Virtual herb walk: Plantain

(This is the first in a series I plan to write all about the wonderfully healthful, helpful and nutritious herbs in your own backyard.)                   

Plantain

Plantain is a common lawn “weed” almost as common as dandelion.  However, you may never have noticed it!  Plantain is squat green plant, with long petioles The leaves are usually either the broad or the lesser or lance variety.  In the center there are the flower stalks, with either flowers growing up the whole stalk or brown compact seed heads. I've seen plantain growing just about everywhere.  In national parks, zoos, playgrounds, out the car window, my own yard, et cetera.  In fact there is a tale that Native Americans called plantain, “white mans footprint.”  Whether that is true I am not sure.  

Now that you know where to find plantain, here's the why.  Plantain has wonderful properties.  The foremost being that it is drawing.  If you find yourself or your child with a bees sting or sting from nettles get yourself some plantain!  Have a splinter?  Plantain!  Find a leaf and either chew it up and apply the chewed herb directly to the skin, this is called a “spit poultice.”  Mosquito bite?  Plantain yo self!  You can either use gauze; wrap it around the affected area.  Or use a band aid.  Change your leaf every few hours until the splinter or stinger is out.  You will see the splinter and be amazed. 

Plantain also has healing properties.  It’s known to heal the same skin it’s just removed the sting from.  I’ve heard of it healing sprained ankles, diaper rash and eczema outbreaks.  I use plantain in my all purpose greenaide salve.  You can even use an infusion as a hot compress on your eyes for conjunctivitis or a sty. 

Now that you know how to find it and how amazing it is, here are simple ways to prepare the herb.  So you can use it all year long and when you are away from home.  The two best ways I can think of are to create and infused oil and then either use that oil to create a salve or use the oil directly. 

To create an infused oil of plantain you need only to harvest enough leaves to mostly fill a jar of your choosing.  The leaves must be dry so it’s best to do this later in the day when the sun has had a chance to evaporate any moisture.  You can chop the plantain if you like, crush it, or leave it whole, then pour over olive oil.  In a little while check to make sure the oil is still covering the herb, then cap your jar, label it, and put it away in the cupboard.  You must wait at least 6 weeks to use this oil.  Strain the oil using a fine mesh strainer or you can use cheese cloth in a larger colander. Store it in your cupboard.  Do not be stingy with your oil, there will be more plantain.  You can do a quickie version by putting the herb and oil into a double boiler and gently heating for a few hours.  You will notice the oil turns greenish.  Be careful not to overheat and scorch your oil or herbs. 

Now you have a very useful oil to apply to wounds, sore spots, stings and splinters.

If you want to make a salve, just add a few shavings of beeswax to the oil after it’s been heated. 

I also keep some dried plantain in the herb cabinet to make last minute poultices.  You can harvest the leaves and dry them on a cookie sheet in the sun.  It doesn’t take long to dry plantain. 

Cicly Mary Barker

I hope I’ve encouraged you to give plantain a try or at least to look for it next time you are outside.  It really is a wonderful herb.