Plantain (Plantago spp.)

Greater plantain (Plantago major) in flower

There are two species of plantain commonly found growing in lawns and along roadways, Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata. Plantain is truly an adaptable and widespread plant.

Plantago major, also known as Broadleaf plantain or Greater plantain, is one of the most abundant and widespread medicinal crops in the world. Its seeds, as a common contaminant in cereal grains and crop seeds, have contributed to its success; it has a worldwide distribution as a naturalized species. It colonizes lawns, and pops up in sidewalk cracks. It is able to grow in a wide range of conditions and climates, thrives in disturbed compacted soil, and survives repeated trampling.

Plantain is believed to be one of the first plants to reach America with the settlers; wherever they went, plantain followed, hence its common name among some Native American people- ‘white man’s footprint’.

P. lanceolata in flower

This success is what earns its title as a weed, but fortunately, it is not a plant without merit. Simply because of its ability to grow in compacted soils, it is an important plant for soil rehabilitation, breaking up the soil and helping to prevent erosion.

The young leaves are edible as both a salad green and a cooked green. Older leaves are tough but can be cooked into soups or stew.

Plantain is valuable for its medicinal merit. It is at its most useful, in my opinion, for its ready availability in the event of an insect bite or sting, or perhaps a skinned knee. No matter where you are, there is bound to be a plantain underfoot. A poultice of the leaves can be used on insect bites as an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory, on poison ivy rash (also see jewelweed) or stinging nettle rash, and on wounds to stop bleeding (see yarrow), prevent infection and speed healing. The leaves contain allantoin, which stimulates cellular growth and tissue repair; and mucilage, which reduces pain and discomfort. They also have astringent and antimicrobial properties. In a pinch, the simplest way to make a poultice is to chew the leaf into a pulp, and apply it to the affected area.

P. major

An ointment can also be made from the leaves and used in the same way. [1] The recipe is as follows: “Mix one cup of plantain leaves with a quarter cup of olive oil and heat in a small, enameled pan over low heat until mushy. Strain and stir in a tablespoon of grated beeswax. When beeswax has melted, store in a tightly covered container. Use within a couple of days or store in refrigerator for longer shelf life.“

Plantain seeds are high in mucilage, and good for the digestive system. They can be chewed, or made into a tea. Plantain seed (or flower) tea can be used as a home remedy for constipation (Psyllium fiber is made from the seeds of plantain ovata); tea from the leaves is a remedy for diarrhea and, with a high vitamin and mineral content, it simultaneously replaces the nutrients lost due to it.

P. lanceolata

A tea made from the leaves also soothes the throat and can be used as a highly effective cough medicine. Plantain works as a gentle expectorant, but is especially useful for soothing dry cough. To make a tea, use 3-4 Tbsp fresh leaves (2-3 tsp dried) per cup of water. Pour the boiling water over the leaves- cover and steep for 10-15 minutes. A simple recipe for cough syrup, using narrowleaf plantain, can be found here.

Plantain is useful in the event of a toothache. Fresh leaves can be chewed and placed on an aching tooth. The root can also be used. (click here for more natural toothache remedies)

Plantain leaves also contain aucubin, which increases uric acid excretion, and may be useful for the treatment of gout.

plantago major

p. lanceolata

cited sources: 1. everygreenherb.com

Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Urtica dioica (Stinging nettle)

Stinging hairs of nettle

Urtica dioica, commonly known as stinging nettle, is well known for the burning, itchy rash it causes when you come into contact with its stinging hairs. But lesser known is its value as an edible and medicinal plant.

Cooking removes the stinging chemicals from the plant, rendering it edible. As a cooked green, nettle is said to taste similar to spinach, and can be used in place of it in recipes.

Nettle is a nutritional powerhouse. It contains silica and other minerals needed to promote healthy hair, skin and nails, and is rich in numerous vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, C, E, and K, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium. Nettle leaves contain up to 25% protein by dry weight. It is best harvested for edible use in the spring, before it has flowered or set seed. For ideas on how to cook nettle, click here.

U. dioica. The underside of nettle leaves are usually devoid of stinging hairs.

Nettle has shown much value in the treatment of allergies. It has been used for this purpose for centuries, particularly for hay fever (seasonal allergies), the most common allergy problem. Nettle has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. This makes it effective for the treatment of eczema, hives, and asthma as well.

Unlike conventional allergy medications, nettle has been shown to be effective without the risk of side effects, and its effectiveness does not lessen over time as conventional treatments can tend to do. For this purpose, nettle can be taken daily in capsule form, or made into a tea. A tea can be made using 3 or 4 teaspoons of dried nettle leaves in 2/3 cup of water. A stronger infusion has been known to treat allergy symptoms within minutes.

Slender nettle (Urtica gracilis) leaves and seeds. Slender nettle has narrower leaves and fewer stinging hairs than stinging nettle, and often grows much taller (up to 7 feet).

Stinging nettle has the effect of increasing a mother’s milk supply. (1) It has also been used in conjunction with other herbs, such as Prunus africana (red stinkwood) and Serenoa repens (saw palmetto) for the treatment of an inflamed or enlarged prostate. A combination of nettle and Thymus vulgaris (common thyme), Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice), Vitis vinifera (common grape vine) and Alpinia officinarum (lesser galangal) has been used as an antihemorrhagic. (2)

Canada wood nettle (Laportea canadensis)

Stinging nettle tea helps to clear excess uric acid from the body, relieving the pain and inflammation of gout. Due to its ability to decrease blood sugar, it can be helpful for those who suffer from diabetes. And alongside vitamin C and cranberries, it is helpful in the treatment of urinary tract infections. It eases the inflammation of the bladder and urethra, soothing the pain, and promotes urination, flushing the body of the harmful bacteria.

Treatment of Nettle Stings.

Interestingly, the juice of the nettle leaves themselves, as an antihistamine, can be used to treat the welts associated with a nettle rash. Other readily available natural treatments include jewelweed, the common lawn weed plantain, or baking soda. In a pinch you can always use urine (although I am personally uncertain how desperate one would have to be to urinate on themselves). 🙂

Urtica dioica

Urtica dioica

Notes:

Nettle’s properties make it useful against a long list of maladies. Besides those listed above, it is beneficial in the treatment of: arthritis, bronchitis, bursitis, gingivitis, laryngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, tendinitis, rheumatism and other inflammatory conditions, as well as high blood pressure, hair loss, anemia, excessive menstruation, hemorrhoids, neuralgia, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney stones, multiple sclerosis, PMS, and sciatica. Forgive me for not covering all of them in the article! 😀

1. galactagogue: a food or drug that promotes or increases the flow of a mother’s milk.

2. antihemorrhagic: a substance that promotes hemostasis (stops bleeding). Also known as a hemostatic.

Orange Jewelweed

Orange Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)

Impatiens capensis is a North American native annual. Related to the garden-variety impatiens, it does not like to dry out and is often found growing in ditches, near waterways, and in bottomland forests. A common name is spotted touch-me-not, named for the seed pods which pop when touched, scattering its seeds. The leaves repel water, and appear silver underwater, possibly the origin of its other common name, jewelweed.

Another species, pale jewelweed (impatiens pallida) has yellow flowers rather than orange, and is less common.

Hummingbird on Jewelweed. Photo courtesy of goatsass.com

Jewelweed is a traditional remedy for various skin conditions, and is best known as a remedy against poison ivy rash. The sooner it is applied, the better it works. Happily, where poison ivy grows, jewelweed is often not far away.

The leaves of jewelweed can be crushed and used as a poultice after coming into contact with poison ivy, and often this prevents the rash altogether. The juice from the stems can be used, but this is most effective before the plant has flowered. A tea can be made from the crushed leaves, frozen into icecubes, and applied to the skin as needed. Jewelweed can also be applied before potential exposure as a preventative.

Typical Jewelweed patch in midsummer.

The active compound found in jewelweed, lawsone, is proven to have antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. The plant also contains balsaminones, which have strong antipruritic (anti-itch) properties.

Leaves of a young Jewelweed plant.

Jewelweed can also be used for nettle stings, hives, eczema , insect stings and bites, cuts, acne, and other various skin irritations. The seeds, while minute, are edible and pleasant tasting.

Jewelweed range map

cited source:
goatsass.com

Echinacea (Purple Coneflower)

echinacea angustifolia

Echinacea, a perennial native of North America, was used extensively by the Native Americans in the treatment of illness and injury. In fact, they used it more than any other plant.

There are nine species of Echinacea in North America. Three of these have medicinal value: Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida. The most commonly used species is E. purpurea, partly due to its ease in cultivation, though the Native Americans most often used angustifolia.

Echinacea is a versatile plant, useful in the treatment of essentially any illness caused by either bacteria or viruses. It is used today as popular cold and flu remedy. In fact, in a study combining it with elderberry, it was been found to be as effective as Tamiflu for influenza, with fewer side effects! [1]

Echinacea effectively handicaps invading microorganisms. It does this by inhibiting hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is the enzyme used by bacteria and viruses to break down cellular structures; without it, the infection cannot spread.

Echinacea also stimulates and strengthens the body’s natural defense system. It does this so well that it has even been used to increase white blood cell counts in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. [2]

echinacea purpurea

Echinacea speeds wound healing. It was once used for animal bites and gunshot wounds. Besides preventing infection, it increases the production of compounds needed for tissue repair. Echinacea has mild anti-inflammatory properties as well, and is useful in the treatment of many inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Interestingly, it is also beneficial in the treatment of allergies.

The leaves, roots, and flowers of the plant are all used. Though the natives preferred to use the root, most studies have been done on the aerial portion of the plant, using the fresh pressed juice. Echinacea is often prepared as a tea or taken in tincture or capsule form. It can also be used externally as a poultice.

Echinacea is one of my favorite remedies, and the more I learn about it, the more I love it. I have used it for years to treat and prevent cold and flu. It offers quick relief of symptoms, and even the worst illness lasts little more than a few days.

echinacea pallida

The other day as I was walking at the nature park I was stung by an insect on the arm, three times, and it was quite painful. I used it as an opportunity to try another use for Echinacea- to treat insect bites and stings. I chewed a leaf and applied it as a poultice over the area. I covered it with what I had on hand (If you are curious, I used a plantain leaf, and tied a grape leaf around it). I left it on for 20 minutes or so. Within 5 minutes the pain was lessened, and shortly thereafter the pain was gone completely. However (since it was bound to stop hurting eventually anyway) the most notable effect was some hours later. I have always been sensitive to insect bites and stings, and they tend to itch for days. This time, the area was completely lacking the usual itching, swelling, or redness! In fact, the location of the sting was difficult to discern at all.

Echinacea is not just effective for insect bites and stings; it was also used effectively by the Native Americans for snake bites. This is due to the hyaluronidase inhibition mentioned previously, which prevents spreading of the venom and promotes healing of the tissues. The natives used the plant for toothaches, sore throat and cough, infections, various skin ailments, and even rabies! In fact, they used the plant so widely that it would be difficult to list all of those uses here.

It is unlikely you will ever come into contact with a rabid animal, and you may not ever be bitten by a poisonous snake, but for practical use against cold and flu, I have found Echinacea capsules to be quite effective. One Echinacea capsule typically contains 350-400 mg. In the midst of an illness, I will take four capsules three or four times a day. For preventative purposes, at the first sign of illness, I need only take it once or twice a day to keep symptoms at bay.

Echinacea can also be used to treat ear infections, sinusitis, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and cold sores.

Range maps for E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea:

Notes:

Echinacea is meant to be taken on an as-needed basis. It is not meant as a daily supplement for healthy individuals. Overuse may start to negate its benefits and tire the body. If you have a condition which warrants continued use of echinacea, the recommendation is 8 weeks on, one week off.

Echinacea is a well-researched remedy, with a long history of usage, and has been shown to be safe, with little chance of negative side effects. Although Echinacea can be used in the treatment of allergies, it shares a family with ragweed and daisies and can sometimes cause a cross reaction in individuals who have an allergy to these plants. In the event of an allergic reaction, discontinue its use.

Echinacea is contraindicated for use with immunosuppressants.

As a side note, I have been using Echinacea for years with no issues to report. However, I have a suspicion that in the event of a particularly virulent illness, high doses of Echinacea can spike an existing fever. Outside of personal experiences, I have not found much information to confirm this effect but if you are like me (I do not typically use medications to lower fever) it is something to watch out for.

cited sources:
1. Current Therapeutic Research 2. Campbell University School of Pharmacy