Foraging and Using Plantain

 

Oh, plantain. If you only ever learn about one medicinal herb, make it this one. Plantain is an amazing plant and it grows *everywhere*. It pops up in early spring and grows through the summer. Native to Europe, Plantain was brought to America by white settlers and quickly became known to natives as "where white man walks" because it would grow everywhere white men stepped due to the tiny seeds getting stuck on the bottom of their shoes.

Plantain is useful for burns, scrapes, cuts, stings, poison oak and poison ivy, and sunburns. If you find yourself in need of relief from any of these while out enjoying nature, find some plantain and chew up the leaves to make a poultice which can be applied directly to the effective area. It will quickly relieve pain and discomfort while also cleaning the area and stimulating cellular growth and tissue regeneration.

No natural first aid kit is complete without a jar of plantain oil to use on those scrapes and burns at home as well. Collect plantain leaves and rinse them well. Chop them up and pack a jar halfway with the chopped leaves. Cover in a carrier oil (such as sunflower or coconut oil) and leave in a sunny spot for three weeks, shaking daily. After the three weeks is up, strain out the plant matter and keep your oil in a cool, dark place.

Plantain is also astringent and can be dried and made into tea which helps relieve upset stomach and treat diarrhea. 

When I begin a hike, I always keep an eye out for plantain and when I spot it, I tuck several leaves into my backpack. You never know when you may encounter some poison ivy, get a sunburn or stumble and scrape a knee. Having a few plantain leaves on hand means the difference between hiking home in pain or relief. 

This plentifully growing plant is also a nutritious edible that can be eaten raw or cooked. The younger the leaves, the more tender they will be and the older leaves are wonderful boiled in soups or sauteed with garlic. High in calcium and vitamins A, C, and K, foraged plantain makes an excellent addition to your wild meals.