Plantain

Greater Plantain Plantago major
and Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata

• Plantain is known to be an antihistamine, antifungal, antioxidant, analgesic and even a mild antibiotic. So a useful plant to keep around.
• I put it onto a cut recently, and though it didn’t visibly reduce the bleeding (it was an awkward gaping cut), it has healed incredibly quickly. Much faster than some of the smaller grazes I’ve given myself in the last few weeks.
• To quickly extract its goodness roll between your hands, mushing to a rough pulp, you’ll need to do slightly more of this than you expect. Suddenly it will start to release a green liquid, and just squeeze this out onto the affected part.
• I created a pale green hand balm from Plantain, bees wax and almond oil, that has been helping keep the skin on my hands together. The instructions to make your own are here.
• Greater Plantain was know by the native Americans as white mans footsteps as it colonised the country in their wake.
• If you pull Ribwort Plantain part carefully you can make a mini guitar.

Greater Plantain Plantago major

Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata