Plantain

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

The plantain is a plant herb of the genus of annual or perennial grasses, rarely shrubs of the family Plantain. Its leaves are usually simple, linear, ovate, at the base are rosette. The flowers are gathered in spike-like inflorescences with bracts. The sepals of the plantain are tiled, and usually the two front ones are different from the two back ones.

The corolla is straight, membranous and fused. There are over 250 species, growing mainly in temperate areas. Among the most famous are Indian plantain (Psyllium), Narrow-leaved plantain (Plantago lanceolata), Broad-leaved plantain (Plantago major). About 15 species are distributed in Bulgaria. One of them is protected by the Biodiversity Act.

Some species plantain have healing properties and are widely used in folk medicine. The popularity of plantain spread as early as the 12th century BC. Back then, herbalists in China sold plantain quite expensively because of its healing properties. Even the ancient alchemist and healer Pliny was of the opinion that if a plantain leaf was placed in a cauldron in which meat was boiled, the broth prepared in this way acted as a panacea and could cure a person of all diseases.

Types of plantain

Indian white plantain (Plantago Psyllium, Plantaginaceae) is known throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas, mainly for its valuable soluble fiber. Indian plantain is synonymous with "soluble fiber" because it contains a large amount of fiber (10-30%), mostly in its seed bundles.

The use of fibers from this type of plantain has been going on since ancient times in the lands of Central and Southeastern Asia. In Chinese folk medicine and in Indian medical practice Ayurveda, plantain fiber is used to prevent intestinal peristalsis and suppress conditions such as constipation (constipation) and gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea).

Indian plantain contains both soluble fiber and a large portion of insoluble fiber. Together with the water in the gastrointestinal tract, the two types of indigestible carbohydrates form a gelled glue that cannot be digested by stomach acids and enzymes or absorbed through cell membranes.

Narrow-leaved plantain is also known as long-leaved, lanceolate or sharp-leaved plantain. The leaves have short stalks, located in a basal rosette, with strongly convex veins. The flowers are collected in a cylindrical class at the top.

The deciduous plantain is also known as large plantain, wrinkles, large-leaved plantain, plantain, plantain, parsley. It has a short rhizome and a leafless flowering stem, the flowering stem is cylindrical and the flowers are gathered at the top as a class.

Composition of plantain

The leaves of plantain are a huge reservoir of vitamins C, A and K. The content of tannins and polysaccharides and fiber is high, especially in Indian plantain, which turns the raw material from the plant into a valuable resource for various medicinal and pharmaceutical mixtures. Phytochemical studies prove that plantain leaves contain a number of substances that have anti-inflammatory effects. The juice of the plant kills pathogenic microbes, cleanses wounds of purulent secretions, promotes their rapid healing.

The dry plant mass, which is used as an herb, contains mucous and bitter substances, carotene, a lot of vitamin C and vitamin K. It is rich in citric acid, tannins, enzymes (invertin and emulsin), glycosides and more. The seeds and leaves of the lanceolate plantain also contain silicic acid.

Plantain storage

The leaves of plantain are collected in the months from May to October, and the plant itself blooms from spring to summer. This is the period in which you can buy the herb from professional herbalists or people involved in their trade. Dry the leaves in a dry and airy place, but always in the shade. Already dried leaves should be stored in a dry place.

Benefits of plantain

The Indian plantain and its water-soluble fibers are useful for proper digestion, gastrointestinal detoxification, improving peristalsis and more. This herb is a powerful gastrointestinal detoxifier that chases the accumulated waste molecules through the micro folds on the surface of the small intestine before the pests become toxic and enter the tissues of intestinal cells, and from there into the bloodstream.

Indian plantain can also be taken as a means to lose weight and reduce appetite. Its fibers create a feeling of satiety. Plantain can be used to prepare various low-calorie and filling meals, as well as to be added to low-fiber foods, thus increasing their digestibility. Plantain reduces the glycemic index and helps prevent overeating and ingestion of large amounts of food. Indian plantain helps to slow down or speed up peristalsis.

It is good for diarrhea because the fibers dry out the food mass and thus slow down its path. In constipation, the gelled glue accumulates mass in the stool, rubs against the intestinal wall and thus stimulates peristalsis to accelerate the movement of the food mass. In diets with consumption of eggs with dairy products, dairy with meat, legumes with meat, nuts with dairy and others. or in case of excessive protein consumption and low fiber consumption, plantain has a propellant effect.

Narrow-leaved plantain used as an antimicrobial, antiviral and laxative. It is used for inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, pharyngitis, laryngitis, acute and chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, gastric and duodenal ulcers, colitis, biliary tract diseases, cystitis with hematuria and others. Narrow-leaved plantain is used to treat wounds and other skin diseases.

Broad-leaved plantain has similar beneficial effects on the body and organism. Helps with inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract, characterized by tough, scarce secretions (chronic bronchitis), problems with the digestive tract (gastritis, ulcers, colitis). According to our folk medicine, crushed fresh plantain leaves are used for insect bites, boils, superficial purulent wounds, for gagging in inflammation, for eczema, for compresses for eye inflammation.

Plantain is used as a hemostatic agent, has bacteriological secretolytic and expectorant action. Lanceolate plantain contains silicic acid and is also used in connective tissue diseases - internal bleeding and internal wounds, to support the treatment of mild forms of pulmonary tuberculosis. According to Russian medics, plantain leaf flour helps treat some cancers.

Thanks to the bitter substances contained in plantain, it is a good means of increasing gastric secretion and appetite, and also to some extent have a beneficial effect on the hematopoietic process. Among the diseases that respond well to plantain are gastrointestinal catarrh, flatulence, colic, gastric and duodenal ulcers, chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract, whooping cough, bronchial catarrh, asthma, liver disease and more.

Folk medicine resorts to plantain for inflammation of the bladder, varicose veins, fungal diseases, dysentery, gingivitis, hemoptysis, heartburn, belching, liver and bile diseases, gas, enlarged prostate, heart disease.

Herbal decoction of the leaves and crushed fresh leaves are applied externally as a compress to relieve and soften swelling from trauma, pain from boils, insect bites, eye inflammation. Freshly crushed leaves help treat fungal diseases between the toes and hands and in the groin area.

To do this, apply a fresh paw or compress to the affected area every night for 10 days. The juice of fresh leaves is used in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in injuries of the cornea of the eye. Sprinkling with a decoction or juice of plantain helps to strengthen the gums and toothache, gargle for sore throat

Medicinal recipes with plantain

The decoction for wounds, boils and pimples from bites is prepared as 2 tbsp. dry vegetable mass is mixed with 400 ml of boiling water and boiled for 10 minutes. Strain, sweeten with honey and drink 3 times a day before meals 50-100 ml or unsweetened decoction is applied to compresses.

Plantain seeds are used in diabetes, dyspepsia, cough, female and male infertility. Seed pollen is taken 1 gram 3-4 times a day 20 to 40 minutes before meals. The infusion is prepared from 3 tbsp. leaves per cup of boiling water, boil for 4 hours, strain and use 1/3 cup 3 times a day.

Plantain juice is prepared against cough. Fresh plantain boil for 20 minutes and mix with honey, after cooling slightly. Lasts a long time in a tightly closed package. For stomach ulcers with reduced acidity, use a decoction of plantain in its pure form, drinking one tbsp. 3 times a day or juice of the herb.

Against boils grind plantain leaves with salt and lard, add medium of black bread and the resulting mixture is applied to the sore spot.

In acute gastritis, 200 g of plantain leaves are placed in 2 glasses of vodka and the mixture is boiled for only five minutes. Strain, cool and pour into a small bottle. Take on an empty stomach one tablespoon. one hour before getting out of bed. It is strictly forbidden to smoke during this procedure.