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Plantain is one herb that I literally would not be without. It grows in abundance in our yard so we use it fresh during the warm seasons and dry and freeze for use in the winter. I make salves with it for calming bug bites, rashes and burns and it works wonders.
What is Plantain?
Plantain, or Plantago Major, is a common backyard herb with broad leafs. Most people think of it as a weed, though it is an incredibly useful herb. According to Mountain Rose Herbs:
“Legend has it that Alexander the Great discovered it and brought it with him back to Europe in 327 BCE. It has been referred to as the Whiteman’s Foot by Native Americans, as wherever they went, it seemed to spring up. and in some places, it is seen as a noxious, invasive weed. It is, however, a useful little plant. It has been used by many cultures the world over, and the Saxons considered it one of their nine sacred herbs.
It was considered an early Christian symbol of the path followed by the devout and many cultures today refer to it as an aphrodisiac. The leaves are quite edible, and often used raw in salads and cooked as greens. Older leaves have a stronger, sometimes objectionable flavor, and can be tough and stringy, but can be used to make tea.
Plantain is very high in vitamins A and C and in calcium. Medicinally, Native Americans used plantain leaves to relieve the pain of bee stings and insect bites, stop the itching of poison ivy and other allergic rashes, and promote healing in sores and bruises. Plantain tea can be used as a mouthwash to help heal and prevent sores in the mouth, and as an expectorant. Most recently, plantain is being marketed as a stop smoking aid, adding one more use to the list of ways that this versatile herb is useful.”
“Plantain has been used as a panacea in some Native American cultures and with some very good reasons. Many of its active constituents show antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, as well as being anti-inflammatory and antitoxic. The leaves, shredded or chewed, are a traditional treatment for insect and animal bites and the antibacterial action helps prevent infection and the anti-inflammatory helps to relieve pain, burning, and itching. There is some investigation ongoing to study its affects on lowering blood sugar.
The Many Uses of Plantain:
Plantain leaf can be made into a tea, tincture or infusion and used internally (according to Practical Herbalism):
- To help get Cholesterol to healthy Levels
- To aid those with Diabetes
- For Hemorrhoid relief
- To help relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- To help calm the bowels during Constipation or Diarrhea
- To sooth kidney and bladder problems and to aid with Bladder infection, ITIs and similar problems. Safe for children
- For indigestion and ulcers
Plantain Leaf is also very soothing on external inflammation:
- Bites
- Stings
- Rashes
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Burns
- Cuts
- Yeast
- Varicose Veins
How to Use Plantain:
If fresh plantain grows in your yard, you can make sure it has not been sprayed by pesticides or pets and use in teas or the young leaves in salads.
For stings and bites, make a poultice of fresh plantain leaf and bentonite clay with water to form a paste. It will take away the pain immediately when placed on the bite or sting. If you don’t have the other ingredients nearby, just chew up a leaf of plantain and spit on the bite. It sounds gross but greatly relieves the pain.
An infusion or strong tea of plantain leaf (dried or fresh) sprayed on a sunburn will cool the burn and relieve the pain. This will also help sooth rashes and reactions from Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac. To make an even stronger remedy, steep plantain leaf (fresh or dried) in apple cider vinegar for a few weeks and then strain. The infused vinegar will sooth itching, burning and pain on the skin very quickly.
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.
I make a salve of Plantain and other herbs to speed healing of wounds and use in place of antibiotic cream. Recipe soon.
You can also get pre-made Plantain tincture, tea, or healing salve to have in your purse or first aid kit when needed.
NOTE: Plantain is generally considered a safe herb but as with anything, consult your doctor before using if you have any kind of medical condition. It should not be used in place of medical attention when needed.
Other Backyard Foraging
- Sumac – a lemony tasting plant used in tea or tinctures for multiple benefits
- Dandelions – make a powerful liver-cleansing tea or add to salad
- Chickweed – make a skin-soothing salve!
Ever used Plantain? Seen it in your yard and thought it was a weed? Share below!
I burned my hand yesterday on the oven rack and applied some plantain soon there after. I bruised the plant and taped it over the burn. Today it is one of the least inflamed burns I’ve ever had and there is zero pain. Thanks for posting about this!
For stings, can also get a bag of MSG (quite inexpensive) for stings: wasp, fire ant, bees, especially jelly fish. I’ve not yet witnessed it working on scorpion or centipede stings, but probably will.
It LITERALLY neutralizes the venom of the sting, so not only is relief instantaneous, but with no venom left, no swelling or sore develops.
Wet the area so the MSG “salt” sticks (if necessary, even spit or condensation) and sprinkle it on. In about 30 seconds or less it’s all over. Brush off (or wash off, no matter) the MSG, since it’s a meat tenderizer. No 2nd application necessary.
I kept a spice container with a top that turns open or closed in my car at all times. If you find yourself helping someone with it, the very next reaction is, “CAN I HAVE SOME OF THAT??!!” 🙂
I have both broadleaf plantain and buckhorn plantain (I think it is anyway, has much narrower leaves) in my yard. Is one better to use than the other?
I have read that all the plantain leafy varieties have the same properties. Do a search and see.
I used it to treat an abcess on my gums. The abcess was extremely painful, i first chewed some leaf then placed it over the abcess after i ruptured it the pain was gone in less than 5 minutes and the infection gone in several hours.
I’m 65 ,as a small child on the farm we would pick it and wash it with the water hose and sprinkle salt on it and eat it , loved it
Seriously??? Have you any idea how many times I would use this as “medicine” when I was a child playing in my gr’ma’s backyard??? Little did I know…thanks for this…Will it work for wasp stings as well??? The few times I’ve been stung it swelled bad and was soooo painful…
Yep… sure will 🙂
White vinegar works amazingly well… I was stung around 8 times by a hornet that got into my house dress! It was an incredible pain. I soaked a facecloth with white vinegar, the pain immediately subsided.
When they tell to need the leaves I just put plantain leaves between wax or parchment paper and roll out like dough take may less that 10mins leaves are brushed n juices coming out works great
OMG I’ve pulled up many…they pull up very easy…now I know better….THANKS
I’ve used plantain on numerous occasions to treat poison ivy. I just take a plantain leaf and cut it about the same size as the bandage on a bandaid and put the bandage with the plantain over the itchy area. It will burn a little bit for a few minutes, then it will stop burning or itching. Repeat the process every day, usually for 4 days. Poison ivy typically lasts around a month and ends up spreading if it gets to the weeping phase. Plantain will stop it in it’s tracks if you put it on the spot soon after contracting the poison ivy.
If you don’t reapply it daily it will start to itch again. I beat or crumple the leaf a little first before putting it on. I’ve also used dried plantain when I couldn’t find any fresh and it works too, but not quite as good, in my opinion. I will try to make some of the plantain concoctions listed in the article now that I know about them.
Do you do anything special to freeze your plantain?
Just dry and freeze or blanch and freeze in small amounts.
Has anyone ever heard of plum root
This may sound stupid, but how does one ‘just dry’? Also, my budgie loves the plantain seeds….how do I store and dry those for the winter? Thank you!
Hi Maddalena,
I use plantain leaves (and seeds), as well as dandelion and thistle leaves for improved overall health. The mature seeds I just place in a small covered jar until I am ready to use them in a recipe. The leaves I use fresh for my daily green juice. Excess leaves that I am able to harvest in a sustainable manner I dry in a dehydrator and then run through a coffee grinder to make a fine powder for use during the winter. You can also use a solar dehydrator, but I believe direct sunlight is to be avoided as it depletes much of the nutrients from the leaves. I live in a foggy coastal region so outdoor drying is usually not an option.
No matter how you wish to use these healing gifts from Nature, the fullest benefit is realized by utilizing the raw plant parts when they are freshly harvested.
Hi where can I buy the leaves fresh?
Thanks Tammy! I was glad to see I can use the plantain in juicing. I’m assuming I can put them in smoothies too?
Hey Clark I noticed that your question never got answered n wanted to make sure you got some Plantain! (I just bought my first bag & am anxiously awaiting it’s arrival!!) In her article above where it stays “Plantain” and is in green- that is a link you can click on. It is in the article several times. It takes you to Amazon where you can purchase Starwest Botanicals Plantain pre-cut & sifted. But please click the link to get there. By clicking the link Katie gets a very small payment (basically for referring us to Starwest, or any brand she recommends.) I prefer to buy through her links to help support keeping her website up and running (they can be VERY expensive to maintain!) and as a thank you for giving us so much valuable information for free. It also takes the guess work out of what kind to buy bc sometimes I see several types of the same herb and I am so lost lol!
This is also for anyone wondering what “affiliate links” are. You will find them on every blog. I have honestly found Katie only recommends products she actually uses for her family & herself. They are good products. I have tried many. Starwest is probably the #1 online herb seller. They provide organic & wildcrafted herbs too! So go say thanks to Katie & go through her link to buy your plantain! Blessings!
P.S. I don’t work for Katie or Starwest or anyone LOL I just like to advocate helping out the people who’s blogs have changed our lives. 🙂
Hi! So how do you use the dried powder? Also, do you store it in the fridge?
thank you i would like to save some of mine, around my shed is full, new baby leaves , i want to dry them and save them to use year round, this is the infromation i was searching for !! i once used it on a cut while mom and i walked about my mobile home and by the time i walked back in side, the cute was GONE
Is this the same Plantain as the one we eat?
Not the same as the banana type plantain
Would the banana type plantain be good on wounds. If so how would it be used.
It would not… It is an entirely different thing.
Actually the banana peel relieves hemorrhoids, scrapes and bruises.
I was looking at that near my garden yesterday thinking “I wonder if that’s something useful or should I just pull it…” Now I’m glad I was distracted and didn’t lean over and pull it. You said the young leaves can be used in salads, but are the older leaves used for teas or ingesting, or are they too strong or bitter?
The old leaves can still be used in teas or tinctures but I’d add a little stevia leaf too…
Is really good for kids and how much would a serving be for 5 year old?
How would you use it to aid smoking cessation?
As a tea or tincture internally… helps detox the nicotine faster.
It seems to have so many healing properties, I wonder if it would work well as an acne mask, or thrown into a natural face wash?? It would be worth trying!
It is actually great for that! I use a toner with plantain and calendula and it is great for naturally oily skin…
Can you share your recipe for the plantain/calendula toner?
Wonderful news! I have tried everything known to man (reasonably priced) for hormonal acne and no luck. Definitely trying this as we have tons of Plantain and Calendula! Thanks again and God bless.
What is canaled or how ever it is spelled
Calendula is a flower of the same family as a marigold. It’s a great for healing wounds and soothing irritated skin.
My face is naturally oily and would luke to try this. Jack
I drink narrow and broad leaf plantain in my green drinks but it isn’t my favorite. I can’t even imagine just eating a salad of plantain cause I’m not a big fan of the taste. However if you do use it in smoothies it much better if it’s strained through a cloth first. I like seeing how others use it. I think I’ll try a few of these cause the green drink option isn’t that great.
the apple cider vinegar with plantain wash would help the acne for sure