Plantain Plantago major

Family:  Plantaginaceae

Common names: Broadleaf plantain, greater plantain, ribwort, white man's foot, way-bread, cuckoo's bread, ripple grass, snakeweed.

Origins: The plant is native to Eurasia and has been naturalised to many parts of the world, including Australia.

The Plant: There are many plants of the Plantago genus, including the narrower leaved ribwort P. lanceolata, but Plantago major is the one commonly used in herbal medicine. Broadleaf plantain is a hardy, prolific perennial with a low growth habit that keeps it under the radar. Its tolerance for heavy foot traffic and compacted soil means that it quickly colonises in any lawn that sees a lot of hard family use. Plantain has oval-shaped medium leaves that grow in broad, low rosettes. If left to flower, tall, thin spikes with tiny flowers appear, which then produce tiny seeds that are easily spread by the wind to other places. Plantain herb is not to be confused with the fruiting banana like plant. The other important Plantago plant used medicinally is P. Psyllium, the source of psyllium seed used as mucilage and mild laxative. The broadleaf plantain is rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids iridoids, mucilage and other compounds.

Folklore and history

Plantain was called the “mother of all herbs" by the Anglo Saxons and revered as one of the nine sacred herbs. It was used topically for scrapes, bruises, cuts, burns and skin conditions and taken internally for digestive complaints, coughs, colds and gastric disorders. In the Highlands of Scotland plantain is called "Slan-Lus", meaning the plant of healing, for its great reputation as a wound healer. Plantain leaves were heated and used to staunch blood flow and encourage repair to damaged tissue and it was sometimes referred to as the “green bandage.” Plantain is a valid wound remedy that has proved to be effective to this day.

Plantain arrived in the Americas on the soles of European shoes and planted itself throughout the continent, hence its nickname "Whiteman's Footprint". The Native Americans observed how it followed the white man, springing up underneath his feet wherever he walked. Plantain leaves were soon adopted into the Native American herbal medicine and they also used it to heal wounds, reduce inflammation, staunch bleeding and to soothe stings, burns and rashes. It was taken internally for many complaints including coughs, colds, bronchitis, diarrhoea, gastritis, haemorrhoids and bladder infections. They carried the powdered plantain root with them as an antidote to snake bites and to draw out other poisonous toxins.

Indications: Antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, cicatrisant, anti-cancerous, detoxifying, expectorant, depurative, diuretic, antispasmodic, decongestant, healing and laxative properties (with the last property most potent in this plant’s seeds).    

Plantain heals skin issues

Used in lotion form, plantain soothes nasty rashes and irritated skin. It admirably cools inflamed skin conditions, including eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and infected insect bites and stings. Itchy skin is called pruritus and is often caused by very dry skin that is common in older adults, as the skin tends to become drier with age. Auto-immune type rashes can appear as raised bumps, scaly patches, or blisters that are sensitive to touch. Touching the affected area can elicit tenderness or discomfort. Of course it is paramount to holistically address the underlying causation, however in the meantime, herbs like plantain and chickweed used topically can do wonders to bring temporary relief.

Excellent cosmetic herb

The plant can promote effective healing because it is so rich in polyphenols, polysaccharides and antioxidants, which are responsible for protecting cells from inflammatory chemicals that cause destruction. This can stimulate tissue reparation. Because plantain prevents cellular damage from free radicals, its use on the skin can help delay early aging, making it an excellent addition to natural skincare preparations.

Perfect poultice Plant

A cicatrant is an agent that aids in scar formation. It contracts fibrous tissue formed at a wound site by fibroblasts, reducing the size of the wound while distorting tissue. Plantain is a superb cicatrant for wounds and cuts, a fresh strained infusion may be used as wash to clean the area.

Chop up fresh plantain leaves, mix into quality raw honey and some cayenne pepper and place over a wound cover with a clean swab and bandage to hold the poultice firmly in place. If the wound has splinters or foreign particles embedded, this poutice mixture will help draw out the impurities and hasten healing.

It can be eaten

Plantain is a highly nutritious wild edible, that is high in calcium and vitamins A, C, and K. The young, tender leaves can be eaten raw and the older, stringier leaves can be boiled in stews and eaten or to make tea. The seeds are also edible, however, ingesting large quantities can cause a drop in blood pressure.

Prevents stomach ulcers

The leaves of broadleaf plantains can help to prevent stomach ulcers with the ability to reduce acidity in the stomach, which can relieve pain and burning.

In addition, plantain is able to inhibit H. Pylori activity, which can lead to ulcers if not identified and treated correctly. Some studies confirm that broadleaf plantains can improve diarrhea symptoms due to the tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids found in this plant. These compounds reduce intestinal secretions and fluid accumulation in the gut, leading to an antidiarrheal effect. Broadleaf plantains possess antidiabetic action that improves the mechanisms used by pancreatic cells to regulate blood sugar levels. It also contains flavonoids, sterols and tannins, which are compounds that have a hypoglycaemic effect.

Fighting infections

Due to the presence of polysaccharides in its composition, broadleaf plantains contain protective properties against bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae, as well as viruses like the adenovirus. The plant is sometimes used for treatment of the common flu; the leaves can be used to make tea, which helps to thin-out secretions accumulated in the bronchi to relieve coughing. Plantain can also be used for gargles to treat mouth conditions (like canker sores, pharyngitis, tonsillitis and laryngitis), with its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action. With its affinity to all mucous membranes, plantain is an effective tonic for the gums and the infusion can be added to tincture of myrrh to disinfect and tone all the oral tissues. Broadleaf plantains also help to fend off bacteria that cause skin infections and UTIs, like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.