Monograph: Plantain

Botanical Name:

Plantago major (Broadleaf Plantain)
Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)

Common Names:
Plantain, Common Plantain, Broadleaf Plantain, Ribwort, Waybread

Family:
Plantaginaceae

Plant Description:
Plantago major features broad, oval leaves in a basal rosette with prominent parallel veins. Plantago lanceolata has narrow, lance-shaped leaves with a similar rosette pattern. Both species produce slender flowering spikes with tiny greenish flowers. Hardy perennials, often overlooked as common “weeds.”

Habitat & Cultivation:
Native to Europe and naturalized throughout North America. Grows in lawns, pathways, roadsides, fields, and disturbed soils. Tolerates foot traffic and poor soils. Cultivated with ease and spreads by seed. Prefers sun to partial shade and moist, compacted soils.

Parts Used:
Leaves, seeds, and roots

Harvesting:

• Leaves: Best when young and tender, harvested throughout spring and summer
• Seeds: Collected when mature (late summer to early fall)
• Roots: Dug in early spring or fall if used medicinally

Traditional Uses:

• Soothes inflamed or irritated tissues (internal and external)
• Used as a poultice for wounds, bites, stings, and burns
• Traditional remedy for diarrhea, bronchitis, and urinary tract irritation
• Chewed fresh for toothaches or gum pain
• Known as “waybread” for its use by travelers and pilgrims

Modern Applications:

• Mucilage in leaves soothes mucous membranes (throat, lungs, digestive tract)
• Antibacterial and astringent action aids wound healing
• Used in herbal cough syrups and lozenges
• Supports digestion and elimination
• Seeds (psyllium) used as a gentle bulk-forming laxative

Preparations:

• Infusion: Dried or fresh leaves for internal use
• Tincture: Leaves or roots for respiratory and urinary support
• Poultice: Crushed fresh leaves applied directly to skin
• Salve or oil: Infused leaves for topical healing
• Syrup: Combined with honey for soothing coughs

Dosage:

• Infusion: 1 cup up to 3x daily (1–2 tsp dried leaf per cup boiling water)
• Tincture: 2–4 mL, 2–3x daily
• Topical: Apply freely as needed
• Seeds: 1–2 tsp soaked in water for gentle laxative effect

Constituents:
Mucilage, allantoin, aucubin (iridoid glycoside), tannins, flavonoids, silica, potassium salts

Mechanism of Action:

• Mucilage coats and protects irritated tissues
• Aucubin provides antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects
• Allantoin promotes cell regeneration and wound healing
• Astringent tannins tone and tighten inflamed tissues
• Seeds act as fiber to promote regular elimination

Safety & Contraindications:

• Considered safe for all ages when properly used
• Rare allergic reactions may occur (especially topically)
• Avoid if known sensitivity to plantain or related species
• Psyllium-type seeds must be taken with adequate water to avoid choking or obstruction

Historical Context or Folklore:
Used for centuries in European, Indigenous, and monastic medicine. Known as “white man’s footprint” by some North American tribes due to its spread alongside colonizers. Highly valued in medieval herbals for its ability to “draw out poison” and “close wounds.” Frequently carried by travelers for emergency use.

References to Scripture (if applicable):
Although not named in the Bible, plantain’s role in healing aligns with biblical themes of natural provision and restoration (Psalm 104:14 – “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herbs for the service of man…”).

German Common Name:
Spitzwegerich (P. lanceolata), Breitwegerich (P. major)

Other Notes:

• Can be eaten raw in salads or cooked as a pot herb
• An excellent plant for children’s herbal learning due to safety and accessibility
• Combine with yarrow and calendula in first aid preparations

© Triple H Homestead - 2025