Plantain
Plantago major
Also known as Common Plantain, Greater Plantain, Englishman's Foot, Whiteman's Foot, and Soldier's Herb.
History: Plantain has been used by many cultures throughout the world for thousands of years for its healing abilities. Saxons considered it one of their nine sacred herbs, calling it the "mother of herbs". Europeans used it as a remedy for small cuts. bruising, and bites. Despite its usefulness, Plantain is considered a noxious weed in some regions outside of its native range. When English settlers first came to America, they brought Plantains with them. Native Americans took to calling it Whiteman's Foot or Englishman's Foot due to its tendency to grow around European settlements. However, Natives soon came to realize its medicinal abilities and used the Plantain herb for various aliments.
Modern Uses: The Commission E approved the internal use of plantain for catarrhs of the respiratory tract and inflammatory alterations of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa. It's external application is approved for inflammatory reactions of the skin.
The German Standard License indications for use are identical to those in the Commission E monograph (Braun et al., 1997). Plantain tea is indicated for phlegm congestion (Schulz et al., 1998). Human studies have found positive results in the treatment of chronic bronchitis of a spastic or non-spastic nature with plantain (Koichev, 1983; Matev et al., 1982).
Active Ingredients: allantion, apigenin, aucubin, baicalein, linoleic acid, oleanolic acid, sorbitol, and tannin, beta carotene, vitamin C, calcium
Actions: expectorant, diuretic, demulcent, astringent