Monograph: Plantain

Andree Noye
Nov 22
5 min read

The Quiet Restorer

A modest plant with a powerful restorative nature. Plantain is one of the most dependable first-aid herbs in Nova Scotia. It meets irritated, inflamed, or damaged tissue with steady cooling, softening, and rebuilding action.

Written by Andrée Noye, MA, Clinical Herbalist. Reading Time: 5 minutes

A vibrant plantain plant thrives in a grassy environment, showcasing its broad, green leaves and slender flowering stalks.

Primary Attributes

A lush growth of plantain leaves thriving in a natural garden setting, showcasing their vibrant green color and broad, textured foliage.

Actions

Demulcent. Vulnerary. Astringent. Anti-inflammatory. Antimicrobial. Mild lymphatic. Mild expectorant. Refrigerant. Moistening.

Energetics

Temperature: Cooling
Moisture: Moistening
Tissue targets: Hot. Dry. Irritated. Weepy. Boggy.
Primary affinities: Skin, mucosa, lungs, GI tract, urinary tract
Emotional/constitutional tendencies: Overheated, overreactive, overstimulated tissue states

Taste

Mucilaginous. Bland. Slightly bitter.

Preferred Methods

Fresh leaf poultice, infused oil, salve, cold infusion, tincture (fresh leaf), syrup, compress, hydrosol.

Uses

A homemade plantain poultice is applied to the forearm, using natural healing properties to soothe and treat a small skin irritation, set against a rustic outdoor background.

Minor wounds, cuts, scrapes
Insect bites and stings
Hot, irritated cough
Chapped, cracked, or inflamed skin
Contact dermatitis
Eczema with weeping tissue
Minor burns
Splinters and embedded debris
GI irritation (especially hot, inflamed mucosa)
Urinary tract irritation
Mild lymphatic stagnation
First-aid poulticing in field conditions

Botanical & Cultural Context

Plantain (Plantago major) grows wherever people live. In Nova Scotia, it is common in fields, yards, compacted soil, gravel edges, footpaths, and disturbed ground. It is strongly naturalized and considered a “settler herb” that spreads with human movement.

It is deeply woven into local and global folk medicine. Many Indigenous nations adopted it for wound healing soon after European contact. Its presence across Nova Scotia makes it an essential apothecary plant: abundant, sustainable, reliable, and clinically versatile.

Sustainability and Ethical Harvesting

Plantain is not at risk (United Plant Savers, 2023).Ethical harvesting focuses on:

Avoiding contaminated soil, roadsides, industrial runoff
Harvesting young leaves for internal use
Using mature leaves for salves and poultices
Leaving enough rosettes to maintain population stability
Respecting its presence in shared community spaces

Its abundance and ecological hardiness make it one of the most sustainable herbs in the Maritimes.

Constituents & Pharmacology

Key constituents:

Iridoid glycosides (aucubin, catalpol)
Mucilage polysaccharides
Allantoin
Flavonoids
Tannins
Phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid)

Pharmacology in brief:

Mucilage coats inflamed tissue and soothes mucosa (Samuelsen, 2000).
Iridoid glycosides contribute to anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity (Zubair et al., 2011).
Allantoin promotes epithelial regeneration and wound healing (Han et al., 2014).
Tannins support astringency and tissue tone.
Phenolic acids provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (Gálvez et al., 2005).

Plantain’s combined demulcent, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial profile gives it broad therapeutic relevance.

Historical Uses

Traditional European and Indigenous North American uses include:

Drawing out splinters
Soothing stings and bites
Healing wounds
Cooling irritated lungs
Calming digestive inflammation
First aid in field settings

It appears in Anglo Saxon herbals, medieval monastic texts, and widespread North American folk practice.

Cultivation & Harvesting

Plantain leaves neatly arranged on a screen for drying, accompanied by a woven basket, in a rustic setting.

Perennial.
Thrives in disturbed earth, gravel, compacted soil.
Full sun to partial shade.
Spread by seed.

Harvesting tips:

Early spring leaves for internal use and infused oils.
Summer and fall leaves for poultices and salves.
Fresh leaf preferred for external applications.
Seeds harvested late summer for fiber-rich preparations.

Medicinal Uses & Clinical Studies

Wound healing. Plantago major improves epithelial regeneration, reduces inflammation, and accelerates healing (Han et al., 2014; Samuelsen, 2000).

Dermatitis & skin irritation. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions reduce redness and weeping (Gálvez et al., 2005).Iridoid glycosides contribute antimicrobial support (Ríos & Recio, 2005).

Respiratory support. Mucilage soothes irritated mucosa and dry cough (EMA, 2014; Samuelsen, 2000).

GI irritation. Cold infusions soften and coat inflamed digestive tissue (Zubair et al., 2011).

Lymphatic and urinary support. Mild diuretic and lymphatic actions support congestion and irritation (Samuelsen, 2000).

Together, these effects validate plantain’s longstanding role as a front-line soothing herb.

Preparation & Dosage

Fresh leaf poultice. Crush and apply directly to bites, stings, splinters, and minor wounds.

Infused oil. Use fresh wilted leaves to reduce water content. Infuse for 4 to 6 weeks in a neutral oil.

Salve. Blend infused oil with beeswax for first aid.

Cold infusion. 1 tablespoon chopped fresh leaf per cup cold water. Steep 4 to 12 hours. Sip for GI or urinary irritation.

Tincture. 1:2 fresh leaf, 40 to 50 percent alcohol. Dose: 2 to 5 ml, up to three times daily.

Syrup. Combine fresh leaf decoction or cold infusion with glycerin or honey for respiratory soothing.

Safety & Contraindications

Very safe for most people.
No major contraindications known.
Avoid contaminated soil sources.
Seeds may influence medication absorption due to fiber content; separate dosing by two hours.
Rare contact allergy possible for sensitive individuals.

Species Highlights

Plantago major: broadleaf plantain. Primary medicinal species in Nova Scotia.
Plantago lanceolata : ribwort plantain. Fully interchangeable medicinally.
Both are abundant, safe, and ideal for Tier 1 apothecary use.

References (APA 7th)

EMA. (2014). Assessment report on Plantago lanceolata L., folium. European Medicines Agency.

Gálvez, M., Martín-Cordero, C., Houghton, P. J., & Ayuso, M. J. (2005). Antioxidant activity of Plantago major L. Phytotherapy Research, 19(9), 771–774.

Han, J. H., et al. (2014). Wound healing properties of Plantago major extract in rats. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 8(36), 1123–1127.

Ríos, J. L., & Recio, M. C. (2005). Medicinal plants and antimicrobial activity. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 100(1–2), 80–84.

Samuelsen, A. B. (2000). The traditional uses, chemical constituents, and biological activities of Plantago major L. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 71(1–2), 1–21.

Zubair, M., Nybom, H., & Lindholm, C. (2011). Phytotherapeutic and dietary potential of Plantago major L. Molecules, 16(11), 9207–9228.

Bibliography and Suggested Reading

Duke, J. A. (2002). The green pharmacy. Rodale.

Grieve, M. (1971). A modern herbal. Dover Publications. (Original work published 1931)

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: The science and practice of herbal medicine. Healing Arts Press.

Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2013). Principles and practice of phytotherapy: Modern herbal medicine (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.

Tillotson, A., Tillotson, N., & Abel, R. (2001). One Earth herbal sourcebook: An A–Z guide to healing with herbal medicine. Kensington Publishing.

Ulbricht, C., Basch, E., & contributors. (2010). Natural standard herb & supplement guide: An evidence-based reference. Elsevier.

Winston, D., & Maimes, S. (2007). Adaptogens: Herbs for strength, stamina, and stress relief. Healing Arts Press.

📸 by Herbal Academy