When I talk about plantain, many people think about the fruit. Well, those are not plentiful throughout the United States. I am talking about the herb. This herb is so beneficial! I use this her bquite frequently, especially this time of year. Many times we will see plantain growing in driveways, sidewalks and in the yard. This herb is so useful for skin irritations. If you are freshly bit by a mosquito, crush up some plantain and rub it on the bite….instant relief! If you have a rash, plantain is great for easing the irritation. Every year I pick fresh plantain from our yard and add olive oil to it. We shake it a couple times per week for 4-6 weeks, then strain the plantain out, leaving the oil in a jar ready for those summer skin irritations. Plantain’s benefits are remarkable. This herb is full of anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the skin and promote new cell growth. It is also a great and natural option for sunburns and acne. There are 2 types of plantain that are common, broad leaf and narrow leaf. Both have medicinal benefits, but the narrow leaf plantain has more due to it’s smaller composition, packing those benefits into the smaller leaves.
One trick to watch out for is to know what has been sprayed around your area. If you are near fields or in a public area knowing what herbicides and insecticides have been sprayed around the area can be difficult. Also watching out for insect bites in the plants such as the broad leaf plantain picture above. It would be less beneficial to use leaves such as those, but in an emergency situation, it would work. Some recommend chewing the leaf to make a poultice to place on an effected area. I do not recommend that, especially if you are in an unfamiliar area. I mostly recommend grinding the leaf into a poultice to reduce the risk of infection.
If you have further questions about plantain or would like more information on anything in this post, please comment below to learn more about the herbal use of plantain.