PLANTAGO MAJOR & PLANTAGO LANCEOLATA

COMMON NAME  : Plantain and ribwort plantain

FAMILY  :        Plantaginaceae (Plantain family)

HABIT / GROWING  :  Both common native perennials of waysides and grassland.

PARTS USED  :         Leaves but in the past also roots and flower spikes.

TRADITIONAL & MODERN USE:

Once used to treat snake bites and rabies plus kidney disease, tuberculosis, bowel complaints & haemorrhoids, inflammatory skin disease & malaria. Gaelic name is Slan-lus meaning plant of healing. Some authors prefer P. lanceolata for pulmonary and P. major for urinary conditions while others prefer one or the other for everything.

Nowadays it is used for inflammatory conditions of  the respiratory system, urinary tract and bowels.

CONSTITUENTS:

·        Aucubin (anti-inflammatory)

·        salicylates (anti-inflammatory & analgesic but contradindicated for asthma)

·        soothing mucilage and astringent tannins that help healing of skin & mucous membranes anywhere in the  

          body.