Plantain
Plantago major
Common wayside plant with remarkable wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties
About Plantain
Plantain (not the banana-like fruit) is one of the most abundant and underappreciated medicinal plants, found in lawns and footpaths worldwide. It contains allantoin, which promotes cell growth and tissue repair, along with aucubin, an anti-microbial compound. It has been called 'the band-aid plant' for its first aid uses.
Key benefits
- Powerful wound healer — draws out infections and promotes tissue repair
- Contains allantoin and aucubin with antimicrobial properties
- Soothes insect bites, stings, and minor burns on contact
- May support respiratory health and soothe irritated mucous membranes
How to use
For first aid: chew or crush fresh leaves and apply directly to wounds, bites, or stings as a poultice. For tea: steep 1-2 tsp dried leaves in hot water for 10 minutes. For salve: infuse leaves in oil for 4-6 weeks, then combine with beeswax.
Did you know?
Native Americans called plantain 'white man's footprint' because it seemed to spring up everywhere European settlers walked. The Anglo-Saxons listed it as one of their nine sacred herbs in the 10th-century Lacnunga manuscript.