RSS
Home
Plantain - noxious weed or miracle plant
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
(Please note: Consult your physician before using any herbal or alternative medicines.)
Plantain (Plantago major) is another perennial herb found throughout lawns in the United States. Thought to be of Eurasian origin, it is now naturalized all over the world. Plantain is considered a common and noxious weed by some and a miracle plant by others.
.jpg)
(English Plantain)
Plantain is easily cultivated and normally likes any soil and a sunny location. It is an important food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies and many types of birds enjoy the seed heads. Plantain grows from a short, tough rhizome and has a large number of long, yellowish roots. It grows in a rosette form and has large oval, dark green, leaves about 4 to 10 inch long with ribbed veins. The flower stalks are tall and slender with dense flower spikes. Each tiny flower is brownish and bell-shaped with four stamens and purple anthers, and they bloom most of the summer.
Plantain is both edible and medicinal. **The young leaves are edible raw in salad or cooked as a herbal additive and are very rich in vitamin B1 and riboflavin. The herb has a long history of use as an alternative medicine dating back to ancient times. Plantain contains the glycoside Aucubin. Aucubin has been reported in the Journal of Toxicology as a powerful anti-toxin. This chemical is found in many modern day components including: Ascorbic-acid (Vitamin C), Baicalein (an anti-inflammatory), Benzoic-acid (a food preservative), and Citric-acid (a natural preservative).
Leaves: The leaves and the seeds can be used medicinally as an antibacterial, antidote, astringent, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, and an ophthalmic. Medical evidence exists to confirm uses as an alternative medicine for asthma, emphysema, bladder problems, bronchitis, fever, hypertension, rheumatism and blood sugar control. Plantain also causes a natural aversion to tobacco and is currently being used in stop smoking preparations.
Root uses: A tonic from the roots is used in the treatment of a wide range of complaints including diarrhea, gastritis, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, cystitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, coughs, asthma and hay fever. The root is said to be used as an anti-venom for rattlesnake bites
Seeds: Plantain seeds contain up to 30% mucilage which swells in the intestines, acting as a bulk laxative and soothing irritated membranes. The seeds are used in the treatment of parasitic worms. Distilled water made from the plant seeds makes an excellent eye lotion.
Harvest: Gather fresh young edible leaves in spring. Gather Plantain after flower spike forms to dry for later herb use. Harvest roots in late summer or fall.
Extracts of the plant have antibacterial activity and it is a safe and effective treatment for bleeding, it quickly stops blood flow and encourages the repair of damaged tissue. The heated leaves are used as a wet dressing for wounds, skin inflammations, cuts, stings and swellings and is said to promote healing without scars. Poultice of hot leaves is bound onto cuts and wounds to draw out thorns, splinters and inflammation.
Trivia: Native Americans carried powdered roots of Plantain as protection against snakebites or to ward off snakes. Plantain was called White Man's Foot because it grew where ever their feet touched the ground – there is a reference to this in Longfellow’s poem, “Hiawatha.”
Healing salve: In large non-metallic pan place 1 pound of entire Plantain plant chopped, and 1 cup lard. Cover and cook down on low heat till all is mushy and green. Strain while hot, cool and use for burns, insect bites, rashes, and all sores. This is great for mosquito bites. Note: Can be used as night cream for wrinkles, but I’ve never tried this.
**Although I enjoy dandelion leaves in my salad, I have never acquired the taste for plantain leaves. However, I have used the salve and poultices for every day cuts, scrapes and bug bites.
More About:
plantain
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
Many people only think of remote animals like deer, fox, beavers and eagles when they think of wildlife. But, you don't have to live on a farm or …
Planning the Habitat With the cold hand of Winter gripping the Bluegrass, now is the perfect time to plan a Backyard Wildlife Habitat. Planning …
