Wednesday 19 March 2008

Greater Plantain

My favourite plant, Greater Plantain (Plantago major) is just emerging again.

I like to eat it raw, but it can also be cooked. Some will tell you to remove the stringy leaf ribs but I do not bother.

I use it to staunch blood flow from cuts, which it does very effectively. It also contains allatoin which is found in human DNA and promotes cell growth and re-generation. Some Hay fever sufferers find relief from the congestion symptoms by chewing a leaf. If you have skin irritation such as an itching insect bite, plantain juice applied to it will give almost instant relief.

The native people of North America referred to it as "white mans footstep" because it wass introduced by European settlers and spread across the country with them.

1 comment:

Robin Fawcett said...

Do you really have only ONE favourite plant Kevin?
Our colts-foot is just coming out in the front garden. Don't know what it's goood for but it's a great plant and leaf.
I'll try and remember to post a pic when it's a bit bigger