Many medicinal qualities including but not limited to; skin alements, bites, burns, swelling and detoxification.
Plantain Broad Leaf
Plantain has a long history in herbal medicine, and many of its remarkable medicinal qualities have been confirmed by modern science. Externally, it is effective on any kind of skin disorder when the leaves are bruised and simply rubbed on the skin. Alternatively it can be made into an oil or ointment and stored for convenient external use. This is an amazing plant, folks, and it will help with a long list of skin complaints, including rashes, wounds, ulcerations, cuts, swelling, sprains, bruises, burns, eczema, cracked lips, poison ivy, mosquito bites, diaper rash, boils, hemorrhoids, and blisters. It is also effective as an agent that draws out the poison for bee stings, snake bites, and spider bites, and it effectively draws out splinters or thorns and reduces the risk of scarring with more severe cuts and scrapes. Placed in the shoes, the leaves will help prevent blisters on the feet.
If that's not enough, internally the list is even longer for this amazing "weed." Drunk as a tea made from the leaves, Plantain is effective as a general detoxifier in the body, and works remarkably well as a remedy for colds, flu, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, fevers, hypertension, rheumatism, bladder problems, gastritis, ulcers, irritable bowel, cystitis, sinusitis, coughs, kidney stones, intestinal complaints, goiter, PMS, regulating menstrual flow, hoarseness, congestion, hay fever, diarrhea, and as a blood sugar stabilizer in diabetics. The seeds can be dried and infused in water for a soothing eye lotion, as a laxative, and for intestinal worms in children. There is also some indication that taken internally, Plantain can help with smoking cessation by detoxifying the body and thereby reducing cravings.
Plantain also is a valuable food in the spring cooked or raw. Very high in nutrition and fiber. The leaves become very tough and stringy later in the year.
There are no side-effects whatsoever for most of us, but in certain sensitive individuals, minor dermatitis may result from external use.
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