Gums And Mucilages

The mucilages and gums are common constituents of plants which have been ignored by pharmacists of the modern day. Anyway, they have some very important functions which are the major constituents of herbal medications.

The gums and mucilages are better known for their physical properties and though the first group can be referred to as being tacky and the second group slimy, there is no specific difference between the 2 groups. These are best considered when they are together and they are found to be together and in unison in plants. The gums are thickening agents in pharmacology and they play a not too prominent part in many plants. Once these are swallowed, these tend to be different than the mucilages.

The after effects of these constituents is not much chemical and it can be referred to as being physical. The gums and mucilages are made of sugar derivatives and uronic acid have no great pharmacological effect even if they are broken down in the process of digestion. The molecules only survive in the bowel. Plants containing them such as Symphytum officinale or comfrey, Plantago major or plantain, Ulmus fulva or slippery elm bark, Tussilago farfara or coltsfoot, Althaea officinalis or root of marshmallow all have effects of some sort on the urinary, respiratory and digestive system. Of course the effects on the last two namely, the urinary and respiratory system is quite far fetched.

When mucilages come in contact with a surface, they are covered with a coating that soothes the surface that is exposed. The mucilaginous plants work on remedies for wounds, to soothe itching, irritation and pain and also for drying and binding a tissue that is damaged. The action is referred to as being emollient or demulcent.

The demulcent action is continued in the lining of the digestive tract and this explains the remedies that mucilage bring for ulcers, lesions, inflammations in the gastrointestinal tract and for reducing the excessive acid secretions. The slippery elm powder, which is a very well known remedy for relieving dyspepsia due to acidity and also in the case of ingestion of food that is hard to digest.

The digestive tract is a neuromuscular organ that is vast and it is responsive and it is supposed to be the most complex organ in the human body with its own nervous system and a hormonal system and autonomy. Every minute response is passed on to the wall tract receptors and there is feedback from the actions that take place.

When there is an irritation in the small intestine, or in the stomach, following a diarrhea, there are the nerve endings in the lining and this leads to inflammation too. The symptoms of this irritation would mean dysphagia, a problem in swallowing, diarrhea, vomiting, regurgitation, flatulence, spastic bowel, colic, dyspepsia and also abdominal pain which is present mainly in children. The mucilages cause the irritation to get soothed and die down that the symptoms may be reduced. This is not a remedy but it helps to manage the trauma.

The mucilaginous remedies are also used in the urinary and the respiratory system. The mucilages do not reach these parts or organs of the body. There is some association between the urinary tract, the bronchial and the digestive tract as these are supposed to have a common origin and they have a common relationship with the respective supply of the nerves.

The mucilaginous remedies have properties that are soothing for the urinary tracts, the bronchial tissues, and acts as a comfort where there is vigorous coughing syndrome and they increase the bronchial secretions if they go dry and also in an asthmatic condition they help to reduce the spasms. Thus in asthmatic situation, there are symptoms of breathlessness and nervous coughing, this provides great help. In bladder infections or in urinary infections, they help to reduce colic pain due to stones. So it is looking into management rather than providing a remedy but these conditions bring in many cases where the approach may be very much useful.

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