- Botanical Name: Plantago Species
2. Common Name(s): Plantain Leaf
3. Habitat and Growing area: Common weed that grows throughout Europe and North American. It is one of the few plants that can withstand being trodden on, therefore will usually be found growing on paths. Natives called it white man’s foot because it grew on the wagon train trails. This plant grows locally and on our farm.
4. Pertinent Information on the Plant:
- Demulcent (soothing action on inflammation, especially of mucous membranes)
- Vulnerary ( herbs that are applied externally to help heal wounds and cuts)
- Expectorant (facilitates removal of secretions)
- Astringent (agent that constricts and binds by coagulation of proteins on cell surface)
- Alterative (blood purifier)
- Diuretic (increases urine flow)
- Draw out infection (poultice)
- Urinary Astringent (urinary infections)
- Highly nutritional food
- Anti-microbial (destructive to microbes)
- Febrifuge (an agent that reduces or relives a fever)
- Treating blood poisoning – tea internally and externally
- Liver sluggishness
- Inflammation of the digestive tract
- Children’s cuts and scraps
5. Your personal experience with the plant. Include your personal experience of tasting it and its effect on you.
- Bland, some what bitter
- Smooth (thicker) tea due to it being a demulcent, enjoyable tea.
- Love to add this to my morning smoothies!
- Amazing as a first aid herb! Great while camping or out working in fields for cuts and scrapes.
6. The reference books used, author, page
Holistic Herbal
David Hoffmann
Pages 36, 81, 109, 129, 143-47, 191, 203, 224, 241
The way of Herbs
Michael Tierra
Pages 13, 21, 26, 32, 35, 75, 179-80
The complete Encyclopedia of Herbs
Nico Vermeulen
Pages 231-233
Family Herbal
Rosemary Gladstar
Pages 105-106, 193, 357
Peterson Field Guide
Easter/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs
Steven Foster and James A. Duke
Pages N/A
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