{"id":516,"date":"2017-09-23T21:11:01","date_gmt":"2017-09-23T21:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinkstokeep.com\/blog\/?p=516"},"modified":"2022-05-18T07:01:03","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T07:01:03","slug":"narrowleaf-plantain-salve-and-how-to-make-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkstokeep.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/narrowleaf-plantain-salve-and-how-to-make-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Narrowleaf Plantain Salve and how to make it"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi there,<\/span>
\n I promised some friends I would write up the ointment I make, so they can make it too. So here is the post. \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n

Why should I care about this \u201cWeed\u201d?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Plantago Major (Broadleaf Plantain)\u00a0 & Plantago Lanceolate (Narrowleaf Plantain) are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Plantago<\/a>\"Plantago<\/a><\/p>\n

Narrowleaf Plantain (Plantago lanceolate)<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\n (a.k.a. English plantain, narrowleaf plantain, ribwort plantain, ribleaf and lamb’s tongue.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Plantago<\/a>\"Plantago<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major)<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\n (a.k.a. white man’s foot, or greater plantain)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What is it used for?<\/span><\/h4>\n

Leaves<\/span>
\n— As poultice or salve\/ointment: sunburns, stings, insect bites, snakebites, poison ivy breakouts, rashes, burns, blisters, bruises, nettle burns, skin rashes, cuts, scrapes… Pretty much anything to do with skin ailments.<\/span>
\n — Heated and applied topically: to soothe swollen joints, sore muscles, sprains, and sore feet.<\/span>
\n — As Tea: cough, diarrhea, dysentery, and hematuria. Leaves have bronchodilation properties and can be used for bronchitis and throat colds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeds<\/span>
\n— Laxative, reduce blood pressure, reduce blood cholesterol levels.<\/span><\/p>\n

Studies have shown that plantain has anti-inflammatory effects, and it is also rich in tannin (which helps draw tissues together to stop bleeding) and allantoin (a compound that promotes healing of injured skin cells). Further studies have indicated that plantain may also reduce blood pressure, and that the seeds of the plant may reduce blood cholesterol levels. Plantain seeds were also widely used as a natural laxative, given their high source of fibre.<\/span><\/p>\n

So next time you\u2019re in your garden, and tempted to go nuts with the weed killer\u2026don\u2019t touch this stuff.
\nGet picking, instead. It\u2019s the best insect bite soother there is, and a damned good cough remedy.
\nAnd it grows everywhere. Free.<\/p>\n

So how do you make salve from this stuff?<\/span><\/h4>\n

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
\n(Actually, a squeeze of lemon is good with this stuff, as it preserves the salve longer.)<\/p>\n

What do you need?<\/span><\/h4>\n