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HERB ALLEY
Plantain
(Plantago
species)
COMMON
NAMES: Lance-leaf plantain, buckhorn, chimney sweeps, English plantain,
headsman, ribgrass, ribwort, ripplegrass, snake plantain, soldier’s herb.
MEDICINAL
PART: The plant.
DESCRIPTION:
Lance-leaf plantain is a perennial plant that inhabits meadows, roadsides,
agricultural lands, and dooryards in the eastern and Pacific coastal states
of the U.S. and in Canada and Europe. The erect, hairy, lanceolate
leaves grow from the rootstock on margined petioles in a basal rosette.
Several grooved flower stalks may grow from 6 to 30 inches high, tipped
by a short spike of tiny white flowers whose brownish sepals and bracts
give the spike its predominantly dark color. Flowering time is from
April to November.
Plantain is an old-fashioned herb. The Indians used it to a great
advantage. It grows practically all over the U.S. Every family
should have some and have it ready for use. It has a soothing, cooling,
and healing effect in cases of sores and ulcers. The fresh leaves
pounded into a paste are good applied to wounds to check bleeding.
It is extremely useful in erysipelas, eczema, burns and scalds.
PROPERTIES
AND USES: Astringent, demulcent, expectorant, homeostatic.
Lance-leaf plantain is a useful remedy for cough irritations and hoarseness
and for gastritis and enteritis. It is good for all respiratory problems,
especially those involving mucous congestion. 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,
gastro-intestinal ailments, and worms. Externally, the fresh leaves
are crushed for application to wounds, sores, cuts, scratches, insect bites,
and even hemorrhoids.
