Medicinal Ingredient (per daily serving)

Psyllium Husk Powder (Plantago ovata)… 8,000 mg (2 teaspoons)

Recommended Dose:
Adults and adolescents 13 and over: 2 teaspoons (8,000mg) 1 time per day after dinner.

Effects observed 12-24 hours after first dose, and may take 2-3 days. For each gram of psyllium, mix with 30 ml of liquid (water, milk, fruit juice or similar aqueous beverage). Stir briskly and drink immediately. Maintain adequate fluid intake. Take 2 hours before or after taking other medications.

Cautions and Warnings:
Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms worsen or if laxative effect does not occur within seven days.
Consult a health care practitioner immediately if you experience chest pain, vomiting, or difficulty in swallowing or breathing after taking this product.
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are taking medications which inhibit peristaltic movement (e.g. opioids, loperamide).
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you have symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or fever (as these could be signs of abnormal constrictions of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the oesophagus and/or the superior opening of the stomach (cardia), potential or existing intestinal blockage, paralysis of the intestine, megacolon, faecal impaction, inflamed bowel or appendicitis).

Contraindications:
Do not use if you are experiencing a sudden change in bowel habits that has persisted for more than 2 weeks, undiagnosed rectal bleeding, or failure to defecate following the use of another laxative product
Do not use if you have diabetes mellitus in which blood sugar is difficult to regulate.
Do not use if you have difficulty swallowing.

Known Adverse Reactions:
Hypersensitivity, such as allergy, has been known to occur following inhaled and/or ingested Psyllium; in which case, discontinue use. May cause temporary gas and/or bloating.

Q: Who should not use this product?
A: Do not use this product if you have difficulty swallowing. Do not use if you are experiencing undiagnosed rectal bleeding. Do not use if you have had a sudden change in bowel habits lasting more than 2 weeks. Do not use if you have failed to defecate after using another laxative. Do not use if you have diabetes mellitus where blood sugar is difficult to regulate. Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are taking medications that inhibit peristaltic movement (e.g., opioids). Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are experiencing abdominal pain, nausea, fever, or symptoms of intestinal blockage. Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms worsen or if the laxative effect does not occur within 7 days of use. Consult a health care practitioner immediately if you experience chest pain, vomiting, or difficulty swallowing or breathing after taking this product, as these may be signs of a serious condition.

Q: How must I prepare and take psyllium husk powder?
A: This is the most important practical instruction for this product. Mix each gram of psyllium husk powder with 30ml of liquid (water, milk, or fruit juice). For the full 8g serving (2 teaspoons), use 240ml of liquid. Stir briskly and drink immediately. Do not allow the mixture to thicken before drinking. If psyllium is swallowed without adequate liquid, or if it is allowed to swell in the glass before drinking, it can form a thick mass that is difficult to swallow and may cause esophageal obstruction. This is why the product is contraindicated in individuals with difficulty swallowing and why chest pain or difficulty swallowing after use requires immediate medical attention. Take 2 hours before or after other medications. Take after dinner, 1 time per day.

Q: What are the Health Canada approved uses for this product?
A: This product is approved by Health Canada (NPN 80066816) for the following uses: used in Herbal Medicine as a bulk-forming laxative; promotes bowel movements by increasing bulk volume and water content; provides gentle relief of constipation and/or irregularity. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Q: What is psyllium husk and where does it come from?
A: Psyllium husk is the outer seed coat (husk or testa) of Plantago ovata, a small annual herb in the Plantaginaceae family native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia. It is primarily cultivated in the Indian subcontinent, where the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan are the world's largest producers. The plant is also known as isabgol, a name derived from the Persian words for horse and ear, referring to the shape of the seed. The husk is separated from the inner seed (kernel) because the husk contains the highest concentration of the soluble fibre mucilage that gives psyllium its bulk-forming properties. Psyllium husk powder is the finely ground form of the husk, which dissolves more readily in liquid than whole or coarsely ground husk.

Q: How does psyllium husk work as a bulk-forming laxative?
A: Psyllium husk is approximately 70% soluble fibre and 30% insoluble fibre. The soluble fibre component is a highly branched arabinoxylan polysaccharide, a long-chain carbohydrate composed of arabinose and xylose sugar units. When psyllium husk contacts water in the GI tract, the arabinoxylan chains rapidly absorb water and swell to form a viscous, gel-like mass. This gel increases the water content and volume of intestinal contents, which stimulates mechanoreceptors in the intestinal wall, triggering peristalsis, the rhythmic muscular contractions that propel intestinal contents toward the rectum. This is a purely mechanical effect: psyllium does not contain chemical stimulants that directly activate intestinal muscle or nerve cells. This is why psyllium is classified as a bulk-forming laxative rather than a stimulant laxative (such as senna or bisacodyl), and why it is considered a gentler option for relief of constipation and irregularity.

Q: How long does it take for psyllium to work?
A: Effects are typically observed 12 to 24 hours after the first dose. Full effect may take 2 to 3 days of consistent use. Psyllium is not a rapid-acting laxative; it works by gradually normalizing stool consistency and transit time through the bulk-forming mechanism. Consult a health care practitioner if the laxative effect does not occur within 7 days of use.

Q: Why must I take psyllium 2 hours before or after other medications?
A: The viscous gel formed by psyllium in the GI tract can physically bind to and reduce the absorption of medications taken at the same time. This is not a specific drug interaction but a non-specific physical effect of the gel on drug absorption. To prevent this, psyllium should be taken at least 2 hours before or after any other medications. This separation applies to all medications, not only specific drug classes.

Q: Why is psyllium contraindicated in poorly controlled diabetes?
A: Psyllium's soluble fibre gel slows the rate of glucose absorption from the small intestine by forming a physical barrier that reduces the contact between digestive enzymes and carbohydrates and slows the diffusion of glucose to the intestinal wall. This effect on glucose absorption can alter blood sugar levels in unpredictable ways in individuals with diabetes mellitus where blood sugar is already difficult to regulate. For this reason, psyllium is contraindicated in individuals with poorly controlled diabetes without medical supervision.

Q: Is this product suitable for ketogenic and low-carbohydrate diets?
A: Yes. Psyllium husk is composed almost entirely of dietary fibre, with negligible digestible (net) carbohydrates. The arabinoxylan polysaccharide that forms the soluble fibre gel is not digested or absorbed by human digestive enzymes and does not contribute to blood glucose or net carbohydrate intake. This makes psyllium husk powder compatible with ketogenic and low-carbohydrate diets, where maintaining adequate fibre intake can be challenging due to the restriction of many carbohydrate-containing foods.

Q: How many servings does the 300g container provide?
A: At the suggested serving size of 2 teaspoons (8g) per day, the 300g container provides approximately 37 servings, which is approximately 37 days of supply at 1 serving per day.

Q: Is this product 100% pure with no additives?
A: Yes. This product contains 100% pure Plantago ovata husk powder with no additives, no fillers, and no artificial ingredients. There are no non-medicinal ingredients. Non GMO, gluten free, dairy free, and soy free.

Q: What are the known adverse reactions?
A: Hypersensitivity or allergy has been known to occur; discontinue use if this occurs. Psyllium may cause temporary gas and/or bloating, particularly when first starting use, as the increased fibre intake changes the fermentation activity of intestinal bacteria. This is typically temporary and resolves with continued use.