Ribwort Plantain - The Wound Healer

Ribwort Plantain, Greater Plantain 

Plantago lanceolata

Ribwort plantain can be found everywhere a human being has walked and worked. The more you stamp out on it or mow it, the better it’ll thrive and grow. You can find it on lawns and footpaths, in parks and meadows. But you should know that this indestructible herb possesses invaluable healing properties. So, have a good look around next time you go for a walk!

Description

A perennial plant flowering April to August. It has long, lanceolate, scarcely toothed and scarcely hairy leaves with deep veins and leafless, silky flower stems.

What’s in it?

The leaves contain mucilage, silic acid, tannin, bitters, flavonoids, the glycoside aucubin and antibiotic substances.

They also contain trace minerals including zinc, iron, calcium and sodium, as well as bitter compounds and vitamins A,C and K.

Properties and Use

Respiratory system

·         It’s used as a mucilage and anti-asthmatic, antispasmodic and antiflammatory drug against a variety of respiratory problems such as coughs, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma, chronic catarrh, emphysema, hoarseness, smoker’s cough

·         It helps to remove the phlegm from the respiratory system and promotes its healing

·         It relieves pain from inflamed gums and tooth infections

Digestive system

·         It is used to treat gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcers and stomach spasms and upset stomach; it stimulates the stomach to secrete gastric juice

·         Diarrhea and food poisoning

Circulatory system

·         It enhances blood coagulation and detoxifies it

·         It decreases  vascular permeability

Urinary system

·         It has natural diuretic properties

·          It alleviates irritation and itching in the intimate region

·         The herb’s also found its use to ease inflamed conditions of the urinary tract such as cystitis, hemorrhage and hemorrhoids as well as parasites (seeds)

Skin

·         Leaves extract is used for wounds, stings, bites, burns, swellings, bruises, boils, abrasion, rashes, cuts, lichen; it stimulates the repair of the damaged tissue

·         Ribwort helps to treat acne

Eyes

·         It can be used to relieve eye inflammation and conjunctivitis (eye lotion)

Food

·         Young leaves of ribwort are edible. Pick them in early spring to use in salads and smoothies or cook in the same way as spinach.

Both raw and dried leaves of ribwort plantain are used in herbal medicine. Syrups, teas, tinctures, infusions, ointments and compresses can be prepared using the leaves.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Herbs may cause allergic reactions, interfere with other medications and supplements or lead to unknown side effects. You should always speak to your doctor if you have any health concerns.

For a full MEDICAL DISCLAIMER, click here.

Ribwort Plantain

Greater Plantain

Ribwort Plantain

Labels: Respiratory system, Digestive system, Circulatory system, Skin, Urinary system, Eyes, Edible herbs, Detox, Ribwort Plantain

Acne, asthma, bites, boils, bronchitis, bruises,  burns, chronic catarrh, conjunctivitis, coughs, cystitis, detoxification, diarrhea, diuretic, emphysema, eye inflammation, food poisoning, gastritis, hemorrhage , hemorrhoids, hoarseness, inflamed gums, lichen, parasites, peptic ulcer, rash, sinusitis, smoker’s cough, stings, upset stomach, vascular permeability, wounds 

I gathered the information from these sources:

Mabey, R.  (2012) Food for Free. London: Harper Collins Publishers

health-from-nature.net/Plantain_Ribwort.html

www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Plantago...

www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/.../plantago-lanceolat.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_lanceolata

pl.herbs2000.com/ziola/babka_lanc.htm

and I used many other internet websites to do the research.