Plantain, Your Friendly First Aider

Plantain (Plantago spp.) is notable for its ability to colonize compacted and disturbed earth with heavy clay and low fertility. Hidden within lawns and grass verges it has evolved to survive being trampled on, offering up a variety of medicinal support to those who take the time to slow down and connect with it.

Plantain is an important plant not only for soil rehabilitation, but its abundance provides quick and easy access to a sustainably strong first-aid source, whether you need to soothe an insect bite, extract a stubborn splinter, staunch bleeding, or support gut health, plantain is a readily available ally.

Plantain leaves were commonly worked with in folk medicine as skin poultices for wounds, sores, or insect stings and the root was worked with for fevers and respiratory infections. Plantago, is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. The plant is native to most of Europe and northern and central Asia and has an ancient tradition of medicinal use in those regions, it has been widely naturalised elsewhere in the world.

There are hundreds of species of plantain, but the two best-known to Western herbalists are Plantago lanceolata (known as lance-leaf, ribwort, or narrow-leaf plantain) and Plantago major (known as greater, common, or broad-leaf plantain). The leaf structure of both Plantago major and lanceolata indicate how the plant can be worked with, broad-leaf plantain reminds me of the rounded wings of a bee and the lance-leaf shape looks like the pointed tip of a knife, with its ability to cut and pierce the skin, both types of leaf being extremely useful for insect stings and all types of skin abrasions. In late spring and summer, the plant develops tall narrow flower stalks, topped with small dense seed clusters, providing another type of medicine to work with internally, in the form of Psyllium.

Origin and History: Plantago has had a reputation in medicine from remote antiquity, appearing in the ancient collection of medicinal texts called Lacgunga (remedies), as one of the nine most important sacred herbs of the time. In the 16th and 17th centuries, plantago was worked with in Europe to treat a host of issues from boils and dog bites to cold, flu and fever.

Chemical Makeup: iridoid glycosides (2.5%), aucubin, apigenin, baicalein, catapol, asperuloside, flavonoids, mucilage (2%), tannins (6.5%), phenolic acids, saponins and flavonoids. Energetics and Taste: Plantain leaf is bland in taste, with a slight bitter edge. It is mildly cooling, soothing and moistens tissues while also tightening them. This gives plantain a uniquely balanced energy. The seeds of Plantain are bland and very mucilaginous, when soaked in water they attain a gel-like consistency and also offers a balanced energy when applied internally, supporting bowel regulation. Organs Systems Affected: skin, blood, mucous membranes, throat, lungs, bladder and urinary tract, gut, gallbladder, liver and eyes.

Medicinal Properties

Vulnerary: Plantain's vulnerary action calms irritated tissues and has an intense drawing ability, helping to suck out dirt or venom, bring a blister or pimple to a head, or extract a deeply-imbedded splinter or bee stinger.

Expectorant: In cases of upper respiratory infection and irritated cough, plantain leaf’s expectorant properties help the body expel mucus.

Diuretic: Plantain has a mild diuretic effect, and its aucubin content boosts the kidneys’ uric acid production. These properties, along with its cooling, soothing, antiseptic effects, make it a good ingredient in blends for cystitis and urinary tract infections.

Demulcent: Plantain’s combination of toning tannins and soothing demulcent properties makes it a good remedy both internally and externally for any sore or irritated condition.

Astringent: Plantain helps to tone and tighten tissues both external skin and the internal mucus membranes.

Inflammation Modulator: Generally inflammation is energetically hot-natured so the cooling and soothing properties of plantain can be useful for acne, also working well as a mouthwash for inflamed gums or canker sores.

Antiseptic: Plantain can help fight bacteria in cases of open wounds and is also great for dental care and if brewed into a tea is useful to gargle with for tonsillitis.

In parts of the world where herbal medicine is often prescribed by mainstream doctors, plantain is commercially cultivated for medicinal use and is widely recognized as an effective remedy. As well as its many external benefits for skin ailments, Plantain is also gentle enough to work with internally for coughs and bronchitis, low digestive acidity, and for stomach ulcers with low or normal acidity. Plantain can also combat inflammation and prevent infection in cases of diverticulitis and other inflammatory digestive disorders.

The seeds and husks of Plantain contain high levels of fibre and is also worked with for gut health. Psyllium seed, the primary ingredient in Metamucil, is a form of plantain seed. When soaked in water Plantain seeds are a soothing, gel-forming soluble fiber, producing a dual action within the gut. By maintaining a high water content within the large bowel and increasing the bulk of the stool it can relive constipation, having a soothing and regulatory effect upon the system. This regulatory effect results in its dual action, where it is also able to calm chronic diarrhea. The gel-like substance of the seeds has the additional benefit of absorbing toxins within the large bowel, helping to remove them from the body. The oil in the seed embryo contains 50% linoleic acid and has been used as a preventative of atherosclerosis and has shown to be effective in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood.

Plantain leaf has been the go-to herb for just about any kind of rash, irritation, bite, sting, or wound for hundreds, and possible even thousands, of years. It soothes, cools, disinfects, staunches bleeding, speeds tissue healing, and extracts toxins and foreign matter. This is a great plant to include in any first aid kit or travel back, either as an infused oil, or dried for brewing a tea. When needing a cool compress, dipping a cloth in strong plantain tea is a nice option when needing to calm any type of skin inflammation quickly.

The young, tender leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and the older stringier leaves can be boiled in soups and stems, providing a great source of calcium for bones and vitamin A which supports eye health and vision, the seeds can also be sprouted and eaten in salads.

Precautions and Contraindications: Plantain is generally considered a safe, edible plant. However, people who take blood thinners or are prone to excessive blood clotting should avoid plantain. Plantain may effect the absorption of medications through the gut, notably lithium and the heart medicine digoxin. It is safest to avoid plantain while taking these medicines, and to take it several hours away from any other prescription drugs. Plantain may increase the potassium-loss associated with prescription diuretics. Because plantain is sometimes used to slightly elevate stomach acid levels and increase secretion of digestive juices, it is best avoided in cases of serious acid reflux. If you are pregnant or nursing, it is best to consult a qualified practitioner before using plantain.

Dosage and Delivery: For internal medicinal use, plantain leaf can be juiced, or prepared as a tincture or tea. Hot tea is best for ailments of the mouth, throat, lungs, or digestive tract. Precise dosing is not critical because plantain is widely considered safe.

For external use, fresh plantain leaf can be juiced or mashed into a poultice, and fresh or dried leaf can be infused in oil, macerated in rubbing alcohol to create a liniment, or brewed like a strong tea for use as a wash or compress. The fresh leaf works very well as a “spit poultice” made by chewing the fresh leaf, as enzymes in saliva actually convert the aucubin contained within the leaf into an antimicrobial compound, it can then be applied to the affected area. This is a trick that kids often love to try out on their mosquito bites and small scrapes (this also creates opportunity to teach kids the importance of conclusively identifying a plant before using it).

Dried plantain seeds can be stirred into water or juice, or blended with smoothies or other watery foods. It’s best to let them soften a few minutes before consuming. Be sure to drink plenty of water while taking plantain seed, since it continues to absorb moisture in the gut.

Plantain Leaf Green Juice Adapted from The Wild Wisdom of Weeds by Katrina Blair (Blair, 2014), this hydrating, mineral-rich green juice is a fabulous way to start the day and makes 2 servings.

Ingredients 2 cups fresh plantain (Plantago spp.) leaf 3 cups water

Directions

• Place plantain leaf and water in a blender and blend on high for 1-2 minutes.

• Strain out the juice and compost the fibrous plant material (or use it for the Plantain Face Mask recipe below!).

• Enjoy as-is or on ice!

Plantain Leaf Face Mask Adapted from The Wild Wisdom of Weeds by Katrina Blair (Blair, 2014) What better way to utilize the “pulp” left over from your morning green juice? Add a little extra self-care to your morning routine with this anti-inflammatory and vulnerary face mask! Ingredients Plantain (Plantago spp.) leaf pulp (recipe above)

Directions

• Apply plantain pulp in a generously thick layer to freshly washed and dried facial skin. Leave on for 10-15 minutes (mask will still be slightly damp).

• Rinse face with warm water. Gently pat skin lightly with a towel to dry.