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Plantain
Other Common Names: Broad-leaved plantain, White mans foot, Greater plantain.
Latin description: Plantago major and plantago psyllium.
Parts to use: Plantago Major- leaves. Plantago Psyllium
seeds.
Chemical constituents: Plantago major- leaves- mucilage,
tannins, silica. plantago psyllium- higher mucilage,
glycosides, monoterpenes, aucubine, enzymes, proteins,
fatty acids.
Actions: Astringent, demulcent, expectorant, hemostatic.
Medicinal Uses & Benefits
Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial (leaves contain the antibiotic aucubin), and antihemorrhagic.
Used for respiratory problems involving mucous congestion.
Used to soothe a drastic cough reflex.
Also used for asthma, bronchial infection, rasping cough, tickling cough, nervous cough, hoarseness, lung infections, hayfever relief, lung problems, dry cough, bronchial congestion, excess mucous production, whooping cough, tuberculosis.
Used for bladder problems, urinary bleeding, cystitis and helps the kidneys.
Used to neutralize stomach acids, for ulcers, diarrhea, constipation (seeds), vomiting of blood, chronic infections of the gastrointestinal tract, gastritis, and colitis.
Wound and bruise healer used to stop bleeding, for skin ulcers (poultice), and badly healing wounds.
Applied to wounds, cuts, sores, insect bites, abrasions, infections, ulcerations and chronic skin problems. Leaves can be used like a bandaid. The mashed leaves are applied directly for bee or wasp sting.
A poultice of the leaves is used to draw out foreign objects.
The decoction is used externally for ringworms.
Used internally as vermifuge.
Used to cool skin from burns and scalds.
Fresh leaves are placed on feet after hiking to relieve pain and fatigue.
Used for excessive menses
Tea used externally to sooth shingles, inflamed eyes and as a skin lotion.
Seeds used to purge bowel (add 1 tsp seeds in 4 oz. of cold water and let swell 2 hours; drink before last meal of the day for constipation.
For hemorrhoids: boil seeds in milk and drink at bedtime.
For mouth infections in children, boil 1 oz seed in 1½ pints water and sweeten with honey to make a syrup.
For toothache: the fresh root is chewed (or pulverized), then dried, then powdered and placed in a hollow tooth.
Crushed leaves used for insect bite, nettle rash, poison ivy and snakebite (historically).
Used as eardrops to treat severe internal catarrhal infection (otitis media).
Used for fever.
CAUTION: If using the psyllium seeds as either a laxative
or a bulking agent for the stool it is very important that you
not take them in a concentrated form but mix them in juice or
water and drink copious amounts of fluid with it. In some
cases, predominantly in geriatrics, there have been some
reported problems with these seeds clumping and causing
obstructions in the bowel.
Dosage
Leaf -Capsules: 4-6 “0” capsules 4x daily.
Leaf - Infusion 1/2 cup 3x daily.
Leaf - Juice 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon 4x daily.
Seed Powder: 1 rounded teaspoon mixed in 8 oz. of juice
or water. Mix well before drinking.
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HERBS & THEIR MEDICINAL USAGE (P-Z)
 Parsley
Peppermint
Plantain
Pleurisy Root
Poke Root
Raspberry
Red Clover
Sarsaparilla
Shepherd's Purse
Skunk Cabbage
Slippery Elm
St. John's Wort
Valerian
Vervain
Violet
White Oak
Wild Yam
Witch Hazel
Yarrow
Yellow Dock
HERBAL CURE OF DISEASES
Acne
Anxiety
Bedwetting
Heart Disease
Herb Teas |
