Plantain

Botanical Name: Plantago major

Fun Facts:

• A wonder weed!  It is able to help cure so many ailments.  A must in any herbal medicine cabinet.
• Brought over from Europe because of its culinary and medicinal uses.
• Nickname is “White Man’s Foot” or “Englishman’s Foot” because it seemed to grow wherever a European walked in America.
• There are over 200 varieties of plantain worldwide.

Location found: Plantain grows almost anywhere; if there is some dirt in a small crack, plantain will grow there.  Spreads through seeds.

Identification: has large oval to round leaves with the veins running the length of the leaf in a straight pattern.  Grow low to the ground.

Edible Parts: root, stem, leaves, flower

Harvesting:

• Harvest the young leaves, older leaves get very tough
• Do not pick near roads, walkways or other areas where there is potential of the area having been sprayed with chemicals.

Culinary Uses:

• Use in salads or can steam it like spinach
• Immature flower stems can be eaten raw or cooked

Medicinal Uses:

•  A panacea to cure many ills
• As a diuretic, is useful for bladder and kidney problems
• As a tea or tincture, can aid in indigestion, heartburn and ulcers
• It is great for mosquito bites (and other insect bites), skin rashes, itching or pain related to the skin because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.  Create a poltice by taking a leaf, chew it slightly to release the oils and chemicals and then place on the bite.
• Will help alleviate the itch symptoms from poison oak, sumac and poison ivy
• The antifungal properties can be used through a decoction on things like ringworm.
• Because it is a styptic, will stop minor bleeding when applied to the wound
• For ear infections, a tea or infusion can be poured into the ear (if ear drum has not burst) to help ease the pain and heal more quickly
• As a deobstuent, can help remove slivers, venom or other foreign particles.
• Helps with weight loss.  Take before eating as it contains musilage, which is an appetite suppressant.
• Is safe and effective as an astringent and antibacterial soother for the throat and laryngitis.
• Helps depress the secretion of mucus in the lungs.
• Use for asthma, hay fever and lung infections.
• It is also said if taken as an infusion internally, it can help the body deal with the effects of chemotheropy and improve blood sugar.