02/05/2022
Dear friends,
As some of you are aware, I have a deep passion for working with wild and cultivated plants for medicine and wellness.
I feel guided to share this knowledge with you via this page, as there are many, many plant allies who can help us on our healing and wellness journey.
I have gained this knowledge through 20+ years of self study and nature immersion, and could quite simply talk about plants and their uses for hours!
Today I'd like to introduce you to Plantain (Plantago sp.).
Often looked upon as a w**d this unassuming plant has a wealth of uses.
the two most commonly found species of plantain
are ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), and broad leaved plantain (Plantago
major). Both species are medicinal as well as
edible.
How to identify: ribwort plantain has long lance like leaves with characteristic ribbing on the
underside. Broad leaf Plantain has broad rounded leaves.
The plant grows in a basal rosette and
reaches up to 50cm tall. The flower heads of ribwort plantain sit on a long stalk and are cyclindrical and brown with small white tufts. Plantain can be found year-round,
and is a robust tough plant, often found growing in lawns or grassy areas.
Uses: plantain leaves can be eaten raw, and cooked. They are best when young and tender, as
become more bitter with maturity. The young flower heads are also eaten raw or cooked and have a
mushroom-like flavour.
Plantain has many medicinal qualities being antiseptic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, an
antihistamine, and a mild antibiotic. It is an excellent herb to treat skin issues such as bites and stings, small wounds, splinters, and dry skin. In the event of a bug bite or sting, or stinging nettle
sting, crush a few leaves in your palm to release the juice and rub on the affected area.
Plantain combines well with other herbs such as lavender and calendula to make a soothing skin salve.
Plantain can be taken as an infusion to help alleviate stomach upset, coughs, colds and also to
alleviate hay fever symptoms.
Plantain Infusion
In a teapot place 2 tsp of dried plantain leaf, or 3-4 fresh leaves.
Add a cup of boiling water and leave to infuse for 15 minutes or longer.
Drink warm, or leave to cool if preferred
Drink 2-3 times a day to ease coughs and bronchial inflammation, stomach upset, diarrhea, and hay fever symptoms.
