About Plantain Leaves

Identifiying Plantain

• Plantain is a humble plant often found growing along roadsides as well as in parks, meadows and abandoned lots. Despite its many favorable qualities, it's often considered a weed. The plantain plant can be identified by its fibrous, smooth, broad, deeply veined 4- to 10-inch-long leaves, which are arranged in low-growing rosettes. Long green spikes bearing tiny flowers arise from the center of each rosette.

Historical Use of Plantain

• The ancient Irish used plantain to heal wounds, calling it the "healing herb." In Anglo-Saxon lore, it was listed among the nine sacred herbs. Pliny mentioned plantain as an effective cure for "the madness of dogs," and Erasmus praised its effectiveness against poisonous spider bites.

Medicinal and Culinary Use of Plantain

• In his book "Foraging New England," Tom Seymour suggests using crushed plantain leaves as a substitute for calamine lotion. This herb has long been employed to heal minor wounds, scrapes, bites and burns. Seymour also praises plantain as an edible vegetable, particularly when steamed. According to Botanical.com, plantain leaves possess diuretic, astringent and cooling properties.