From Mirriam-Webster:
Main Entry: demulcent
Function: noun
Date: 1732
: a usually mucilaginous or oily substance (as tragacanth) that can soothe or protect an abraded mucous membrane

t writes:
Demulcents work by coating the digestive tract, thereby cutting down on absorption and increasing the amount of nutrients available to bacterial overgrowth. Further, if the demulcent is a mucilaginous polysaccharide, it is a ready source of food for bad bacteria, and is SCD illegal. Some demulcents also have contain compounds that act as immune boosters - not what you want when you are trying to reduce inflammation and reactions that are part of an immune response.

Back to Frequently Asked Questions - Table of Contents