English Plantain

(Plantago lanceolata)

Other Names:
Narrowleaf plantain, ribwort plantain, ribleaf

Range:


Family:
Plantaginaceae – Plantain family

Growth Type:
An herbaceous Perennial plant that prefers to grow amongst a variety of other plants, usually in fields and meadows.

Height:
Can reach 12-18 inches in height

Leaves:
s the name implies, the leaves are lance shaped, or grass-like, and prefer to grow amongst a variety of other plants, usually in fields and meadows. Like P. major, the leaves of P. lanceolata have 5 prominent, parallel veins running their length.

Stem/Trunk:
N/A

Root:
Leafstalks emanate from a fibrous root mass.

Flower Season:
Mid-Summer

Flower Appearance:
The summer flower stalk rises a couple of feet from the ground and is capped by a tiny, green cattail-like "cob", from which little tiny flowers sparsely bloom in a halo.

Seed/Fruit:
Unremarkable

Miscellaneous characteristics:
While there are no poisonous look alikes, if you slowly break the stem of the plantain leaf and pull apart slowly, you will notice the veins remain attached. This is a simple test to verify you have the correct plant.

Habitat:
Compacted disturbed soils. lawns, pastures, meadows, cracks in sidewalks, waste places and disturbed habitats throughout the United States.

Parts Used:
Leaves, seeds, roots

Culinary Uses:
Add leaves to salads, or use as a cooked vegetable

The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.

Medicinal Uses:
Used for centuries as a panacea (a medicinal cure-all), plantain contains Allantoin, a natural cell proliferant, which has been shown to speed up the natural replacement of cells. This explains the almost miraculous healing benefits I have experienced with this plant. I nake a healing ointment from plantain that is positively amazing. Follow this link for photographic evidence of the amazing healing benefits of my plantain ointment.

The Aucubin in plantain is considered to be an excellent antimicrobial and antiviral. I believe these terms to be misnomers, as plantain does not kill viruses, but rather the aucubin disrupts their ability to replicate. Recent clinical trials have found that aucubin inhibts mitotic cell division in a broad array of viruses. Most viruses are short lived. Their virulence stems from their ability to replicate. Remove that ability, and you remove their virulence. In the event you become ill from a virus, plantain will drastically reduce the length of that illness.

Along with their wonderful healing and antimitotic effects I have also found plantain leaves to be highly effective at treating insect bites and stings. I have also used it to soothe the rashes associated with poison ivy and poison oak. My son came home from his mother's house covered in mosquito bites. He was itching himself crazy. I applied some plantain ointment I had made, and he stopped itching almost instantly. The next day, there was no swelling or inflammation, and most of the bites were completely gone. My son had to undergo allergy testing. As picture #1 will show, his skin reacted almost immediately. Once the doctor evaluated his reaction, I immediately applied an ointment of Plantain and Jewelweed. As you will see by picture #2, the reaction was gone a short time later. Follow this link to view these photos.

Other clinical trials have shown plantain to slow or stop the growth of multiple cancers. Here is a link to a published study outlining the cytotoxic effects of Plantago spp., on various types of human cancer cells.

Medicinal Actions:
Alexiteric, Alterative, Anticancer, Anti-Infective, Antimitotic, Antineoplastic, Antitussive, Antivenin, Astringent, Bitter, Demulcent, Diuretic, Emollient, Expectorant, Haemostatic, Pectoral, Vulnerary