Plantain Leaves 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Plantain –  100 g ($14.99), 50 g ($9.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Benefits:
Inflammation  While low levels of inflammation are part of your body’s healthy response to injury, chronic inflammation can lead to various illnesses. Studies show that plantain weed may help reduce inflammation. In particular, the leaves contain several anti-inflammatory compounds, including:

• flavonoids
• terpenoids
• glycosides
• tannins

A 2015 study in rats found that administering plantain weed decreased several markers of inflammation caused by liver injury. Another animal study observed similar findings, reporting that plantain weed significantly decreased inflammation and reduced liver enzymes to protect against liver damage. A 2017 test-tube study suggests that plantain seeds may decrease several markers of inflammation and slow the growth of certain cancer cells. Human studies are necessary to evaluate this plant’s anti-inflammatory effects.

Wound Healing  Animal research from 2018 notes that plantain weed may support wound healing by reducing inflammation, blocking microbial growth, and relieving pain. A 2019 study involving 40 people found that applying a gel containing aloe vera and plantain weed helped heal foot ulcers. Similarly, a 2019 animal study found that topically applied aloe vera and plantain weed improved wound healing and enhanced tissue repair. All the same, it’s difficult to determine plantain’s effects since these studies also used aloe vera. However, an early 2012 animal study found that applying only plantain weed to wounds helped increase the rate of healing, compared with a control group.

Digestion  Several compounds in plantain weed’s seeds and leaves have been shown to alleviate certain digestive issues. In particular, plantain seeds contain psyllium, a type of fiber often used as a natural laxative because it absorbs water as it moves through the digestive tract.

According to a 2018 study, plantain leaves may also slow the movement of your digestive tract, which may promote bowel regularity and help treat diarrhea. An early 2011 study in rats also found that narrowleaf plantain promoted the healing of stomach ulcers.

A 2016 animal study suggests that plantain weed’s anti-inflammatory properties may aid issues like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which can cause symptoms like stomach pain, bloating, and diarrhea. The high mucilage content of plantain leaves, coupled with their anti-inflammatory properties make this wonderful herb for many digestive complaints. Mucilage rich herbs absorb toxins in the bowel and give bulk to stools. They contribute to a lower bowel transit time by absorbing water in the colon and creating stool a bulking and softening effect. Plantain also has astringent properties which make it effective in treating diarrhea, gastritis and colitis. It can help to restore acid balance which regulates gastric secretions and can treat inflammation in the stomach and bowels.

Respiratory  One of the most popular traditional uses for this herb was to support lung health. Plantain leaves are rich in mucilage, which exerts protective and demulcent activity on the respiratory tract. It moistens and coats the airways with a protective layer which reduces the irritation that causes a dry cough.

Researchers in Bulgaria found that plantain leaves were effective against chronic bronchitis. Containing glycerine and pectin which have natural demulcent properties, Plantain exerts a soothing effect on the lungs, provoking the production of more mucus which helps to relieve discomfort and irritation.

The German Commission E has approved the use of Plantain for coughs and irritations related to infections of the respiratory tract. Studies found that the herb has properties that help to relieve irritation in the lungs whilst supporting the immune system to clear out the infection.

Immune   Plantain leaves are high in immune boosting vitamins A and C, and the high tannin content imparts astringent properties which reduce inflammation and combat infection by depriving bacteria of nutrients.  One of the lesser known active ingredients of plantain is the compound plantamajoside. It has a similar molecular structure to the active ingredient in Echinacea, echinacoside, and has been shown to have a similar action in modulating immune response.

Gastrointestinal Health  According to the Russian Ministry of Health, Plantain is an effective treatment for chronic colitis, acute gastritis, enteritis and enterocolitis. With soothing, demulcent properties, Plantain helps to restore the protective coating of mucous membranes to a damaged stomach lining which helps to protect against ulcers. If ulcers have already formed, the high tannin content of Plantain gives this herb anti-ulcer properties. Tannins react with exposed proteins in the ulcer to form cross-linking, thereby helping to close the wound and create a protective layer. This “second skin” prevents further damage and allows the internal layers to heal. The iridoids and flavonoids found in Plantain impart strong antispasmodic qualities; it can provide relief from abdominal cramping and stomach-ache by relaxing the smooth muscles in the stomach.

Skin   Applied topically, Plantain is an excellent wound vulnerary with the power to stop bleeding and heal bruises, including puncture wounds, bug bites, bee, wasp, and nettle stings, boils and ulcers. When treating cuts and other open wounds, it not only staunches the bleeding, it also prevents infection by removing dirt, and as an antiseptic it disinfects the wound.

A unique trait that sets plantain leaf apart from most other tissue-healing plants is its intense drawing ability. It draws out the poison from snake bites, animal bites, insect bites, bee stings, wasp stings and nettle stings. This same drawing action makes it highly effective in splinter removal, and in bringing blisters or spots to a head.

Finally, this versatile herb contains a compound known as allantoin – a powerful skin soothing agent that encourages cell growth. Plantain can be used to provide natural relief from sunburn, to treat acne and rosacea and to keep the skin healthy, glowing and blemish free.

Botanical Name: Plantago major
English: Broadleaf Plantain
Ayurvedic: Ashvagola
Also, known as: Phak Kaat Nam, Arnoglossa, Bag Yapragi, Baka Zhal By Rak, Bartang, Bazir Dam Bil, Breitwegerich, Broadleaf Plantain, Broad-Leaved Plantain, Piantaggine Grande, Piantaggine Maggiore, Buyuk Sinirliot, Büyük Sinir Out, Cart-Track Plant, Celtekas, Ceuli, Ceuli Uncal, Chajeoncho, Sinurotu, Snakeweed, Sobatshi Jazyk, Cuckoo’s Bread, Damarotu, Daum Sejumbok, Daun Sendok, Daun Urat, Door-Yard Plantain, Ekur Anjing, Ezan Lezu, Gechi Oulaghi, Englishman’s Foot, Tirnagt, Torongoat, Triputnik, Fi Lo, Fi Lomatolu, Grand Plantain, Grant Plantain, Great Plantain, Greater Plantain, Grosser Wegerich, Grote Weegbree, Healing-Blade, Henplant, Jghakhot, Katir, Katta Zubturum, Otot Ototan, Pătlagină, Piharatamo, Sangka Buwah, Sangkubah, Sangkuwah, Sei Ohr Re, Kesirotu, Ki Urat, Kuping Menjangan, Lahuriya, Lanting, Lanting Haba, Lamb’s-Foot, Laukahi, Lielā Celmalie, Ch’e Ch’ien, Che Qian Zi, Common Plantain, Lisan Al-Hamal, Llantén, Llantén Común, Llanten Mayor, Llanten, Meloh Kiloh, Mo Noi, Nipple Grass, Phak Kat Nam, Plantain, Plantain Commun, Plantain Majeur, Plantate Gros, Podorozhnik Bolshoi, Poputnik, Pridorozhnik, Priputnik, Putiki, Putnik, Ratamo, Rat’s tail, Ribgrass, Ribble Grass, Ripple Grass, Sembung Otot, Suri Pandak, Suur Teeleht, Tanagem, Tanchagem-Maior, Tarkuz, Tsirevaja Trava, Twissat Mariam, Wayboard, Waybread, Wegerich, Wegerlich, White-Man’s Foot, Piantaggine, snakeweed, broad-leafed plantain,
Habitat: Asia and Europe
Origin: Poland
Harvested: Wild or cultivated
Parts Used: Leaves

General Information:
Plantago major, is an herbaceous perennial plant that forms a rosette of dark green leaves that lie close to the ground. The blades of the basal leaves are 2-4-inch-long and 1.5-3 inches across; they are oval in shape with about 5 parallel veins and smooth margins. The upper surface of each blade is medium green and glabrous to sparsely canescent, while the lower surface of each blade is light green and sometimes finely pubescent along the veins. Stem leaves lacking. Inflorescence of dense, narrow, bracteate spikes. Spikes less than 1 cm thick, 5-25 cm long, green-brown, smooth. Flowers hermaphrodite, anemophilous and/or autogenous. Peduncle glabrous. The lower one-third of each stalk is Floral Spikes green, terete, glabrous to finely pubescent, and naked; a narrowly cylindrical spike of greenish flowers occurs along the upper two-thirds of each stalk. These small flowers are densely distributed along with the spike. Each flower is only 3 mm long, consisting of 4 green sepals, a pistil with a single white style, 4 stamens with pale purple. anthers, and a papery corolla with 4 spreading lobes. The flowers are wind-pollinated. The flowers are replaced by ovoid seed capsules that are individually about 3 mm. long at maturity; they are initially green, but later become purple or brown. Each seed capsule is circumsessile and splits open around the middle to release the seeds. Each capsule contains about 10-15 seeds. The seeds are 1-2 mm. long, light to dark brown, and somewhat flattened; the seed surface is finely reticulated, requires 10x hand lens to see. The root system consists of a short crown with fibrous roots.

Plantain arrived in the Americas on the soles of European shoes and planted itself throughout the continent, hence its nickname “Whiteman’s Footprint”. The Native Americans observed that it followed the white man, springing up underneath his feet wherever he walked. Soon adopted into their herbal medicine, Plantain leaves were used by Native Americans to heal wounds, reduce inflammation, staunch bleeding and to soothe stings, burns and rashes. They were taken internally for many complaints including coughs, colds, bronchitis, diarrhea, gastritis, hemorrhoids and bladder infections. They carried the powdered root with them as an antidote to snake bites and to draw out other poisonous toxins.

In the Highlands of Scotland Plantain is called “Slan-Lus”, meaning “the plant of healing”, for its great reputation as a wound healer. It is also called Healing Blade from its use in treating wounds, especially from swords such as the famous Scottish Claymore. The leaves were heated and used to staunch blood flow and encourage repair to damaged tissue.

Erasmus, in his book “Colloquia”, tells a story of a toad that was bitten by a spider, but immediately chewed on a Plantain leaf, relieving itself of any ill effects of the poison.

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use
It is common that 10g of a fresh herb = 1g when dehydrated.
Recommended daily amount: 1 -2 tsp of plantain leaves (1-2 g)/use, up to 3 times/day. This can be added to food, drink or to make tea.