Medicinal properties of plantain: benefits and harm to human health, use for various diseases + recipes for infusions

Plant species

There are many types of plantain in nature, and no matter how useful it is, biology officially classifies it as a weed. However, this does not prevent the humble plant from being regularly used in various medicines and being a real hero of folk medicine.

Among the most common species in our country are:

• big;
• flea or flea infested;
• lanceolate;
• average;
• Asiatic.

This plant has a small but developed rhizome. Its leaves have a characteristic oval shape and are located in a basal rosette.

The flowers have the appearance of a long spike and can reach a height of 10 to 25 centimeters.

Impotence, hemorrhoids

When choosing folk recipes for the treatment of impotence and hemorrhoids, you should pay attention to a decoction of plantain seeds.

Homemade medicine will relieve inflammation, restore male strength, and eliminate pain. The course of use of the product is long - at least a month. Step by step recipe:

1. Bring water (340 ml) to a boil.
2. Mix boiling water and plantain seeds (30 g).
3. Simmer the mixture over low heat, do not remove the lid.
4. It is not necessary to insist - immediately strain, cool, and begin treatment. Take the liquid three times a day, dosage – 80-100 ml.

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Men are also recommended to take the composition for prevention. The most useful home remedy will be for the stronger sex after 35 years - this will reduce the risk of impotence. It is advisable to use in courses - at least a month annually.

Plant preparations

In folk medicine, not only the leaves are used, but also the inflorescences, roots, and seeds of this herb. Moreover, each part of the plant has its own recommended collection period.

Collection

If you plan to collect only the leaves, you can do this throughout the summer until they begin to turn yellow.

I advise you to collect in dry and sunny weather, because leaves wet from rain or dew will begin to deteriorate very quickly.

It is better to dig up the roots of the plant in the fall. After this, clear them of soil, rinse and dry.

Seeds should be collected when they are fully ripe - from August to the end of September or beginning of October.

Here I have only briefly touched on the key points. Read more about harvesting plantain in our separate article.

Benefits of plantain tea

Another useful remedy based on plantain is medicinal tea. To brew the drink you will need 2-3 tsp. dried leaves and 250 ml of boiled water. The tea is infused for 15-20 minutes. It is advisable to drink up to 3 glasses of tea per day.

Important! When brewing tea, the leaves should be poured with hot water, but not boiling water.

This tea is effective for the following diseases:

• asthma;
• cough;
• tuberculosis;
• pleurisy;
• whooping cough, etc.

The tea compress also helps relieve inflammation from the eyes and reduce external swelling.

Beneficial effects of plantain

This plant is truly universal: it can be used as food and used as compresses, it is equally useful for adults and children.

Rhizomes

The root of the plant contains substances that have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Tinctures prepared from the roots are used to relieve toothache, as well as periodontal disease and herpes.

Leaves

The leaves of the plant are famous for helping to stop bleeding and are often used for cuts and bruises: just apply them to the wound.

This part of the plantain contains:

• potassium;
• glycosides;
• alkaloids;
• polysaccharides;
• tannins;
• chlorophyll;
• vitamin C;
• vitamin K.

Fresh leaves can also be used in cooking, for example by chopping them and adding them to a green salad.

Drying leaves does not require special skills or equipment. It is important to find a place for this purpose with good ventilation and protected from natural precipitation. Attics and sheds are ideal. The leaves need to be spread on the paper in a thin layer and turned over periodically. As soon as you notice that the cuttings have begun to crack and form husks, you can store the raw materials in fabric bags.

The shelf life of such preparations is about two years. They need to be kept in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and strong humidity.

Seeds

Plantain seeds contain essential oil, oleic acid and various organic compounds that have the following effects:

• heal cuts and abrasions;
• disinfect wounds;
• relieve an allergic reaction;
• reduce pain;
• have an expectorant effect;
• help stop bleeding;
• promote tissue regeneration;
• fight inflammation;
• protect against bacteria;
• have a general strengthening effect.

Harvesting and storing plantain

Harvesting plantain

Collection is carried out in the summer, as well as in September, after flowering. It is recommended to harvest plantain whole, along with roots and seeds. But, if the seeds are of particular importance, you should wait until they are fully ripe, i.e. they acquire a brown-brown color. The leaves are collected several times during the season; they do not lose their beneficial properties.

To harvest the plant, choose the morning time and dry, not rainy, laziness. The most valuable plants will be those that grow far from roads and away from the scorching sun.

The plantain is carefully dug under the root and removed entirely. When harvesting leaves, they are cut with scissors at a distance of a couple of centimeters from the ground.

Preparation, drying, storage, freezing

• The preparation includes washing under running water and dividing into the necessary parts (leaves, roots, seeds).
• Drying is carried out in a well-ventilated place, excluding exposure to direct sunlight (canopy, attic, balcony). The parts of the plant are laid out freely on a sheet of clean paper and dried until completely dry. The raw materials should be turned periodically for better drying.
• Freezing - this method of preparing plantain is also allowed. The leaves of the plant, washed and completely dry from water, are frozen using the deep freezing method.
• Dry plantain is stored in fabric bags, paper bags or wooden boxes in a dark and well-ventilated place. Dry raw materials can be used within 24 months, frozen - within six months.
• Preparing juice - dilute freshly squeezed juice from petioles and leaves of plantain with vodka in a 1:1 ratio, store the liquid in the refrigerator for six months.

Use of the plant

Let's figure out what specific diseases plantain can be used for.

It is perfect for colds, coughs, bronchitis. It is an effective expectorant, helps reduce pain due to its enveloping properties, thins and removes mucus.

Plantain can also provide serious help for diseases of the stomach and intestines, such as:

• gastritis with low stomach acidity;
• ulcers;
• gallbladder disease.

It can also improve appetite and normalize digestion.

When losing weight

This medicinal herb can also be used during diets.

Plantain infusions can:

• remove cholesterol;
• improve metabolism;
• cleanse the body of harmful toxins.

Plantain compresses

Using plantain externally, you can achieve the following results:

• disinfect wounds;
• cure boils;
• fight acne;
• relieve itching from insect bites;
• reduce spurs;
• reduce joint pain.

Depressant

Plantain and decoctions from it are often used as a natural sedative, which is recommended for:

• stress;
• loss of strength;
• sleep problems

Plantain is also capable of:

• relieve swelling;
• reduce headaches;
• improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

Benefits for women

Plantain can also be useful in gynecology. Infusions from this plant can be used for douching for:

• inflammation;
• cervical erosion;
• heavy bleeding.

In addition, there are many home cosmetology recipes using plantain: from rinses to strengthen hair to face masks.

In hand creams, plantain extract is often used in combination with celandine for greater effectiveness and treatment of dry, chapped skin.

Use during pregnancy

In the absence of contraindications, plantain decoctions can also be taken during pregnancy, especially in its early stages.

Remedies from this plant will help with:

• colds;
• digestive problems;
• constipation

Attention! Before using natural plantain decoctions, it is strongly recommended to consult with your doctor.

Oncological diseases

It would be wrong to believe that plantain and decoctions from it are capable of single-handedly overcoming such a terrible disease as cancer. However, in some cases, strictly following the instructions of doctors and in combination with full-fledged drug treatment, natural preparations from plantain can alleviate the course of the disease.

It is believed that this plant may provide some benefits for stomach or intestinal cancer.

Medicinal properties of plantain

• Sedative effect - has a lasting positive effect on irritability, mild forms of neuroses and insomnia.

• Hypotensive effect - helps fight swelling, normalizes blood pressure and reduces the load on the heart and blood vessels.
• Bronchodilator effect - activates the bronchopulmonary system, dilutes secretions and promotes its elimination.
• Anti-inflammatory effect - accelerates the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the female genital area and urinary tract. Effective in the treatment of polyuria.
• Restoration of reproductive function (in case of infertility associated with ovarian dysfunction).
• Hemostatic effect - helps accelerate blood clotting during external and internal (in particular, uterine) bleeding.
• Disinfectant and bactericidal - the plant is effective in the treatment of furunculosis, chronic trophic ulcers, purulent wounds.
• Regenerating - helps in the treatment of ulcers and gastropathy of the stomach (not exacerbation), ulcerative processes in the intestines, cracks and non-healing wounds of the skin and mucous membranes, cervical erosions.
• Pain reliever - plantain soothes toothache, headache, and earache.
• Improving potency - regular use of herbal raw materials helps normalize potency in men.
• Anti-sclerotic effect - affects cholesterol metabolism, reducing its concentration in the blood.
• Antidiabetic effect - plantain seeds are indicated for high blood sugar.
• Antitumor effect - is interpreted by traditional medicine recipes as an effective means of treating external and internal oncological formations.

Contraindications and harm

For certain ailments, using plantain is not recommended. As a rule, we are talking about the following diseases:

• chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the acute phase;
• gastritis with high acidity;
• problems with blood clotting;
• allergy to plantain.

Let me remind you that side effects from using this plant may include the following:

• nausea and vomiting;
• abdominal pain;
• diarrhea;
• dizziness.

Carefully monitor your body's reaction to plantain preparations, and if you experience any suspicious sensations or deterioration in your health, consult a doctor immediately.

Plantain: side effects

The plant is considered a safe herb for external and internal use. So far, studies have not confirmed the harm of using plantain. But in any case, it is recommended that pregnant women and nursing mothers avoid its use.

People with gastritis with high acidity should not drink plantain infusions. The herb increases the secretion of gastric juices.

The main contraindications for taking the herb apply to people with increased blood clotting. Long-term treatment with the plant increases thrombus formation.

Source

Use in folk medicine

If you want, you can find a ready-made plantain tincture in almost any pharmacy, but if you want, you can prepare the simplest remedies yourself.

Decoctions and infusions

When making decoctions, you need to take into account that each type of such remedy has its own characteristic features and may be more effective for some diseases and less useful for others.

For example, a decoction of plantain flowers copes well with stomach cramps and is generally often used as a pain reliever.

A decoction from the rhizome of the plant should be drunk for colds and coughs. In order to make the taste of the drug more pleasant for children, I advise you to combine it with regular tea and honey.

Plantain in combination with nettle has a very strong hemostatic effect, so both plants are especially useful for nosebleeds or uterine bleeding in women.

To treat abscesses and ulcers, as well as to fight skin parasites, it is better to use strong infusions.

Decoction

To prepare a classic plantain decoction you will need:

• two tablespoons of dry leaves;
• a glass of boiling water.

The leaves of the plant need to be poured with hot water and allowed to brew for a couple of hours.

Before use, the liquid should be carefully filtered, and then taken 2 tablespoons several times a day.

You will find other recipes and tips for brewing plantain in our separate article.

Alcohol tincture

To normalize blood pressure and uterine bleeding, you can use an alcohol tincture. To prepare it you will need:

• dry plantain leaves;
• vodka.

Grind the dried plant and mix it with alcohol at a ratio of 2:1.

Mix the mixture well and pour it into a glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Leave for 15-20 days, then strain.

This tincture should be taken one teaspoon before meals.

Juice from fresh leaves

To treat wounds and reduce suppuration, you can use plantain juice, which has high antibacterial properties.

Fresh mashed plant can be used as a compress on bruises and abrasions:

• 3 tablespoons chopped leaves;
• 2 tablespoons of honey.

Mix the ingredients, place in a suitable jar with a lid and let it brew in a warm room for 3-4 hours.

The mixture can then be used as a compress or lotion.

Seeds

Traditional medicine offers us many recipes that use plantain seeds.

Due to the formation of mucus, the nucleoli help with diseases of the respiratory and digestive organs. They are recommended for use both for ordinary cough and constipation, and for more serious diseases: hemorrhoids and even diabetes.

It is believed that plantain seeds can also help in the treatment of infertility in both men and women. They promote more active production of hormones and sperm, and also improve the menstrual cycle.

When coughing, for greater effectiveness, it is recommended to mix the infusion of seeds with a decoction of leaves.

If you steam the seeds and rub them a little, they can be used as compresses for wounds and abrasions.

Seed decoction

To prepare the decoction you need:

• 1 tablespoon of seeds;
• half a glass of boiling water.

Pour boiling water over the seeds and wait for the mixture to cool.

The decoction can be taken orally, either strained or unfiltered, one tablespoon in the morning.

This mixture improves digestion, helps remove toxins from the body, and reduces bloating.

You can also learn about the benefits and harms of this plant from the video.

https://youtu.be/ZRyA6YAnvYc

Recipes for making infusion and juice

Infusion recipe: To make plantain infusion, you need 1 tbsp.
l. Pour a cup of boiling water over the crushed plant. Leave to simmer for an hour or 30 minutes in a water bath. Then strain. This infusion with fresh leaves is good for washing wounds, ulcers, fistulas, boils, and abscesses.

Plantain juice. Wash fresh leaves, dry them and pour boiling water over them. Then grind using a meat grinder. Squeeze the finished mixture through a cloth. This juice is especially useful if the pancreas suffers.

If the juice is very thick, you can add water and boil for 3 minutes.

AUTHENTICITY

External signs

Whole raw materials. Whole or partially crushed leaves, simple, leaf shape broadly ovate or broadly elliptical, rounded at the base, apex pointed or blunt, petiole winged, glabrous, of variable length. In the place where the petiole breaks, long remains of thread-like veins are visible. The leaf margin is entire or slightly toothed, the venation is arcuate; the leaf surface is bare on both sides, the length of the leaves with petiole is up to 24 cm, the width is from 3 to 11 cm. The color of the leaf blades is from light green to brownish green, the petioles are light green, whitish-gray or yellowish-white, often with purple tint. The smell is weak. The taste of the aqueous extract is slightly bitter.

Crushed raw materials. Pieces of leaf blades and petioles of various shapes, passing through a sieve with 7 mm holes.

When examining crushed raw materials under a magnifying glass (10×) or a stereomicroscope (16×), pieces of leaf blades from light green to brownish-green with an uneven surface and, rarely, whitish protruding hairs, pieces of petioles of light green, yellowish-white or white, often with a purple tint, on the cross section of which black arcuate spots (vascular-fibrous bundles) may be visible.

The color of the crushed raw materials is from light green to brownish-green with brown, white, yellowish-white and rare purple inclusions. The smell is weak. The taste of the aqueous extract is slightly bitter.

Powder. Pieces of leaf blades and petioles of various shapes, passing through a sieve with 2 mm holes.

When examining the powder under a magnifying glass (10×) or a stereomicroscope (16×), pieces of leaf blades are visible from light green to brownish-green in color with an uneven surface and, rarely, whitish protruding hairs, pieces of petioles of light green, yellowish-white or white colors, often with a violet tint, on the cross section of which black arcuate spots (vascular-fibrous bundles) may be visible.

The color of the powder ranges from light green to brownish-green with brown, white, yellowish-white and rare purple inclusions. The smell is weak. The taste of the water extract is slightly bitter.

Microscopic signs Whole and crushed raw materials. When examining a leaf from the surface, polygonal epidermal cells with straight side walls are visible on the upper side of the leaf blade. Cells of the lower epidermis with slightly convoluted walls. The cuticle forms folds in places. The stomata on both sides of the leaf are of anomocytic type, round, surrounded by 3–4 epidermal cells. There are simple and capitate hairs. Simple conical hairs with an expanded base, multicellular, smooth, rare, often torn off. Capitate hairs of 2 types - on a unicellular stalk with an elongated two-cell head - are found over the entire surface on both sides of the leaf; capitate hairs on a multicellular stalk with a spherical or oval unicellular head are less common. At the places where hairs are attached, epidermal cells form a rosette of 6–9 cells.

Powder. When examining micropreparations, fragments of the epidermis of the upper side of the leaf are visible from cells with almost straight walls, the lower side has slightly convoluted walls; epidermal cells above large veins and leaf petiole are longitudinally elongated; cuticle folded in places; rounded stomata are surrounded by 3–4 parastomatal cells (anomocytic type) - more numerous on the underside of the leaf; hairs – simple multicellular with an expanded base, sometimes with collapsed cells; capitate hairs, as a rule, on a unicellular stalk with an elongated two-cell head and, less often, on a multicellular stalk with a spherical or oval single-cell head; there are also capitate hairs with a 3- or 4-cell head, the cells of the latter often with pointed ends, located in 2 row (the hairs may be broken off and only the rounded places of their attachment are visible); in places where hairs are attached, epidermal cells form a rosette; fragments of the petiole, in which the vascular bundles are represented by spiral and mesh vessels, accompanied by numerous non-lignified fibers.

Note. Other types of plantain found in raw materials as an impurity include:

a) Medium plantain (Plantago media L.): the leaf blade is elliptical, pubescent, especially along the veins and the edge of the leaf. Under a microscope, when examining the epidermis, numerous simple, multicellular hairs are visible, without an expanded base, with a smooth or gently warty surface, thin-walled, often with collapsed segments. Capitate hairs with a single-cell stalk and an elongated two-cell head.

b) Lanceolate plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.): the leaf blade is elongated-lanceolate, pubescent along the veins. Under a microscope, when examining the epidermis along the veins and edge of the leaf, pointed, long, thick-walled hairs are found, having one short basal cell and 2–3 long terminal cells with their peculiar articulation. Capitate hairs have a unicellular stalk and a multicellular (8-10 cells) head.

Large plantain leaves

Drawing - Large plantain leaves.

1 – fragment of the epidermis of the lower side of the leaf: a – stomata of the anomocytic type, b – simple hair (200×), 2 – fragment of the lower side of the leaf with a capitate hair (200×), 3 – fragment of the epidermis with a capitate hair (a) and a large multicellular hair with a collapsed cell (b) (200×), 4 – anomocytic type stomata (400×).

Against hair loss

It is also recommended to take advantage of the healing properties of plant materials for hair problems. Intensive loss can be stopped with a rich perennial decoction - brew 20 grams. gruel the plant with boiling water (180 ml). Use immediately after infusion and straining.

Moisten the dermis of the head generously with the prepared decoction, massage the skin, rubbing the composition into the roots of the strands. The duration of the procedure is at least ten minutes. Complete the procedure by thoroughly rinsing. The recommended number of manipulations is at least three procedures per week.

Features of application

After many years of experiments and studies, doctors have come to the general opinion that plantain can be of great benefit for the treatment of cancer tumors. It inhibits the development of cancers that affect the following organs:

• Bladder;
• bones;
• liver;
• cervix;
• lungs;
• stomach.

More often than others, plantain is used by patients with lung cancer. The plant contains all the components that prevent the growth of malignant tissue and suppresses the spread of metastases. In anti-cancer therapy, plantain decoction involves use in the form of compresses and oral administration. Herbal decoction is good for eliminating cosmetic problems. People with dry skin make masks from plantain preparations.

The fruits (seeds) of the plant are also used in narcology. A mucus-containing decoction is prepared from them. Young nursing mothers make lotions from plantain. They are great for relieving painful cracked nipples. This is done as follows: wet a clean napkin with liquid, squeeze out excess moisture, then apply to the sore spot for 30-40 minutes.

Medicinal substances contained in plantain juice

With the help of plantain juice, it is possible to solve a fairly large number of health problems. It allows you to relieve inflammation, speed up wound healing, improve the secretory function of the stomach, relieve pain and normalize many body functions.

The medicinal properties of plantain juice and contraindications for its use are determined by the chemical composition of this plant.

The juice contains substances that have a beneficial effect on various human organs.

It contains biologically active ingredients, various types of vitamins and minerals that are needed to maintain the immune system. It contains polysaccharides, glycosides, ascorbic and oleic acids, carbohydrates, various vitamins and minerals.

How to prepare plantain

Herbalists recommend collecting plantain raw materials the day after rain. You must first make sure that the plant is thoroughly dry. It is advisable to harvest from one-year-old bushes once a season. If the plantain is 2 or 3 years old, then you can harvest 2 crops of green mass. The first time the preparation is made in the initial stage of flowering of the plant. This period is most useful for making medicine.

The second time - at the end of summer, before persistent cold sets in. Plantain grows quickly, several times per season. The above-ground part of the plant must be harvested using pruners or scissors, since it has quite hard veins on the leaf blades. It is difficult to do this by hand. The raw materials must be dried immediately after collection, otherwise the greens quickly begin to darken and deteriorate.

On a hot day, it is good to place the chopped raw materials on ventilated shelves, always under a canopy. The sun's rays should not fall on the racks, otherwise the raw materials will turn black. If this method is not suitable, you can dry the plantain with a special dryer. Set the temperature to no more than 45 degrees. You can collect the green parts of the plant all summer months.

When only the seeds need to be collected, they are cut off along with the spikelet. Drying flower stalks are also placed under an awning, hanging tied bunches or spreading them on paper, a towel, in a thin layer. When ready, the stems are freed from seeds and rubbed in the palms of your hands. The finished raw materials lie well on a shelf in the kitchen cabinet, the main thing is that it is dry and dark. Storage periods should not exceed 6 months.

Nature is designed to help man, but he himself must take care of his health. Timely prevention, physical exercise, and a healthy lifestyle will provide the body with strength and health for many years.

Cough decoction for children

The main manifestation of a cold is coughing attacks. The symptom is especially dangerous for children - not all pharmaceutical drugs are recommended for use in treatment.

Plantain decoction is a safe medicine that will not harm even a baby, effectively relieving coughing attacks, thinning mucus, and promoting the removal of mucus. Preparation:

1. Grind dry perennial leaves (45 g) into fine crumbs.
2. Brew 250 ml of boiling water.
3. Leave until completely cooled.
4. After straining, add bee honey.

Before starting treatment, it is recommended to make sure that there are no allergic manifestations to the bee product. Testing is simple - apply 3-5 drops of honey to the baby’s sensitive dermis (usually the wrist area), wait half an hour. If there are no warning signs (rashes, burning, severe itching), start using a home remedy.

Treatment should be carried out for two weeks - if coughing attacks have not lost intensity, immediately visit a doctor. You may have to use more powerful pharmaceutical drugs.

Decoction according to the recipe of Agafya Lykova

For many years, the hermit Agafya hid an ancient recipe that her ancestors used to treat joint diseases. Recently, the mysterious recipe became known, and in a short time the old herbalist's folk treatment gained considerable success.

Even skeptics have seen how easy it is to cope with joint diseases, restore mobility, and stop the spread of inflammatory processes. Preparation:

1. Cut the leaves of the plant into large pieces (30 g).
2. Add coltsfoot flowers, thyme herb (10 g each).
3. Combine herbal ingredients and boiling water (230 ml).
4. Close the container tightly and leave to infuse at room temperature.

Subject the liquid to filtration, add homemade butter (15 g), and begin treatment. Rub the prepared homemade medicine into the skin of the affected areas.

Insulate the painful area with a scarf and remove the compress after a day. Usually the painful sensations disappear almost completely; to consolidate the results, repeat the procedure after three days.

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High blood pressure - treatment with plantain

Hypertensive patients are also recommended to benefit from the perennial - home remedies quickly bring blood pressure back to normal, increase vascular permeability, thin the blood, and prevent the formation of blood clots.

Treatment is best carried out in courses - a month of admission, three weeks off. After just six months, positive results are noticeable - pressure surges are no longer a concern. For prevention purposes, courses should be conducted once a year. Step by step recipe:

1. Mix 20 gr. seeds, chopped perennial leaves.
2. Combine with boiling water (350 ml).
3. Place on low heat, bring to a boil, remove, leave for about an hour.

It is recommended to take immediately after straining. Dosage – 20 ml at a time. The decoction should be consumed 5 times a day, preferably after meals.

For pregnant

Herbs for pregnant women can have both big pros and cons. It is most often used during pregnancy for coughs and other colds. For these purposes, both pure plantain juice and its combination with honey (1:1) 1 tsp each are used. 3 times a day.

During pregnancy, external use of a natural remedy is often recommended. However, before drinking or applying it to the skin, you should consult a specialist - at this time hidden diseases may appear, incl. allergy.

We do it at home

Sometimes plant seeds can be used to make certain medicines. However, we won't need them for our recipe. If you are going to make a plantain tincture, the preparation instructions are quite simple. First of all, you must prepare fresh, recently picked leaves. Juice will do too.

Attention! The recipe involves the use of vodka. However, the use of alcohol and even moonshine is also allowed if you dilute it with water to approximately the strength of vodka.

Here's a quick step-by-step guide:

Storage is carried out in the same or similar containers. The shelf life of any medicine containing alcohol is quite long. In any case, when used internally, the tincture must be diluted with water.

Skin health

Plantain juice is also used for the face - it restores health and tone to the skin, treats skin diseases.

1. A tonic made from healthy liquid and chilled boiled water (1:1) is suitable for all skin types. Wipe your face with it after washing.
2. For inflammation (pimples, acne), a mask will help: mix the juice with potato starch to a paste, apply to the face for 15 minutes, rinse.

Compresses for lesions and inflammation of the joints

Using plantain decoction externally is an effective way to eliminate inflammatory processes, relieve pain, and activate affected joint tissues. The use of compresses at home is allowed to be combined with drug therapy, especially if the joint disease is rapidly progressing. Preparation:

1. Chop fresh plant material (50 grams), rub with your hands, waiting for the juice to appear.
2. Pour boiling water (240 ml).
3. Place in a steam bath and simmer without lifting the lid for 10 minutes.
4. After cooling, strain.

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Soak a soft cloth with the resulting liquid (if necessary, warm it up a little) and place a compress on the problem area.

Fix with plastic wrap (use only food grade polyethylene) and wrap with a scarf. Leave it overnight, rinse the skin in the morning, if the doctor has prescribed the use of ointment or gel, apply pharmaceutical preparations.

Therapeutic effects

The health benefits of plantain juice are very wide:

• cough relief;
• removal of mucus (expectorant);
• stool regulation;
• respiratory diseases with a lot of mucus;
• Chronical bronchitis;
• cough;
• whooping cough;
• pulmonary asthma;
• pulmonary tuberculosis;
• digestive disorders associated with constipation;
• intestinal obstruction;
• blood purification;
• cleansing the lungs;
• cleansing the stomach;
• kidney problems;
• bladder diseases;
• pneumonia;
• haemorrhoids;
• the presence of blood in the urine;
• anemia;
• weak lungs;
• kidney diseases;
• pale skin;
• skin diseases;
• underweight;
• poorly healing wounds;
• ulcers;
• bruises;
• burns;
• frostbite;
• insect bites;
• eye irritation;
• headache;
• sore throat (treatment at home).

Let's consider the beneficial effects of the plant in more detail.

Oatmeal jelly prepared from a decoction

Plantain is widely used not only in alternative medicine - often plant materials are the main components in preparations. Oatmeal jelly, which is based on a perennial decoction, has gained popularity among people suffering from gastritis, blood pressure surges, and high cholesterol.

The drug copes with painful sensations in the stomach, attacks of nausea, heaviness, discomfort in the digestive organs, and effectively removes harmful substances.

Jelly is produced in the form of a dry powder that requires the preparation of a solution. At 45 gr. preparation – 210 ml of boiling water. There is no need to boil, simmer, or infuse the medicine - just stir the medicine, it can be taken after a quarter of an hour.

It is allowed to give jelly to children (in the absence of appetite, reduced immunity), and during pregnancy. The only caution is to discuss the advisability of treatment with a specialist, and carry out the appointment after a medical consultation.

Compound

To understand how plantain is useful for the human body, you should look at its constituent components. With their help, wounds heal quickly, pain goes away, bleeding stops and much more. So, the chemical composition of plantain is as follows:

• Vitamin C, K, beta-carotene;
• Citric and uronic acids;
• Bioflavonoids as antioxidants;
• Tannins;
• Enzymes;
• Alkaloids;
• Glycoside aucubin;
• Phytoncides;
• Minerals - potassium, copper, cobalt, iron, magnesium, calcium, molybdenum, selenium.

This composition is relevant for all parts of the plantain. The seeds of the plant have additional components and properties, due to which they are used in official medicine for the production of medicines. Up to 44% of the composition is occupied by mucus, and additionally contains amino acids, proteins, saponins, oleic and aleanolic acids.

Red clover will also provide health benefits. Tinctures, infusions, decoctions, teas and macerates based on meadow clover are used to treat and prevent a number of ailments. Read more about the benefits of the plant in this article...

For men

Benefits for men are:

• positive effect on the prostate and prevention of diseases of this organ;
• increased sperm activity (increased fertility);
• increase in physical strength.

The dosage of the natural remedy is the same as for women, the course of treatment is 1 month, the break is 1 week.

Contraindications for drugs containing plantain

large plantain, photo

• All preparations based on plantain are not used for allergies to the plant.

Internal use of plantain is dangerous for patients prone to thrombosis or who have high coagulation rates (blood clotting). The juice of fresh leaves especially thickens the blood.

If the acidity of gastric juice is increased (hypersecretion), the plant is contraindicated. Alcohol tinctures for internal use are not prescribed to children under 14 years of age.

Externally, extracts, powder, infusions, extracts, decoctions and tinctures from plantain can be used by all patients, regardless of age, naturally, in the absence of individual intolerance, which, by the way, happens in exceptional cases.

Raw plantain is sold in almost every pharmacy. Procuring the leaves yourself will allow you to always have a free, but very effective, medicine on hand. Good health to you with proven herbal medicine recipes!

Plantain can be found everywhere - it also grows on infertile soils, and is often found on roadsides and wastelands. It is easily recognized by its petiolate leaves, along which fibers are threaded, with erect, elongated small flowers.

Despite the widespread occurrence of the herbaceous plant, it is valued for its medicinal properties.

Plantain is used both in folk medicine and in the production of medicines. In addition, it is an excellent food for animals and a component for the preparation of cosmetics. Read this material about the medicinal properties and contraindications of plantain.