How to Use Plantain Medicinally

If you live in the United States or many other parts of the world, you may be familiar with the weed called plantain even if you don't know its name. This small green plant with a cluster of broad, flat leaves and tall seed spikes grows in many places and conditions, ranging from the side of the road to the middle of the forest. Many people may be surprised to learn that you can use plantain medicinally, in a variety of ways.

Instructions

• 1

  Eat plantain. While the leaves can become tough as they grow older, the young leaves are an edible green. Remove the stringy veins if you like, then eat the young leaves raw or use them in cooking. Like most green leafy plants, plantain is quite nutritious.

• 2

  Use plantain as a poultice. Chew some leaves or grind them with a bit of water, then apply the paste externally. Plantain is used in this way for soothing skin rashes and helping to heal minor wounds. It contains chemicals that reduce bleeding, scarring and infection.

• 3

  Make a plantain oil. Chop fresh leaves and place them in a small ceramic or glass container with a food-grade oil, then leave in a moderately warm place for a week or so to allow the oil to become infused with the plant's qualities. This oil can be stored in the refrigerator for longer than the fresh leaves and used externally for mild skin irritations including cradle cap. It can also be made into a healing salve or lotion.

• 4

  Use plantain medicinally by making a tea. Chop a tablespoon of fresh of dry leaves and pour hot water over them, allow to sit for five to ten minutes and then strain. This tea or broth contains many of the nutrients found in plantain, and can also be effective for curing some infections and reducing congestion.

• 5

  Treat insect bites by using plantain compresses and tea. The plant contains anti-toxins that can be surprisingly effective against damaging bites like that of the brown recluse spider. If a bite is serious you should always seek a medical opinion, but in some cases the plantain treatment may even be more effective than the allopathic alternatives.