Western Herbalism
Plantain
Plantago lanceolata
Also known as Ribwort, Common Plantain, General Plantain, Greater Plantain, eur, pro parte, Plantago, Rib wort.
External. The crushed leaves very promptly relieve the distressing symptoms caused by punctures from the horny appendages of larvae of lepidoptera and the irritation produced by certain caterpillars, as well as the stings of insects and bites of spiders.
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Cuts
- Wounds
- Poison oak rash
- Urinary tract infection
- Infection
- Skin abrasions
- Poison ivy rash
- Hematuria
- Congestion (respiratory)
- Cough
- Irritated skin conditions
- Bronchitis
- Bites
- Stings
- Sepsis
- Hemorrhoids
- Burns
- Bleeding
- Diarrhea
- Dry cough
- Hemorrhage
- Mucosal irritation
- Respiratory congestion
- Sore throat
- Respiratory complaints
- Urinary complaints
- Excessive discharge
- Chronic skin conditions
- Metabolic waste accumulation
- Cystitis with haematuria
Safety
No toxicity, pregnancy or breastfeeding flag is recorded for this plant. That is the record speaking, not a promise; the library carries the full safety section.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Cold infusion/Infusion | 1 Tbs/c TID | |
| Tincture (1:5) | 3-5 ml TID | 3-5 mL |
| Dried leaf 2-4 g as an infusion three times daily | 2000-4000 mg | |
| (G7) Liquid extract 2-4 mL (1 : 1 in 25% alcohol) three times daily .(G7) Tincture 2-4 mL (1 : 5 in 45% alcohol) three times daily | 2-4 mL | |
| Dose, 1 to 60 drops. | 0.02-1.2 mL | |
| The tops and roots, in strong decoction, have been highly recommended in syphilitic, mercurial, and scrofulous diseases, in the dose of from 2 to 4 fluid ounces, 3 or 4 times a day. | 59.15-118 mL |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Action and Therapy. External. The crushed leaves very promptly relieve the distressing symptoms caused by punctures from the horny appendages of larvae of lepidoptera and the irritation produced by certain caterpillars, as well as the stings of insects and bites of spiders.
Therapy. The remedy is of value in the internal treatment of all diseases of the blood. Scrofula, syphilis, specific or non-specific glandular disease, and mercurial poisoning. It is used in ulcerations of the mucous membrane, due to depraved conditions.
Properties and Uses. The roots and leaves are diffusively relaxant and stimulant, leaving behind a gentle tonic impression. They are not of strong power, and a concentrated decoction (or fluid extract) is required for internal use.
Medical Uses and Dosage. Hydro-alcoholic extract of water plantain is astringent, and has been used with much success in Asiatic cholera, diarrhoea, and dysentery. The dose is from 1 to 10 grains, repeated every 1, 2, or 3 hours, as the urgency of the case requires (Wm. S. Merrell).
Drawn from Cook's Physio-Medical Dispensatory; King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd); Ellingwood's American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy; Felter's Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.
In formulas
Plantain stands in 34 documented formulas in the library, among them sõu fêng shùn gì wán, ging xin lián zi yin, lóng dǎn xiè gàn tāng, zhù jing wán, zhù jing wán jia jiǎn fang, jià wei shèn gì wán.
Often paired with
PoriaWolfiporia extensa
Water PlantainAlisma plantago-aquatica
Licorice rootGlycyrrhiza glabra
AkebiaAkebia quinata
Zhi ZiGardenia jasminoides
Chinese skullcapScutellaria baicalensisNearby on the shelf
PipsissewaChimaphila umbellata
Pitcher PlantSarracenia purpurea
Plantago afraPlantago afra
Plantago cordataPlantago cordata
Pleurisy rootAsclepias tuberosa
Pointed gourdTrichosanthes dioica
Poison HemlockConium maculatum
Poke rootPhytolacca americanaThe whole plate is in the library. The compass, Compare, the Sky of eleven hundred plants and the formulary open with an email address and a password, free, with the formula builder and its safety engine. Herbert without limit, his formulating, clients, the handouts and the labels are the paid room.
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