Plantago major – Plantain

Common Name - Plantain

There are a few types of plantains that we know, psyllium seeds are related to this plant as well as ribwort. This information is about plantain of which one of its best uses is the fresh leaves are used to reduced and extract the poison from bites, I have seen it used on white tail spider bites. 

Botanical Name – Plantago major

Family – Plantaginaceae

Other names – Broad leaf plantain, Cuckoo’s bread, Englishman’s foot, Ripple grass

Parts Used - Leaves or ariel parts are gathered during flowering in summer. The leaves are best dried as fast as possible to prevent discolouration. The seeds are a great demulcent taken crushed or whole.

History - Plantain was used in the British highlands and it was called Slan-lus or plant of healing. Pliny used it for curing the madness of dogs. Its spread on a global scale followed colonisation in both America and New Zealand and it was called Englishman’s foot as wherever the English had taken possession of the land, plantain seemed to crop up. Saxon ancestors esteemed it highly as one of their 9 sacred herbs and they used it as a salve for flying venom. In Ireland it was used to treat wounds and bruises.

Description - This small plant has shallow yellowish roots with a large rosette of leaves above ground. The leaves are ovate, blunt and about 4 inches long with a channelled petiole. Each leaf has 5 to 11 ribs. The flower spikes are erect on long stalks producing purplish/green flowers which develop to form fruits that produce 4 to 16 seeds in each capsule.

Cultivation - This herb easily sets seed and will spread as long as there is water available.

Active Constituents - Glycosides including aucubin. Mucilage, chlorogenic acid and ursolic acid and silicic acid. Iridoids, tannins and flavonoids.

Actions

·         Expectorant

·         Demulcent

·         Astringent

·         Diuretic

·         Antihemorrhagic

·         Refrigerant

·         Deobstruent

·         Anticatarrhal

Indications - This herb is a powerful soother and healer. It is a gentle expectorant whilst also soothing inflamed and sore membranes, making it ideal for coughs and mild bronchitis. Its astringent action makes it useful in diarrhoea, haemorrhoids and cystitis. It is commonly used for gastritis, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, respiratory catarrh, loss of voice and urinary tract bleeding.

It is indicated for skin inflammation, malignant ulcers, and intermittent fevers and externally to stimulate healing of sores. It may be used as a substitute for comfrey for bruising and broken bones. It can be applied to bleeding surfaces externally and it historically was used for bleeding of the lungs, stomach and for consumption and dysentery.

The fresh plant is valuable for bites and stings, especially for white tail spider bites.

You can make a lotion using plantain, calendula and coconut oil which is great for any skin irritations and can include mozzie bites, eczema, psoriasis, chicken pox, rashes and sores. 

The seeds can be used as a substitute for psyllium.

 Dosage - 2 – 4ml (1:1) three times daily

2-3ml of 1:3 three times daily    2-6g of dried herb as an infusion