Plantain

This is my absolute favorite herb for skin irritations and it grows absolutely everywhere.

Parts used- entire plant

Medicinal- Diuretic, antiseptic, astringent, removes obstructions, anti-venom, food poisoning. As an herbal tea for colds- 1 Tbsp. Dry or fresh whole plant per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes, strain and add honey. Drink throughout the day. As a healing salve- in a large non-metallic pan place 1 lb of entire plant chopped and 1 cup of lard, cover, cook down on low heat till all is mushy and green. Strain while hot. Cook and use for burns, insect bites, rashes and all sores. Can also be used as a night cream for wrinkles. Works wonders with spider bites especially the horrible wolf spiders.

The Leaves- may be used in salads or as a potherb. Eat raw, steam, boil, sauté, drink cooking liquid. Use in soups and stews. Dry and freeze. A remedy for cuts, sores, burns, snake and bug bites and inflammations. When pounded into a paste and applied to wounds, it will help stop the bleeding. Rub directly on bites and stings. Good for any skin infections: boils, carbuncles, tumors. A tea will ease bowel pain. It will help clear the head of mucus and kill worms in the stomach and bowels. Take a leaf or 2 and put it in your mouth. Chew it up until it becomes a paste. Don’t swallow. Apply this paste as a poultice to any skin infections, bites, stings, etc. you can also mash it up in a cuisinart and a little warm water. Cover with cloth to keep the area clean.

Seeds- Run your finger up the spikes to gather seeds. Use for baking, spice, sprouting. Dry and ground into meal. they make a good laxative when soaked in water and eaten raw. A tea made from the seeds helps with diarrhea, dysentery and bleeding from the mucus membranes. Contains a soothing effect. Anti-bacterial, dry cough, cardiac, diuretic, expectorant, ophthalmic, poultice, fever reducer.

Nutritional- Vitamins C, K, T (strengthens red blood cells & stops bleeding), Calcium, Oxalic Acids.

Magical- (from Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs)
Bind the plantain with red wool to the head to cure headaches and place beneath the feet to remove weariness. Plantain is also hung in the car to guard against the intrusion of evil spirits. A piece of the root in the pocket protects its bearer from snakebites. Healing, strength, protection, snake repellant.

Gender- feminine
Planet- Venus
Element- Earth

From time to time I will be posting information on various plants, herbs, etc. As with anything taken medicinally, you should contact your doctor first to make sure it is safe for you. If you think you have an allergy to any of the herbs, plants, etc that I talk about you should stop using it immediately and contact your doctor.
If you are eating anything that you are picking or harvesting yourself make sure that you are properly identifying the plant. Many plants look very similar and are hard to identify. Make sure that you do your own research on an herb before consumption. Make sure that you are not eating plants that are growing by the side of the road (car exhaust and road dust is not healthy), near a swimming pool (chlorine can splash onto the plants), where you think an animal has defecated or urinated or anywhere else that is subject to fertilizers, weed killers or any other chemicals.