Plantain is not only an incredible medicinal herb for external conditions; it also works wonders for the body’s internal organs. From the roots to the seeds, the entire plant is edible and is a wonderful ally of both the gastrointestinal tract and the digestive system!
What part of plantain plant is medicinal?
leaves
The leaves of plantain are primarily used as medicine. The seeds of plantain can also be used medicinally, having mild laxative effects similar to the seeds of psyllium , a close relative of plantain.
How is plantain used for medicine?
Plantain has anti-inflammatory and astringent properties that make it useful in many medical applications. Topically, you can chew up plantain leaves to make a poultice (a moist mass of herbs) that can be put on minor cuts, insect bites, and rashes. Internally, you can make a plantain tea to fight coughs and colds.
Is plantain a medicinal plant?
Plantago major (P. major), commonly known as great plantain, is a widespread used medicinal plant from the Plantaginaceae family (1).
Does plantain draw out infection?
It can draw out and close up pus and infection from dirty wounds and soothes irritated membranes. Plantain is also helpful in bronchial infections and pneumonia. It cools and moistens the mucosa but also dries up mucus and water from the lungs.
What are the benefits of drinking plantain leaf tea?
Packed with tannins, aucubin [an iridoid glycoside], and mucilage, the plantain leaf extract is known to have expectorant and anti-irritant properties as well. The leaves can be made into a tea or tincture, and this is said to help with indigestion, heartburn and ulcers when taking internally.
What parts of plantain are edible?
The broadleaf plantain weeds that you find in your yard can be eaten entirely, but the young leaves are the tastiest. Use these raw in any way you would spinach, such as in salads and sandwiches. You can also use the older leaves raw, but they tend to be more bitter and stringy.
Is plantain leaf good for lungs?
Plantain is most famously used as a poultice for bug bites and bee stings, but the leaves are also soothing and healing in lung recipes. They ease irritation and dryness as well as boggy dampness, gently moisturizing while also helping to dry, tighten, and tone the mucus lining.
What is the health benefit of plantain roots?
In folkloric medicine, plantain is recommended for treatment of different ailments, including urinary stone, epilepsy, dysentery and diarrhoea. The root is said to have aphrodisiac property and is used for impotence in men.
How do you make plantain herb?
Add the leaves to water and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and steep plantain leaf for about 5 to 10 minutes. Use a strainer to remove leaves. If you’re using plantain tea for cold and cough, drink while it’s warm between three to six times/day.
How do you use plantain for a cough?
The fresh leaves can be applied directly three or four times per day to minor injuries, dermatitis, and insect stings. Syrups or tinctures, approximately 1/2 teaspoon (2–3 ml) three times per day, can also be used, particularly to treat a cough.
How is plantain used for wounds?
Chew up a leaf and spit it out. Place it on the wound. There you have a spit poultice, a primitive and effective method of applying an herbal remedy. The stinging, itching, irritation and inflammation are relieved.
Is plantain an antifungal?
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.
How do you make plantain tincture?
Broadleaf plantain leaves ready to be used fresh.
Plantain-infused oil
- harvest a bunch of leaves on a dry afternoon.
- rip the leaves (or cut with scissors)
- leave them to wilt overnight on a clean cloth.
- add them to a glass jar.
- fill with extra-virgin olive oil, or another oil of your choice.
How do you use plantain for infection?
Drink a tea made from 1/2 tsp of dried plantain leaves steeped in a cup of water. Urinary tract infection. Plantain can help relieve symptoms of urinary tract infections when consumed in a tea because of its anti-inflammatory and tissue-healing properties.
Is plantain anti-inflammatory?
The anti-inflammatory properties that plantains have can be attributed to their chemical composition. Plantains are composed of mucilage, iridoid glycosides (particularly aucubin), and tannins. Anti-inflammation is one of the most popular benefits of green plantains.
How do I make a plantain poultice?
Get dried plantain to the consistency needed for a poultice.
Depending on how much surface area of skin you need to cover, make a tea with 1-2 tablespoons of dried cut plantain leaves/root and about 1 -1 1/2 cups of boiling distilled water. Pour the boiling water over the plantain, cover and steep 15 minutes.
What are the side effects of plantain?
Great plantain seems to be safe when taken by mouth by most adults. But it may cause some side effects including diarrhea and low blood pressure. It might be UNSAFE to apply great plantain to the skin. It can cause allergic skin reactions.
Can you drink plantain tea?
A cup of plantain tea from fresh or dried leaves will sooth indigestion, heartburn or IBS. It is calming on all types of digestive disturbances. It is also helpful for UTIs, Bladder infections or kidney infections.
What is plantain leaf powder used for?
In powdered form, plantain is easy to incorporate into herbal powders and moist poultices to address insect bites, minor cuts and other skin irritations. A rich source of calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B1 and riboflavin, plantain powder is also encapsulated as a dietary supplement.
What is plantain pollen?
The English plantain (Plantago lanceolata) sheds the most pollen and is most allergenic of the plantains. Plantain pollen is considered by some allergists to be a significant problem, particularly in the eastern coastal states, the Northwest, and California.