English Plantain

Eastern Deciduous Forest, Tall Grass Prairie

English Plantain 

English Plantian, Common Plantain 

Plantago Lanceolata

http://www.galtt.ca/english_plantain.jpg

Habitat: waste areas, lawns, fields, rights-of-way, gardens and other disturbed places, often in dry soils, found state-wide in Missouri 

Seasons: Blooms April-October

Aucubin: C₁₅H₂₂O₉
http://www.apexbt.com//media/diy/images/structpng/N2758.png

Active Chemical Ingredients:

Apigenin:C₁₅H₁₀O₅      http://www.tocris.com/image.php?ItemId=2052

• The tannins (astringent)
• allantoin (promotes wound healing, speeds up cell regrowth/healing and softens skin)
• apigenin (anti-inflammatory flavonoid, sedative, anaesthetic, alterative, antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-toxic ,anti-histamin, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic)
• aucubin (a glycoside, a powerful anti-toxin, increases uric acid excretioin by the kidneys)
• baicalein, linoleic acid, oleanolic acid, sorbitol and iridoid glycosides in plantain are considered the major factors in making it a mild anti-inflammatory
• antimicrobial, antihemorrhagic and an expectorant
• Verbascoside is hydrophilic in nature and possesses pharmacologically beneficial activities for human health, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic properties in addition to numerous wound-healing and neuroprotective properties
• C₂₆H₃₆O₁₅

  

  http://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/V/Vervain/Verbascoside.png

Uses of Specimen : 

• Poultices/lotions (leaves and juice) for treating:
• sunburns 
• stings
• insect bites
• snakebites
• poison ivy
• rashes
• burns from fire
• burns from oil
• cuts
• skin complaints
• wounds
• swelling
• sprains
• blisters  

• Leaves (heated) applied topically for sprains 
• Treatment for tick bites (immediately rub crushed leaves to area to prevent swelling and itching)
• Treatment for burns, dermatitis, insect bites (crush leaves, cream, slave, or poultice)
• Treatment for rope burn (Fresh chewed leaves or crush dried leaves into powder and blend with water, apply as topical)
• Treatment for deep puncture wound- draws out infection, splinters, thorns, venom, and inflammation (hot-leaf poultice)
• Rattlesnake bite treatment from roots
• Treatment of Frostbite (leaves applied externally)
• Treatment of sore throats 
• Used for anti-inflammatory effects (1 cup decoction, 3-4 times daily)
• Stops Bleeding because it is rich in tannin (which helps draw tissues together to stop bleeding)  (decoction (boiling) of dried leaves)
• Anti-Bacterial (leaf and seed extracts)
• Seeds were also widely used as a natural laxative (high in fiber)
• Treatment of Diarrhea (use plant to make teas or decoction of the roots)
• Relieve of toothaches (use the roots)

 Recipes:
Infusion: steep 1 tbsp. leaves in 1/2 cup water for 5 minutes.  Take 1 cup a day.
Decoction: boil 2 oz. dried leaves in 1/2 qt. water.  Helps coagulate blood.
Juice: take 1 tbsp. in water or milk or mixed with 1 tbsp. honey, 3 times a day.
Ointment: for hemorrhoids, boil 2 oz. of the plant in 1 pint soybean or peanut oil.

Resources:

• Miller, Jordan, & Miller, Kayla. (2012, March 27). The Medicinal Properties of Plantain. Retrieved September 5, 2015, from http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/medicinal-properties-plantain 
• DeVries, L. Plantain-Medical Herb Info. Retrieved September 5, 2015, from http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Plantain.html.
• Plantain Herbal Remedies. Retrieved September 5, 2015, from http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Plantain-Herbal-Remedies
• Medicinal Uses of Plantain. (n.d.). Retrieved September 5, 2015, from http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbPlantainMed.htm
  Ahlborn, Margaret L.  Herbal Legacy. Plantain. Retrieved September, 5, 2015, from http://herballegacy.com/Ahlborn_Chemical.html.
• English Plantain. (n.d.). Retrieved September 5, 2015, from http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/english-plantain