Page 121 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

mostly eclipsed by the greenish-brown sepals and Snake Bite:
bracts. The flowering stalks rise high above the foliage. For snakebite,
The plants produce many tiny, bitter-tasting seeds. use plantain
Plantago lanceolata, narrow-leafed plantain, can be both internally
used like P. major. and externally.
Apply a poul-
Edible Use: The leaves and seeds are edible. I enjoy
the leaves in a salad and gather them while they are tice of fresh
still very young and tender and I love to strip the seeds plantain leaves
and pop them in my mouth. As they age, they become directly to the
tough and fibrous, but they can be cooked in soups and bite to draw out Plantain leaf and flower stalk, By Rasbak -
stews. The seeds are sometimes ground into a flour ex- the venom and Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
tender or substitute, but they are so tiny that it takes a take 2 tablespoons of freshly pressed plantain juice or
lot of time and energy to gather enough to make it 1 teaspoon of Plantain Tincture. The tincture can also
worthwhile. be used as a poultice if fresh leaves are not readily
available. For snakebite, much depends on the kind of
Medicinal Use: The plantain herb has many medic- snake and the quick administration of remedies.
inal qualities. It is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-
oxidant, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, hepatopro- Cystitis, Diarrhea, Respiratory Tract Infec-
tective, immune modulating, and a weak antibiotic. tions, Ulcers, and Colitis: The juice of common
plantain leaves is beneficial for calming inflammation
Healing Wounds, Sores, Insect Bites, and of the mucous membranes, including the membranes
Rashes: A poultice made from crushed plantain of the respiratory tract, digestive tract, and urinary
leaves is a good choice to promote healing in minor tract.
wounds, sores, and insect bites or stings. It will ward
off infection, help stop bleeding, and reduce inflamma- Plantain for Autoimmune Diseases and
tion, taking away Leaky Gut: For autoimmune conditions and other
the sting or itch. chronic diseases, try drinking Plantain Tea twice daily
A spit poultice is or take it in tincture form. The benefits build up over
easily made time. Just like Plantain works on your skin it also pro-
when you are vides healing inside your gut. For Leaky Gut eat fresh
bitten. Plantain leaves and drink it juiced or as a tea daily. Tincture is
has an excellent also effective but supplementing with fresh plantain or
drawing effect, tea helps the plantain reach the gut lining for direct
and can remove healing.
venom or a Toothache: The direct application of plantain on a
stinger. My kids toothache or dental infection is very effective in reliev-
know that if they ing swelling, infection, and pain. I like to combine it
get bitten or with the application of clove oil. Both can be soaked on
stung to chew cotton and packed into the infected area. Dried leaves
some plantain can be used if fresh are not available.
and apply it for
almost immedi- Sore Throats and Swelling of the Gums: Add
ate relief. If a a tablespoon of pressed plantain juice to a half cup of
wound is infected, I combine plantain with an herb water and use as a gargle at the first sign of a sore
with more antibiotic action such as yarrow. To make a throat. It also reduces the inflammation in gum tissue.
poultice, crush, chew, or bruise fresh plantain leaves Constipation, Intestinal Worms and In-
and apply them directly to the affected skin. Cover the flammatory Bowel Disease: Plantain seeds are
leaves with a gauze wrapping to hold it in place. excellent at relieving constipation and intestinal
Change the poultice as needed. worms because of the fiber and mucilage released in
the infusion. To relieve constipation, try drinking 1 cup

120