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Plantain, as befits a weed, grows along paths, village roads, in yards and gardens throughout Russia, with the exception of the regions of the far north. Its beneficial properties have been known since the Middle Ages. The brilliant physician Avicenna used the leaves of this plant to stop bleeding against the background of ulcers and inflammations. Plantain was also used for medicinal purposes in Russia. The people called him a roadside, rannik, grandmother and even boil grass.
In botany, it is described as a perennial, herbaceous plant with short rhizomes and fibrous roots with succulent leaves in the shape of an ellipse, and a peduncle height of up to 45 cm. Several species are included in the plantain genus, but large plantain is used in pharmacology. Nature endowed the seeds of this plant with the ability to stick to people’s shoes, animal fur and car tires, and thus spread everywhere.
Plantain begins to bloom in the spring, this process continues until the end of summer. Plantain bears fruit from June to October.
Leaves are used as a medicinal raw material. They are cut with a knife during the summer away from roads and chemical plants. Then they are sorted out, washed with running water and dried in a place closed from the sun. Dried leaves are sorted again, throwing away all withered ones, and stored in wooden boxes or canvas bags for no more than 3 years. Plantain is recognized as official medicine, so it can be purchased at a pharmacy in different forms:
- crushed leaves in a pack;
- crushed leaves in filter bags;
- plantain tincture;
- plantain juice;
- plantain extract;
- plantain ointment;
- psyllium cough syrup.
Plantain leaves are also added to vitamin salads and spring soups. In cosmetology, its medicinal properties are used to eliminate acne, wrinkles, oily skin and dandruff.
Medicinal properties of plantain leaves
Plantain leaves contain a rich complex of active substances, including aukubin glycoside with the widest spectrum of action. This substance has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, has antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and sedative properties. Therefore, preparations based on the leaves of the plant normalize the functioning of the stomach and intestines and are effective in the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
Along with glycoside aucubin, plantain leaves are rich in trace elements such as calcium and magnesium, contain flavonoids and saponins, bitter and tannins, vitamins K and U, carotene and pectin, ascorbic, citric and oleanolic acids. Therefore, infusions and extracts from plantain leaves are used to increase the secretion of the stomach.
Mucus in the composition of the plant protects the respiratory tract, dilutes sputum and relieves the inflammatory process. Pectins protect the stomach from ulcers, reduce cholesterol and, in some cases, lower blood pressure.
Official medicine uses the seeds and leaves of plantain for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.
Due to its wide spectrum of action, the plant is included in many medicinal preparations, as well as multicomponent chest and expectorant preparations. Based on the extract of plantain leaves, Plantaglucid is produced for the treatment of acute and chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, enterocolitis, dysbacteriosis, rhinitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and whooping cough.
When applied externally, it is effective for dermatitis, wounds, cuts, bruises, trophic ulcers, boils, abscesses and burns. Plantain is also part of the Herbion and Eucabal herbal cough syrups and the general strengthening elixir Evalar. Essences from fresh plantain are popular in homeopathy.
Plantain leaf contraindications
Despite the fact that plantain is called the safest among plants, it also has contraindications. Preparations based on it are forbidden to use in case of exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Plantain leaves should be replaced with the seeds of the same plant for gastritis with high acidity.
Preparations with plantain should not be used for thrombophlebitis, allergies and poor blood clotting.
And although there is no data on the dangers of plantain for pregnant and lactating women, doctors still recommend coordinating its use and dosage with your doctor.
The use of plantain leaves
Plantain is used as an antispasmodic, stimulant and expectorant, so it is part of many herbal remedies to stimulate the secretory-motor function of the gastrointestinal tract and bronchi.
Decoctions and infusions of plantain leaves, as a tonic, are used for inflammation of the bladder, enuresis and impotence.
In mixtures with other plants, it is used to treat prostate adenoma, male infertility and prostatitis.
In folk medicine, plantain leaves, as an additional treatment, are most often used for the following conditions:
With diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
As mentioned above, plantain leaves can treat gastritis without low acidity, as well as stomach and intestinal ulcers, enterocolitis and gastritis with low acidity. To do this, use juice, decoctions, infusions and syrups.
Pharmaceutical juice
Pharmaceutical ready juice diluted in 50 ml of boiled water.
Take 1 tbsp. spoon three times a day for 15 – 20 minutes before meals for 30 days.
Homemade juice
Pour the washed plantain leaves with boiling water, pass through a meat grinder and squeeze the juice through a dense cloth. Dilute the resulting juice with boiled water in a ratio of 1:1 and boil for no more than 3 minutes.
Take chilled juice, like its pharmacy version, 1 tbsp. spoon three times a day before meals, but without diluting with water. If necessary, it can be frozen in the freezer for the winter.
In addition to the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, juice is an excellent means of preventing heart disease, it is effective in neurosis, has tonic properties, lowers cholesterol, blood pressure and is able to suppress the growth of pathogenic staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococcus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Therefore, externally they can treat boils, swelling after bruises, dermatitis and the effects of insect bites.
When coughing
Hot infusions from plantain increase the activity of the respiratory tract, which contributes to the thinning and excretion of sputum with cough in acute respiratory viral infections, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, whooping cough and even tuberculosis.
hot infusion
1 st. pour a spoonful of dry crushed leaves with a glass of boiling water, put in a warm place or wrap with a warm cloth for 15 minutes, then strain.
Infusion to use an hour before meals for 1 tbsp. spoon. During the day, you need to drink the whole glass. With SARS, the infusion can be mixed in equal parts with honey and drunk 1 tbsp. spoon 4 times a day.
Plantain tea for children
Pour boiling water over 3 teaspoons of dry leaves and leave for at least 15 minutes.
With diarrhea
Plantain leaves are a reliable remedy for diarrhea, as the substances in their composition relax the muscles of the intestines and reduce pain during spasms.
decoction
In an enameled bowl, pour 2 tbsp. spoons of plantain leaves and pour them with 1 cup of boiling water. Cover the dishes with a lid and heat in a boiling water bath for half an hour.
For the treatment of wounds, burns and boils
Antimicrobial, bactericidal and hemostatic properties of plantain leaves are known to all. At the same time, only clean leaves can be applied to wounds, and not torn off somewhere near the road, otherwise the procedure will turn out not only ineffective, but also dangerous.
- Fresh leaf bandages
Rinse fresh leaves well, cut across and apply in layers to damaged skin, fixing with a bandage. For burns, such dressings need to be changed several times a day, and for burns every hour.
- Ointment for scarring of the skin with ulcers and abscesses
Mix dried and powdered plantain leaves with a few drops of vegetable oil and petroleum jelly in a ratio of 1:9.
- Homemade plaster for boils
Mix crushed fresh plantain leaves with salt, lard, black bread crumb and apply to the abscess overnight.
With diabetes mellitus
As a universal medicinal plant, plantain can be effective in the treatment of digestive system disorders associated with diabetes mellitus.
Infusion
2 tbsp. spoons of leaves pour a glass of boiling water and heat in a water bath for half an hour.
Cooled and filtered infusion drink half a glass 15 minutes before meals 3 times a day.
Reviews of doctors about plantain leaves
Svetlana Barnaulova, candidate of medical sciences, cardiologist of the highest category, phytotherapist:
– Large plantain is a very affordable plant, which confirms its name. In the USSR, the leaves of the plant were used as raw materials for antiulcer drugs, such as Plantaglucid. Today we use psyllium in preparations for the treatment of patients with gastroenterological problems, gastritis, peptic ulcer, and other intestinal disorders. Aqueous infusions and decoctions of the leaves can be used to treat bronchopulmonary diseases as an expectorant and improve the functioning of the bronchial mucosa and alveoli. This allows the use of plantain in preparations for the treatment of patients with coronavirus infection and those who are undergoing rehabilitation after this virus.