Of the Month

Does this plant look familiar?  Maybe it's one you've worked long and hard to get out of your yard!  While it may disrupt the smooth, evenness of your lawn, this nifty plant can come in handy in a number of first aid type situations you might have while out in your yard.
Our Of the Month feature is Plantago major, and commonly known as plantain.  It is very closely related to Plantago lanceolata, and the two are often used interchangeably in medicinal practice, although P. lanceolata seems to be most effective internally, while P. major is best used externally.  P. major is pictured above, also called broad leaf plantain.  P. lanceolata is a more narrow-leafed variety and is pictured below.  
History & Lore.  Plantago has had mention in the works of Pliny, Erasmus and Longfellow.  One common name for the plant is "snake weed," as it was often thought to be a cure for snake bites.  Another name, in the U. S. and New Zealand, is "Englishman's Foot," as it seemed to follow the travels of white men settling other lands.  It is, indeed, native to Europe and some temperate areas of Asia.
Medicinal Uses.  Externally plantago can be used as first aid for bites and stings, or other skin irritations with inflammation, oozing or bleeding.  It is a styptic (meaning it stops blood flow), has anti- inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.  As mentioned earlier, it has historically been used for snake bites.  More commonly today, with a bee sting or insect bite, an application of plantago can help take the pain away.  If you happen to have harvested the leaves and made a salve already, you can run inside and get that if you get a sting.  If you haven't, here's a fun method.  Harvest a leaf right on the spot, chew it up and put the green spit ball right on the sting.  Besides helping with the sting, it has "drawing" abilities, and can help cleanse the wound and draw out a stinger.  A plantain salve can help soothe and heal skin rashes or scratches from working in the yard or garden. A tincture or infused oil can also be used for earaches and toothaches.
   Internally, plantago has a special affinity for the respiratory system, soothing coughs and treating allergies, rhinitis, sinusitis and bronchitis.  This is, in part, due to its demulcent qualities which help moisten the mucus membranes, but it also a gentle expectorant that can help loosen and expel phlegm.  It can be made into a tea for sore throats and cough.  That moistening ability makes this plant also useful for healing in the gastrointestinal and urinary tract, especially when inflammation and/or bleeding is present.  It blends well with other herbs to maximize its healing benefits in these situations.  However, in one rat study, a plantain extract alone helped protect against gastric ulcers induced by aspirin. 
Contraindications.  There are no known contraindications for using Plantago major or lanceolata leaves externally.  You might not like the flavor of them while you're chewing them up...but it's not going to hurt you!  They just taste green, really.  Internally it is also an extremely safe herb. 

Herbal medicine doesn't have to be exotic to be beneficial!  Little plantago - broad or narrow leafed - is common and simple to use.  Even if we've cursed, sprayed and dug it out of our yards, it still stands at the ready for our use.  (But please don't chew it up or make it into salve if it's been sprayed with weed-killers!  That would be a contraindication!)