PLANTAIN
Plantago Major, Plantago Lanceolata
Common Name
Broad-leaved plantain, Narrow-leaved plantain, Ribwort
Family
Plantaginaceae
Parts Used
Leaf
Native To
Europe
Geographic Distribution
Worldwide
Botanical Description
Narrow-leaved plantain has long, lance-shapes leaves, while broad-leaved
plantain has wide, spoon-shaped or egg-shaped leaves. Both have
prominent, deep parallel ribs running the length of the leaf. The leaves
grow in a basal arrangement, close to the ground, and are somewhat wooly
with tiny, fine hairs. Stalks shoot up from the center of the plant and are
topped with cone-shaped or oblong spikes made up of rings of flowers with
many stamens. These ripen into seeds that are dispersed by the wind.
Key Constituents
The leaves are edible and nutritious containing calcium and vitamins A, C,
and K. The active chemical constituents that give plantain its healing
actions are its:
Mucilage (moistening, soothing)
Tannins (astringent/tightening, wound healing)
Iridoid glycosides (bitter tonic, stimulates digestive system, cooling, diuretic, anti-microbial)
Flavonoids (inflammation moderating, anti-allergic, anti-microbial, anti- fungal, anti-viral and antioxidant actions)
Polysaccharides (stimulate and strengthen the immune system)
Harvesting Guidelines
Leaf: Gather leaves throughout the growing season anywhere you can find
clean plants. Avoid parking lots and places where dogs urinate!
Actions
Astringent (dries, tightens, puckers, tones tissues)
Diuretic (reduces swelling by expelling excess water from the body through
the kidneys and urinary tract)
Alterative (gradually brings the body back into optimal health and wellness
with regular use)
Inflammation-modulating (regulates and reduces inflammation)
Styptic (stops bleeding)
Demulcent (soothing and moistening)
Vulnerary (wound healing)
Drawing (can draw toxins from a wound to the surface of the skin)
Taste & Energetics
Slightly Sweet/mucilaginous
Bitter/astringent
Cooling
Drying
Uses
Best known as a topical first-aid treatment, plantain leaves can be applied
fresh or poulticed and placed directly on cuts and abrasions. The leaves
stop bleeding, draw together tissues to seal wounds, prevent infection and
are soothing to dry, damaged skin. Plantain also has a drawing effect,
meaning that it can draw out infectious material such as puss from an
infected cut, sting, or venom from a bite. The leaves will both draw out the
toxin and soothe/heal the site of the injury. The leaves can be processed as
a fresh plant oil infusion by gently warming the oil over low heat for a week,
allowing moisture to evaporate so that the oil will not mold. The infused oil
then be turned into a salve for first aid use. This week’s salve recipe will go
into detail about this process.
Though most commonly thought of for topical treatments, plantain tincture
or tea can be taken internally to soothe mucous membranes, especially
those of the digestive, respiratory, and urinary tracts. It can also be taken to
strengthen the immune system. It does this through its polysaccharides,
which the body’s immune system responds to in the same way that it
responds to invading pathogens. When a foreign pathogen or virus invades the body, your immune system is able to read the pathogen, determine that it is foreign, and mobilize to fight off the virus. Polysaccharides, such as those in Plantain, cannot make you ill like a virus, but they do trigger your immune system to respond in the same way that it would respond to a virus. It’s kind of like a workout for your immune
system!
Modern science has now been able to study and prove what traditional
healers throughout the world have known for centuries, that the humble
plantain plant is a treasure trove of medicinal power!
Safety
In general, plantain is a very safe herb to consume. The seeds have been
used as a bulk laxative because of their fiber content, but caution should be
used because they can cause severe constipation if not taken with copious
amounts of fluids. For this reason, I have not addressed use of the seeds in
this monograph.
**The content of this monograph is for educational purposes only. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. Ingesting wild plants is inherently risky. Plants can easily be
mistaken and every individual will vary in their physiological response to a plant that is touched or consumed. Please do not attempt self-treatment of a medical problem without consulting a qualified health practitioner.
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