Plantain – Not Just a Weed But Also a Miracle Home Remedy
The plantain has been used throughout the centuries for just about every medical ailment out there. Many people consider this perennial herb to simply be a weed, but those that have studied it know of its wonderful medicinal properties.
Most often, it’s the leaves that are used for medicinal purposed. As a natural cure, they can be crushed and applied to many injuries such as burns, cuts, and scrapes. They have been found to have an anti-inflammatory property to aid in reducing swelling and pain. With their antimicrobial and antibacterial assets they can prevent an injury from becoming worse through infection. The leaves have proven to be effective in slowing bleeding when applied as a poultice. In home remedies, if the leaves are heated, or steamed, they can be applied to an area of the body to assist in drawing out thorns and as a poultice on wounds. Even bee and wasp stings, with their skin inflammations and associated pain, are not a match for the curative properties of the plantain.
In the past, the leaves and seeds have been used to treat many medical afflictions such as asthma, high blood pressure, and fever. When the leaves are used on a wound, often there is little if any scarring that is produced. The roots of the plantain have been used for the treatment of ulcers and diarrhea, even bronchitis. They also can create a natural aversion to tobacco helping smokers to quit the habit. In fact, companies are currently using it in several stop-smoking treatments. The seeds, when eaten, are a bulk laxative, which can help soothe an upset stomach and stomach walls. If a weak tea made from the plant and distilled water is made, it has even been said to have wonderful anti-wrinkle properties and to work particularly well around the eye area.
Plantain as a natural cure has several things you can do easily to keep yourself healthy. For example, if you soak the seeds, also known as psyllium seeds, they create a gel within a few hours. This gel, which is edible, can be smeared on areas of thrush to clear it up.
As a home remedy, you can utilize the entire plant, leaves, seed and root, a tablespoon at a time in a cup of boiling water to create a tea that, when sweetened to taste, will help with colds and the flu by relieving sinus pressure and is also a wonderful expectorant. This may be sipped at all day long. The whole plant can also be turned into a salve when chopped and mixed with lard then cooked.When cool it can be applied to all sores, cuts, burns, and even used as a wrinkle cream for night use.
