Plantain Leaf

Plantain is one of those plants you might see everyday, they grow all over North America in the garden and in the cracks of sidewalks. While these herbs do share names, they shouldn’t to be confused with the banana-like “Plaintain” you may be thinking of. This misunderstood weed was cultivated in Europe and came to North America through settlers. After Columbus invaded and massacred the Native Americans, the plant got the name "the white man's footprint" because it seemed to follow European settlers wherever they went. Since then, Plantain has made quite a home for themselves here and have healed, interested, and amazed herbalists of all types ever since.

Botanical Names: Plantago major, P. lanceolata, P. rugelii, P. rhodosperma, P. virginica

Family: Plantaginaceae

Parts Used: Leaves, Roots, Seeds

Therapeutic Category: Mild with minimal toxicity

Constituents: glycoside, glucoside acubin and catalpol, tannins (up to 1.6%) mucliage (xylin), silicic acid, hexitol, mineral and trace minerals (incl. zinc, calcium, sodium, iron), organic acids, (incl. phosphoric, ursolic, palm itic, and chlorogenic), bitter compounds, essential oil, enzyme, vitamins A, C, K.

Taste: Mineral dense, salty, bitter, grassy

Energetics: Cool, dry with moistening potential, restoring, calming, softening, stabilizing.

Actions: Demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, somewhat astringent, decongestant, vulnerary, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, nutritive, detoxicant, hemostatic, lenitive, refrigerant, mucostatic, anti-allergenic.

Tropism: Lungs, intestines (specifically large intestines), kidneys, blood, skin,

Preparations and Dosage:
The best use of plantain first is the fresh juice and freeze dried extract followed closely by infusion and tincture. Dosage: Juice: 10ml or 2 tsp Long Infusion: 8-16g Tincture: 2-5ml at 1:3 strength in 25% ethanol.

Cautions and Contraindications:
None.

Topical use:
Washes, compresses, and poultices are great for tissue trauma and skin conditions.
Gargles and Mouthwashes or syrups can be used for mouth, gum or throat infection.
Douches are useful for vaginal discharge.
Enemas or Suppositories can nourish intestinal tissue soothe hemorrhoids and help treat infection.

Nutrition:
Plantain is a great and nutritious addition to a salad, smoothie, or broth. It's a good source of bio-available zinc, calcium, chlorophyll, and beta-carotene.

The dry or fresh plant can be eaten raw or cooked. The younger leaves of plantain are less bitter and more tender in the spring time and much more palatable eaten raw than the tougher, winter leaves which are better cooked.

Plantains Relationship to Hot Conditions
When looking to understand the true energetic relationship of Plantago with the body, its impossible to miss Plantagos cooling properties in relation to toxic heat conditions. Due to this cooling, and heat clearing property, plantain is helpful when reducing inflammation, relieving swelling, reducing lymph congestion, relieving eczema, and reducing allergy

What is a hot condition?
A hot condition in the body is associated with inflammation, redness, and swelling. A physical manifestation of a hot condition can be a inflamed itchy rash, swollen glands, redness, boils, or abscesses. Internally, we can characterize this condition by fevers, thirst, irritability, or hot flashes.

Plantains Relationship to Skin and Tissue Repair.
Plantain is a classic, widely used herb because it does have a wide portfolio of treatments. Mainly, when it comes to the skin, Plantago has a tissue repairing action with a tendency to reduce contusion and pain. Alongside it's cooling actions, this makes it a perfect remedy for bug bites, stings, toothaches, burns, and wounds. In old German herbals, Plantago is called Spitzwegerich since a spit poultice of plantain is a popular remedy for bites and stings while out in nature. Plantago has the ability to draw venom and irritants from the skin and dramatically reduce redness and itching.

I first witnessed Plantago's soothing powers one sunny morning while gardening with a classmate and her daughter. We'd been gardening for a good half hour together when her daughter was stung by a bee. I observed this in both awe and grossed out discomfort as she chewed up a shred of plantain leaf and applied the spit pulp to the sting. In just a matter of minutes, I watched as this screaming child calmed and went back to her outdoor activity. Plantains Relationship to Histamine Responses and Allergy Plantago has a wonderful adaptive affect internally when it comes to modulating histamine responses and seasonal allergies. During these times of tickling coughs, eyes and nose irritation, and sore throats, I often look to Plantago for relief both internally as an infusion (I always add Echinea as an adaptogen, anti-bacterial, and stimulant alongside Plantago) and externally as a saline diluted eyewash, soak, and ointment.

Plantain and the Lungs

Something I’ve always found beautiful an interesting about Plantago is it’s versatility when it comes to lung conditions. Plantago can address both dry, hot bronchial infections or a moist, over productive, damp infection. Plantago's affinity for lung tissue allows it to promote expectoration, resolve phlegm heat, is restorative to the lungs and relieve wheezing. Plantago is best indicated for dry, harsh, unproductive coughs with thick mucous and sometimes yellowing or pus in sputum. However, Plantago will also adapt to soothe a wet, over productive cough with it’s mucostatic action.

Often around winter time, I'll develop a dry, scratchy coughing fit that will be triggered with any tickle in my throat. It’s frustrating and painful, but Plantago has always been able to soothe my throat and move the phlegm up and out of my chest.