Plantain

(Plantago major)

Where is it found?        

Plantain is very common in moist wet places, lawns, and wet meadows and along stream beds in mountains.  

What does it look like?

The plant is a perennial herb with parallel veins of the leaves.  It has light green brown flowering stalks that are densely covered along the tips with yellow green flowers (Moore, 1979).

What are the medical uses?         

Plantain is used for treating insect bites and stings, snake bites, sunburn, poison ivy, rashes, blisters, burns, and cuts (kershaw, 2000). It is also used to treat cancer, coughs, hypertension and mouth sores. Plantain also has anti-inflammatory effects.

What chemicals are in it?         

Plantain is rich in vitamins A, C, and K.  They also contain eleven different chemicals with antihypertensive activities.  These chemicals are Alpha-Linolenic-Acid, Arginine, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium, Fiber, Gaba, Magnesium, Potassium, Quercetin, Rutin, and Tryptophan (Dr. Duke, 2003).  Other chemicals include Flavonoids, Allantoin, and Tannin.