thus a significantly greater swelling volume than whole hulls. The swelling value of our high-quality organic psyllium husk powder is over 80, while it is generally only 40+ for whole husks.
