Plantain’s little secret…
I have fielded so many questions about plantain recently, I decided to share a little bit of information on our blog. And yes! This is the weed you can find in your yard, not the banana-looking fruit found in your local grocer’s produce section.
Plantain, whether fresh or in a salve, is the number one go-to for many looking for nature’s solution to bites and stings. It is easy to find growing wild and easy to grow most anywhere in the world. This makes it a great selection when looking for a multifaceted herb to add to your garden and apothecary collection.
Plantain is most known for drawing splinters, infection or even poisons from the body. When using plantain for this purpose it is best to use the fresh leaves as a poultice. The leaves can be chewed or ground up and placed directly over the affected area and secured with a bandage. Plantain can also be included in a salve formula to be used for this purpose and to make it more readily available, when needed. This is why we have included plantain leaves in our Comfrey Plantain Salve.
Because plantain contains allantoin, a chemical which is also found in comfrey and other vulnerary herbs, it is believed to accelerate healing. But unlike comfrey, plantain is not believed to cause wounds to close prematurely. Plantain also has antibacterial and antiseptic properties. An infusion of plantain can be useful as a gargle and mouth rinse to calm gingivitis or mouth sores. Due to its anti-inflammatory abilities, plantain tea can be used internally to help sooth digestive inflammation caused by acid reflux or diarrhea.
Nutritionally, plantain packs quite a punch! “Plantain leaves contain Vitamin C, Vitamin B, folic acid, calcium, iron, potassium, and sulfur. One hundred grams of the leaves contain about as much Vitamin A as a large carrot.”1 Personally, we love to add the leaves to salads. The seeds of the plant can be ground and added to flour to enrich it with extra vitamins and minerals and the seed husks are known as a bulking laxative and are widely used in dietary fiber commercial products.
With all of its many uses and benefits, it’s a shame plantain is typically just thought of as a weed. I grow this plant in our garden and consider it one of the most useful herbs we grow and use. If you are looking to add plantain to your herbal arsenal, I have had much success growing a variety called Turkish Plantain. It is prolific and has larger leaves than the common variety found in our area. Just be sure to harvest the seeds before they drop or you may have more than you bargained for next year! Each plant can produce up to 15,000 seeds each year.1
Happy Gardening!
Jessica