Plantain, not just a weed.

Plantain Plantago major, is considered a garden nuisance by many people. Few people know that the common plantain “weed” has some surprising benefits as an herb. The young leaves of the plant are not only edible but actually highly nutritious they can be rinsed and eaten raw the same way you would eat spinach.

The leaves can be used to soothe irritated skin caused by insect bites, sun and wind burn and poison ivy. The chemical in the leaves responsible for their wound-healing property is allantoin. It encourages new skin cells to regenerate at the wound site, helping the wound to close more quickly. Plantain leaves contain tannin, a natural anti-inflammatory and astringent that causes tissues to shrink or contract. This is important for wound healing (as a vulnerary herb) because it helps the wound to close so that it can begin to knit together. It’s also useful for helping draw out splinters and small shards of glass if they should ever become stuck under the skin. I use both broadleaf and narrow leaf plantain infused in oil for a simple lovely salve. It is also antimicrobial and antibacterial. Plantain can ease the symptoms of colds and flu the leaves act as a demulcent, a substance that temporarily coats irritated mucous membranes and thus protects them from irritation. It is a critical element in my Lung Tea formula, I used it extensively a while back for a severe case of laryngitis.

A common use for broadleaf plantain in folk medicine is for soothing a toothache. The traditional way to ease toothache pain was to apply the dried, ground root to the sore tooth; this is safe because all parts of plantain, including the root, are edible. It’s such a useful little unassuming plant. I seek it out in the spring and summer in the high mountain meadows and I grow it as well. You can never have enough! I scatter it through the garden and find it quite attractive especially Plantago lanceolata Narrow leaf Plantain aka Ribwort when it’s in full flower, so sweet and delicate.