Our herb of the week is Plantain.
Plantain is a fantastic herb that grows just about everywhere. With Summer headed our way and with all the insects that come along with it, Plantain is a definite must get to know herb.
Plantain is demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, astringent, vulnerary, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, nutritive, and analgesic. It is great for things like dry coughs, ulcers, GI inflammation, wounds, healing tissues, and drawing out splinters. Plantain is cooling and is so good for hot conditions like insect bites, hot, itchy rashes, redness, and inflammation.
A few ways to prepare Plantain are as an infusion, poultice, tincture, vinegar, food, oil or salve.
One of the easiest ways to use Plantain is by making a tea with it. You can make it ahead of time and keep in the fridge until needed. It is very versatile and can be used for a number of conditions such as:
For the mouth...swishing the tea can help treat mouth ulcers, bleeding gums, and killing off the germs that cause bad breath.
For the body...you can use Plantain tea to soothe and heal a sunburns, hemorrhoids, insect stings, rashes caused by nettle, poison oak, poison ivy, eczema or even psoriasis.
Internally Plantain tea can help with constipation and relieve indigestion.
Plantain can be eaten in salads ans sandwiches, providing your body with vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants.
The simplest way to use plantain by far is to just pluck a leaf, chew it up to moisten and soften it and apply as a poultice. Use for most any of the above afflictions.
I hope you get to know Plantain and it's many uses.
