Plantain 50g

Description

Plantain has a long history as one of the best healing herbs on the planet; and is probably the biggest masochist of the plant world – it loves to be trampled.
Plantains leaves have been used for centuries all over the world as a remedy for wounds, bites, stings and problems related to the skin.

Name: Ribwort Plantain
Latin Name: Plantago lanceolata

Traditional Uses:

Plantain leaves have been used for centuries all over the world as a remedy for wounds and a number of problems related to the skin, respiratory organs, digestive organs, reproductive organs and circulatory system. Both Greater Plantain & the Ribwort Plantain have these properties. However the Greater Plantain is also edible, whilst the Ribwort is higher in medicinal qualities.

A range of biological activities has been found from plant extracts including wound healing activity, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, weak antibiotic, immuno modulating and antiulcerogenic activity. Some of these effects may attribute to the use of this plant in folk medicine.

• Plantain is very high in vitamins A and C and in calcium.
• The leaves are a traditional remedy (originally chewed first) for bee stings & insect bites, the itching of nettle stings, allergic rashes and minor burns, cuts and sores.
• The leaves can be used to make a salve for the above purposes.
• New young leaves can be used raw in salads and cooked as ‘greens’.
• Older leaves can be used to make a tea/tissane which due to Plantains astringent properties can aid colds and diarrhea.
• Plantain tea can also be used as a mouthwash for sore gums, throats and mouth ulcers.
• A Plantain tea can also be used for washing the skin, hair and scalp where ‘itchy or sore’ conditions exist.

Properties:

• Antibacterial: – destroys or suppresses the growth of bacteria
• Antimicrobial: – destroys or stops the growth of microorganisms
• Anti-inflammatory: – reduces inflammation
• Anti-toxic: – counteracts toxins
• Vulnerary: – of use in the healing of wounds
• Astringent: – encourages skin cells to contract

Cautions:

Although there are no known cautions for this herb as with anything care should be taken as it possible to be allergic to any substance.

A full in-depth article on Plantain can be found in our blog