Plantain - Plantago

Plantain, or Plantago is a plant that grows abundantly wherever people or animals have disturbed the earth. There are many varieties but the ones I harvest are Plantago major, and Plantago lanceolata (ribwort plantain).It is native to Eurasia but has spread worldwide.

Plantago is a very effective remedy for insect bites and stings. When stung by a bee, which is bound to happen if you forage, chew some plantain and apply like a poultice. It works wonders for relieving the stinging and the itching. It has been used traditionally for bronchitis, coughs, burns, peptic ulcers, stings, dermatitis, UTI, and small wounds. It is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, demulcent, antipyretic, antitussive, anti-hemorrhagic, diuretic, laxative, astringent and hemostatic. Its phytochemicals include flavonoids, polysaccharides, terpenoids, lipids, iridoid glycosides, tannins, mucilage, and caffeic acid derivatives.

Plant secondary metabolites have been utilized as drugs for the treatment of cancer. They have antiproliferative properties which may prevent or delay the spread of malignant cells. Studies have shown that the ethanolic, methanolic and acetonic extracts ofP. major exhibited a significant cytotoxic activity on colorectal carcinoma cell lines and can inhibit the cell proliferation of melanoma, renal and mammae, skin, leukemia, breast adenocarcinoma, and melanoma cell lines.¹

Personally, I use a tincture of plantain to help me recover more quickly from a cold. I use it in the field to treat insect stings, and I like to eat it as a potherb, and use it in salves.For more information use Google Scholar and type in “plantago major medicinal uses”. There are many studies involving this very useful plant.

Suggested dosing:Tincture up to 20 drops 3x day.

Possible side effects:Allergy

Contraindications:Bowel obstruction, hypotension, gastric ulcers.

¹Rahamooz-Haghighi S, Bagheri K, Danafar H, Sharafi A. Anti-Proliferative Properties, Biocompatibility, and Chemical Composition of Different Extracts of Plantago major Medicinal Plant. Iran Biomed J. 2021 Mar 1;25(2):106-16. doi: 10.29252/ibj.25.2.106. PMID: 33465843; PMCID: PMC7921524

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or treat any illness. I am not a medical professional and cannot diagnose or treat any illness.