Plantain lanceolata

Plantains - Plantaginaceae. Parts used: leaves. Pharmacy name: lanceolate plantain leaves - Plantaginis lanceolatae folium (formerly: Folia Plantaginis lanceolatae).

Botanical description. This is a perennial plant with a basal rosette of leaves. The leaves reach 20-40 cm in length, narrowly lanceolate, slightly pubescent, only sometimes with short teeth at the edges. The venation is arcuate, 3-7 veins are clearly visible. From the center of the basal rosette grow erect, leafless stems 10-40 cm tall, with longitudinal furrows. Inconspicuous flowers, in which the stamens exposed from the flower during the flowering period are clearly visible, are collected in a short cylindrical (or ovoid) spike.

Blooms from May to September. Plantain lanceolata is one of the most common medicinal plants in our flora. It can be found everywhere in dry meadows, fields, wastelands and along roads. It is often found together with two other species: the large plantain (Plantago major L.), which is distinguished by wide oval leaves and long inflorescences on short peduncles, and the middle plantain (Plantago media L.), which occupies an intermediate position in leaves and inflorescences.

Since all these plantains have healing effects, it is not very scary to confuse them. But try to collect lanceolate plantain.

Collection and preparation. Although leaves can be harvested throughout the summer, the best time to collect is before flowering begins, and the most suitable place is meadows; Don't pick up dusty leaves along the roadsides. You can be picky here, because plantain is a common plant.

Active ingredients. Mucilage, bitterness, flavonoids, silicic acid and aucubin glycoside are the main active ingredients of this plant. Its antibacterial effect has also been proven.

Healing action and application. Plantain lanceolata is an excellent cough remedy, to some extent similar to the effect of coltsfoot leaves. This is determined by the content of tonic bitterness, and silicic acid also plays an important role. In addition, it has long been noticed that plantain juice, unlike other plant juices, becomes less moldy or does not mold at all. And now an antibacterial substance has been found in it. Surely the presence of this substance is the reason for the excellent results of its use in pneumonia and bronchial diseases. Both tea and various herbal preparations are prescribed.

A special place is occupied by antitussive juices, which usually contain extract from plantain lanceolata. The recommendations of the German National Health Service on the action of plantain lanceolate say: “mitigation of irritation in catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.”

o Tea from plantain lanceolata: pour 1-2 teaspoons of leaves into 1/4 liter of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. After straining, the tea is ready to drink. It is recommended to sweeten with honey. Dosage: 2-3 cups per day (first cup in the morning before getting up!)

Use in homeopathy. In homeopathy, greater plantain is used instead of plantain lanceolata. The homeopathic remedy prepared from the fresh leaves of the latter is called Plantago major. It is surprising that homeopathy uses plantain not for coughs, but for toothache, ear diseases, neuralgia and urinary incontinence. Initial tincture and dilution to D1 is recommended. Take several times a day from 5 to 15 drops. For ear diseases, the original tincture is diluted with glycerin (1:1) and a few drops are instilled into the ear.

The antibacterial effect is determined by au-cuban (most likely, apparently, the breakdown product of aucubin - aucubigenin).

Use in folk medicine. There are not many medicinal plants whose effects in folk medicine are so well known. Juice squeezed from fresh leaves plays an important role in spring blood cleansing courses. This juice diluted with chamomile tea is used in compresses to treat poorly healing wounds. To fresh wounds