English Plantain

English Plantain

Common Name: English Plantain, Common Plantain

Genus and Species Name: Plantago lanceolata

Active Chemical Ingredients:  Aucubin- C₁₅H₂₂O₉

Medicinal Uses: Useful remedy for cough irritations and hoarseness and for gastritis and enteritis.  Good for all respiratory problems, bronchitis, asthma, especially those involving mucous congestion.  Used for diarrhea, nosebleed, kidney and bladder trouble, jaundice, headache, infections, hepatitis, spermatorrhea, loss of sexual power, promotes fertility, bedwetting, sciatica, tuberculosis, syphilis, snakebites, worms, toothache, dropsy, prevent blood poisoning, excessive menses, and inflamed eyes.  A decoction of the dried leaves promotes the coagulation of  blood.  The fresh juice, pressed from the whole plant, is helpful for chronic catarrhal problems, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, gastro-intestinal ailments, and worms.  Externally, the fresh leaves are crushed for application to erysipelas, eczema, burns, ringworms, tetters, shingles, scalds, wounds, running sores, ulcers, cuts, scratches, boils, tumors, insect bites even hemorrhoids.  Widely used as a laxative, and combats inflammation. If stung by insects, immediately rub some crushed English plantain leaves into the area around the sites of the stings, this will prevent swelling and itching.  English plantain grows everywhere and is easily spotted. English Plantain also is an excellent cure for burns, dermatitis, blisters, insect bites as crushed fresh leaves, salve, cream, or poultice. It can also help with abrasions (rope burn) as freshly blended/chewed fresh leaf or dried leaf powder blended with water and applied externally.

Preparation: fresh leaves, decoction, fresh juice, crushed leaves, chewed leaves

Citations:

 Aucubin. (n.d.). Retrieved September 6, 2015, from http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.82585.html 

 Plantain - Medicinal Herb Info. (n.d.). Retrieved September 6, 2015, from http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Plantain.html