It’s a bit late in the season, but it’s definitely still around and well worth looking out for. Plantain (Plantago Major/ Plantago Lanceolata) is a herb with many uses. As common as dandelions or nettles, and just as useful for health, plantain is one of the magical herbs of St John collected before sunrise on 24th June each year, and one of the nine herbs considered sacred by the Anglo-Saxons, who thought it to be “the mother of all herbs”. Brought to America by the first European settlers, the native Americans soon noticed it grew wherever they went, and they too began using it for medicine, for respiratory and digestive problems and for poultices to treat snakebites due to it’s strong drawing action, which makes it one of the best poultice herbs you can use. It also makes great, healing infusions, decoctions and tinctures/extracts as well as poultices and salves/ointments. It can also be dried and then used as a powder too. A very versatile and valued herb.

- Mildy astringent, anti-microbial properties make it an excellent wound herb.

- As a poultice herb plantain can draw out deep splinters as well as toxicity from the body.

- Considered a blood purifier, supporting and stimulating liver function.

- Mucilaginous, anti-inflammatory, demulcent leaves are very soothing for all manner of respiratory conditions. The German equivalent of the F.D.A. approves the use of plantain for coughs and both acute and chronic respiratory infections.

- Especially high in nutrients and vitamins A, C and K. (See *Please Note section).

- Plantain is edible and the young leaves can be treated like any other green vegetable. The older leaves, though less palatable as they get a bit stringy with age, are said to make better medicine than young leaves. Plantago Ovato, another type of plantain, is where the dietary supplement psyllium husk comes from.

- Has similar immune-modulating action to Echinacea.

- The Russian Ministry of Health consider plantain to be a very useful herb for treating digestive complaints of all kinds, helping to regulate acid and gastriic juices, relieving conditions such as colitis, gastritis, enteritis, enteroccolitis, as well as stomach ulcers, aches and abdominal cramps.

- Very good for skin health in ointments and salves. Reduces freckles, helps with Rosacea and treats sunburn.

*Please Note:

Despite plantain being an extremely safe herb for most people, most of the time, due to its vitamin K content, people on prescription blood thinning medication are advised to exercise a little caution before taking plantain.

Please seek the advice of your healthcare provider before adding any new herb to your daily healthcare regimen.

We make no attempt to diagnose, treat or give medical advice. We merely share information on how these valuable plant allies have been used with great success throughout history, up to and including the present day. We accept no liability for any harm, loss or injury which may occur to anyone by choosing to act upon this information.