The plantago plant is an invasive weed found growing commonly the world over, you will find it growing in parks, meadows, round the edges of fields, and on wasteland. It is easily identifiable by its flowers which appear on a long stalk and are cylindrical in shape with a tapered end. Children often refer to the plantain by the name 'rats tails.' Another way to identify plantain is to break or tear a leaf in half, you will see strong white fibres coming out of it.
There are two types of plantain used in natural medicine, ribwort plantain and greater plantain. you can identify the difference by the shape of the leaves, ribwort plantain having long, spear shaped leaves, greater plantain having short, fat, smooth, ovate leaves. Both species of plantain herb have the same health benefits.
I have included picture of both plants below...
How To Gather And Store Plantago
Collect the leaves of the plantago in spring and early summer, it is preferable to collect them before the plant goes into flower. Use fresh or dry the leaves and store in an air tight jar for future use.
Dried Plantain For Natural Plant Remedies
Plantain Benefits
Plantain benefits: Plantain can ease coughs, catarrh, throat infection and allergic reactions that affect the breathing. It helps alleviate constriction of the air ways, and has anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties. Plantain contains properties that help protect the liver, it is also useful in the treatment of dry, chapped skin, insect bites, the healing of wounds and minor cuts and grazes.
Plantain Remedies
Greater Plantain Tea (plantago major): Fresh or dried leaves from the greater plantain plant may be used for this tea, if you are using fresh leaves, add 1 large fresh leaf or 1 tsp of dried leaf to a cup, pour on boiling water, cover and leave to infuse for 3 - 5 minutes (you can leave for longer, some old recipies suggest leaving it overnight to infuse), strain and drink to releive the symptoms of colds and sore throats.
Plantain Warnings!
No adverse side effects of plantain have been reported.
Did You Know? Some interesting facts about the plantago major plant
In the olden days, on midsummer's eve, groups of ladies would take to the meadows and hunt under plantain plants in the hope of finding a 'coal.' (This 'coal' was in reality a piece of old dried root.) If a coal was found they would take it and place it under their pillow that night, hoping to dream of their future husband.
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