One of our most favored herbs, plantago major (a.k.a. plantain), is alas, also a weed. Plantain is a perennial herb, being sure to make it's appearance every year; and therefore is despised for it's abundance and resilience. Many have been taught to despise, spray, kill, and pull weeds in order to maintain a picture perfect lawn. But, in our opinion, if our Lord wanted us to have the picture perfect lawns, then, well, um...we would. He knew what we needed. We believe He knew the herb, plantain, being perfectly suited for the body He created, was better than picture perfect lawns. Lawns that have been treated with man-made chemicals that make our bodies sick and full of toxins.
"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yeilding seed; to you it shall be for meat." Genesis 1:29
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"Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb I have given you all things." Genesis 9:3
Plantago Major is one of the most common species of plantain. It is known as broadleaf plantain because of it's wide, oval leaves. Each leaf has 5-7 stem-like veins on the back that can be seen faintly from the top. It varies greatly in size, depending on habitat and soil conditions. In commonly mowed or gravely areas, where plantain is most easily found, the leaves may only grow to be 3-4 inches in length, while leaves in unmowed meadows and pasture edges are found to be 5-8 inches long. (I say these measurements according to how I have found them over the past few years.) If I find plantain growing in my herb garden while weeding, I will leave it alone, and it will grow to be around 6 inches if it is left untouched.
Plantain is thought to have astringent, anti-inflamatory, anti-venomous, anti-microbal, anodyne, demulcent, vulnerary, and styptic properties, among others.
Here is a quick definition of these healing compounds:
Anti-inflammatory - Constricts blood vessels to stop bleeding, therefore soothing inflamed tissues.
Anti-Venomous - Counteracts animal and insect poison or venom.
Anti-Microbal - Helps the body fight against bacteria, fungi and viruses.
Astringent - Helps pull out toxins from the body, or venom out of a wound.
Anodyne - Soothes and relieves pain.
Demulcent - Herbs, full of mucilage, that protect and soothe inflamed or irritated tissue.
Styptic - Strongly astringent agent that reduces or stops external tissue bleeding.
Vulnerary - Promotes wound healing and normilization of damaged tissue.
Plantain is used in many herbal remedies because it's healing properties are beneficial to many skin and tissue-related ailments such as venomous bites and stings, common rashes, cuts, bleeding wounds, ulcers, and more.
We use plantain throughout the summer, for it is the closest remedy on hand whenever one has been stung, bitten, or cut. How do you prepare plantain for useage? Well, it sometimes depends on how quickly you need it. If you have a rash or sting, you can make a plantain poultice and apply as needed. If you need a remedy immediately, such as right after a sting, crushing and/or chewing plantain leaves and applying on stung area will help to draw the poison out of the bite and will help relieve pain. When I hear a child screaming of a sting, I will run to an area where I know a patch of plantain is growing, chew up a leaf, and apply this green gooey plop onto the affected area. I usually hold this on the wound until the patient has calmed down enough for the stinger to be removed and an herbal salve (containing plantain) is available to be generously applied and covered with a bandage. In my experiences, I have noticed plantain to relieve the pain quickly and effectively.
Here is a few links to some great articles on plantain and it's wonders:
- A. A. Milne, Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh
"A good garden may have some weeds."
- Proverb
"But a weed is simply a plant that wants to grow where people want something else. In blaming nature, people mistake the culprit. Weeds are people's idea, not nature's."
- Anonymous
"Our attitude towards plants is a singularly narrow one. If we see any immediate utility in a plant we foster it. If for any reason we find its presence undesirable or merely a matter of indifference, we may condemn it to destruction forthwith."
- Rachel Carson
"A weed is but an unloved flower."
- Ella Wilcox
"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Fortune of the Republic
Rabits love Plantain too! I used to pick it and give it to them in the cage. When we would let them out it was the first thing that they would go for.
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