Plantain

I love plantain.  It was one of the first herbs I discovered when I started my herbal medicine adventure and I use it every day. Infused in raw apple cider vinegar, it makes a healing facial toner that keeps my skin blemish free.  A soothing anti-itch ointment is made by melting beeswax into plantain infused olive oil.  Learn how to make an infused oil here.

Plantain

Last weekend, as I was shoveling wood chips from a pile, I dug up an ant nest. Although I was a good 6 feet away from the swarming mass, a tiny ant found its way up my pant leg and the next day I had several itchy painful welts on my thigh.  I knew it was time for a plantain poultice.  A poultice is defined as a " a soft moist mass of plant material, often heated and applied to the body to treat inflamed areas and improve circulation."

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I made my way to the backyard and found some nice plantain leaves along a walking path.  I brought them inside and rolled them between my palms until the plant material was soft and pliable.  I placed them directly on the welts and covered them with a steamed burdock leaf and an ace bandage.  In a few minutes the intense itching sensation was gone.  I left the poultice in place for about 20 minutes and the next day the welts were noticeably smaller.

Plantain grows large in tall weeds.

Plantain is one of the most available, useful, and easy to identify medicinal plants.  It grows in lawns, walkways, along roadways and in fields.  The wide veined leaves grow in a rosette pattern with a single deep tap root.

Plantain in cut grass.

Medicinal Properties

Plantain is considered a drawing herb as it pulls toxins and infections out of the body.  It is often used to soothe itching and heal skin irritations from insect bites and stings.

 If you are outside (away from chemical spraying) and need field first aid for a scrape or insect bite, you can pick a leaf, pop it in your mouth, chew gently to soften it and release its juices and place directly on your skin.  Or just rub it between your palms until is is soft and moist.

Plantain in our driveway.

Rosemary Gladstar, in Medicinal Herbs, A Beginner's Guide calls plantain one of the best poultice herbs.  She uses it for treating blood poisoning, externally on the affected area and internally as a tea. The seeds are rich in mucilage and used in laxative blends for their soothing bulk action.  The herb is very effective for treating liver sluggishness and inflammation of the digestive tract.

Matthew Wood, in The Earthwise Herbal, recommends it for "dirty" wounds, boils, and abscesses, as it has the ability to draw out dirt and infection and leave the wound in a clean state.  He has found it particularly useful for abscesses and inflammation around the teeth, and infections after root canal surgery.

He notes that plantain can be helpful for bronchial infections and pneumonia as it cools and moistens the mucosa, and its astringent properties draws moisture up and out of the lungs.  Plantain has been historically used to pull out the toxins of snake, spider, and insect bites.

Richo Cech, author of Making Plant Medicine, describes plantain as a spring tonic, gentle alterative, antiseptic, and astringent.  Used for treatment of toothache, infections, cough, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, eczema and acne.  The seeds have emollient and laxative effects.  Leaves can be bruised or mashed to make a drawing poultice.  For dental application; mash the leaves and wrap in gauze to make a small bolus.  Then place between the inner lip and infected tooth or gum.

You can preserve the medicinal benefits of plantain for year around use by tincturing, infusing in Olive oil, infusing in vinegar or by drying the leaves and seeds.

Dried leaves can be powdered and applied to infections as an herbal first aid. 

Leaves, fresh or dried, can be infused in water to make a nourishing and medicinal tea.

Plantain is not just for humans.  Randy Kidd D.V.M., Ph. D, recommends it for both internal and external use in his book, Dr. Kidd's Herbal Dog Care.  

I applied plantain to my dog, Rosie's rash and in a few weeks it was completely gone.  Since the ointment is made with  olive oil, plantain and beeswax, you don't have to worry if your dog licks and ingests the ointment.  Learn how to make an herbal salve here.

Plantain with seeds.

Wild Food

The leaves not only have medicinal uses, but are also a highly nutritious food containing fatty acids, protein, starch, B vitamins, vitamin C and K, .  Pick young tender leaves for use in salads as they are more palatable, unlike older leaves which are stringy and bitter.

Fresh leaves can be added  to pesto recipes, try using half basil and half plantain in your next batch. Dried and powdered leaves can find their way into soups.

During mosquito season we like to add a few leaves to our green smoothies to add an internal level of relief from the discomfort of mosquito bites.

Wilting plantain before infusing in olive oil

Term Definitions

Abscess - a painful inflamed area of tissue filled with pus.

Alterative - an herb or therapy that stimulates a material change in the underlying causes of a chronic or acute disease symptoms, thereby reestablishing healthy body functions.

Antiseptic - an herb that prevents decay and kills or resists the spread of malevolent germs.

Astringent - causing contraction of tissues; lessening discharge.

Bolus - a rounded mass of medicinal plant material.

Mucosa (mucus membrane) - a mucus secreting membrane lining all bodily passages that are open to the air, as parts of the digestive and respiratory tracts.

Mucilage - a slimy substance produced by plants, generally cleansing and soothing to mucous membranes.

Please note: The objective of this blog is to raise awareness of alternative ways to achieve wellness and to empower you to take an active role in your health decisions.  To accomplish this, you will need to explore these subjects in greater depth and then determine what makes sense for your life.  My hope is that this information will inspire you to start your own search into ways to make your life happier, healthier and more fulfilling.