General History and Use:

Used in Ireland to treat wounds and bruises. Greeks used it to treat spider bites. Native Americans used it as an antidote to snakebite venom by rubbing its juices on the wound. It was listed as one of the nine sacred herbs in Anglo-Saxon medicine because of its healing powers. It was used as a cure for disorders of the kidney, hemorrhoid control, colon lesions and as a laxative.

Plantain (all forms) mucilages are used in gentle laxatives. Mucilage also acts as an appetite suppressant and reduces intestinal absorption of fat and bile. It reduces LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Plantain is commonly used as an astringent; its juice, when rubbed on an insect bite or bee sting, immediately sooths the area and begin the healing process. Plantain may also stop poison ivy from blistering and itching if applied to the skin immediately after contact. Plantain is still considered a diuretic; in addition, it is used as an expectorant and decongestant. It is also thought to sooth the throat and is taken to relieve laryngitis. Finally, when chewed, plantain acts as a breath freshener. Early spring plants are used in salads and boiled vegetable recipes.

Constituents in this plantaint include Ascorbic-acid, Apigenin, Baicalein, Benzoic-acid, Chlorogenic-acid, Citric-acid, Ferulic-acid, Oleanolic-acid, Salicylic-acid, and Ursolic-acid

Fluid extract: dose, 1/2 to 1 drachm. Consuming 10 ml of the juice three times every day is beneficial for inflamed mucous membranes in cystitis, diarrhea and infections of the lungs or respiratory tract. Plantain leaf and seed soaked and or boiled reduces blood glucose.

For rawness of the bronchals, lungs and esophagus, take Comfrey roots, juice of Plantain and bring to a slow boil for 10 minutes. Plantain juice mixed with lemon juice is an excellent diuretic.

Salmon's Herbal (1710) gives the following manifold uses for Plantage major:
'The liquid juice clarified and drunk for several days helps distillation of rheum upon the throat, glands, lungs, etc. Doses, 3 to 8 spoonsful. An especial remedy against ulceration of the lungs and a vehement cough arising from same. It is said to be good against epilepsy, dropsy, jaundice and opens obstructions of the liver, spleen and reins. It cools inflammations of the eyes and takes away the pin and web (so called) in them. Dropt into the ears, it eases their pains and restores hearing much decayed. Doses, 3 to 6 spoonsful more or less, either alone or with some fit vehicle morning and night. The powdered root mixed with equal parts of powder of Pellitory of Spain and put into a hollow tooth is said to ease the pain thereof. Powdered seeds stop vomiting, epilepsy, lethargy, convulsions, dropsy, jaundice, strangury, obstruction of the liver, etc. The liniment made with the juice and oil of Roses eases headache caused by heat, and is good for lunatics. It gives great ease (being applyed) in all hot gouts, whether in hands or feet, especially in the beginning, to cool the heat and repress the humors. The distilled water with a little alum and honey dissolved in it is of good use for washing, cleansing and healing a sore ulcerated mouth or throat.'

Other Names: Common Plantain, Broadleaf Plantain, Great Plantain, Greater Plantain, Ripple Grass, Plantago Asiatica, Waybread, Waybroad, Snakeweed, Cuckoo's Bread, Englishman's Foot, White Man's Foot, Che Qian Zi (China), Breitwegerich (German), Tanchagem-maior (Portuguese), LlantŽn comœn (Spanish), LlantŽn major (Spanish). Plantain belongs to the genus Plantago, which is about 200 species of small, inconspicuous plants commonly called plantains

One of the more recent uses and study of plantain is it's use in stop-smoking medications where it shows great promise.

Plantain is grown and harvested at New Jerusalem, and sold by Kingdom Farms. Click here for prices