Plantain

(no relation to the tropical cooking banana by the same name)
An Herbal Narrative

Plantago Major
Plantago Minor.

“I need a bandaid.”
“Look down. Your standing on one.”

This hearty little plant came here with colonizers and has been working tirelessly to knit the soil back together and keep it spongy after and during the trampling and ravaging settlers have brought with them. Work as they may, the challenge is too big, and that is why you see plantain still today, on the path side, between sidewalk blocks, at your front step, and hearty even when underfoot.

The medicine this plant offers for soil works for our bodies as well. Topically this plant is a perfect trail side first aid. Chew the leaves to a pulp and apply to small cuts & abrasions, bee stings, nettle stings, and sunburns. It helps stop bleeding, supports tissue regeneration, and has antiseptic qualities. Knowledge of the plantain poultice is a prerequisite for a trip to the local clothing optional beach, for dusting off your old skateboard, for blisters from those shoes that just don’t fit, or for your child’s first encounter with rollerskates.

As you chew it, you will notice an incredible nutty flavor. The leaves of the broadleaf plantain are choice for salads when young but may be more suited as a potherb when they are older. Late in the season I love reaching into it’s central whirl, plucking it’s stem and pulling it through my teeth to fill my mouth with seeds. The plantagonacea family includes sillium so the seeds can be a good fiber bulking agent when seeking to stay regular and keep good gut health. I have yet to try the roots, but I’ve heard they have folk use in working with fever and respiratory infections.

Plantago Major and Plantago Lancelata are just about the same in use, however the wide leaves and heavily laden seed stalks of P. Major, or broadleaf plantain, are nice.