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Plantago lanceolata
FAMIGLIA: Plantaginaceae
NOME VOLGARE: Lingua di cane - Piantaggine
HABITAT: Incolti, vigne e campi sino a 2000 mt
Pianta perenne alta sino a 50 cm, con breve e
grosso rizoma, scapo solcato
longitudinalmente, più o meno peloso, molto
più alto delle foglie;
Foglie tutte in rosetta, perduranti in inverno,
glabre o peloso-lanose, lanceolate e
attenuate in un lungo picciolo, con 3-5 nervi
ingrossati nella faccia inferiore, a margine
intero o con denti piccoli e distanziati;
I fiori sono raccolti in una breve spiga, corolla
con 4 lobi lanceolati, colore da rosato a
Fiore di Plantago lanceolata, fraz. Revigliasco,
Moncalieri (TO), 25/04/03
gialliccio, e 4 antere gialle poi aranciate,
fiorisce da aprile ad ottobre.
Il nome Plantago sembra derivi dai due termini latini planta = pianta del piede, zampa ed ago =
faccio apparire, con allusione alle forma delle foglie di alcune specie di questo Genere.
In cucina si usano le foglie più tenere che vengono cotte e condite come gli spinaci, utilizzate per i
ripieni delle torte salate e agnolotti, nelle
minestre oppure crude in insalata.
Ha una marcata azione ricostituente
specialmente nei disturbi della crescita,
utile per i soggetti anemici e deboli ma, in
quantità eccessiva, può provocare una
certa stitichezza.
Nella medicina popolare si usa la parte
aerea della pianta, raccolta dalla primavera
all'autunno, per curare le enteriti
Piantina di Plantago lanceolata, fraz. Revigliasco,
Moncalieri (TO), 24/02/03
accompagnate da diarrea e nelle
infiammazioni in genere.
Per uso esterno si usa un macerato di foglie fresche da applicare su piaghe, ulcere, dermatiti
squamose e acne e, sotto forma di cataplasma, nei bagni oculari contro le congiuntiviti.
Le altre Plantago che crescono abbondanti nelle nostre zone, P. media e P. major possiedono le
stesse qualità e possono essere usate allo stesso scopo anche se con minore efficacia.
Narra la leggenda che un principe bussò alla porta di un castello ove vivevano una flessuosa
damigella e la sua grassottella nutrice.
Egli si mise a lodare amabilmente, e separatamente, le due dame, circondandole di attenzioni e di
cure: ad una diceva "M'incantano la tua figura snella e la tua delicata bellezza" e all'altra "Ammiro
nella donna le rotondità e le forme tornite".
Al mattino il giovane partì per chiedere al proprio padre la benedizione al suo matrimonio, che
aveva promesso ad ognuna delle due donne; esse sono ancora ad aspettarlo al bordo della
strada, tanto che hanno messo le radici: l'elegante Plantago lanceolata e la più robusta Plantago
major.
One of the great miracle herbs that I have discovered growing wild on our land is Ribwort Plantago lanceolata, also known as Rat-tail Plantain or Ribwort.
This incredible herb keeps on astounding me as I use it on my patients, and I see the wonderful
results that occur.
When we first moved onto our land, I noticed that there was an abundance of Ribwort growing
along the sides of our drive, I knew that it was wonderful for many ailments, but did not realise at
that time how profound it was. I was talking to our new neighbour after we first moved here, and he
told me his wife was weeding in our adjoining drive and was bitten by a brown snake and had been
in intensive care for some time. He showed me the place where she was attacked: I noticed that
there was lots of Ribwort growing there.
I felt inspired to look up the uses of Ribwort. There it was Ribwort, to be used for snakebites, if the
knowledge would have been available our neighbours wife could have placed the leaves on the
bite and it would have drawn out the poison. It seemed that nature provided the cure nearby.
Here is a list of the many therapeutic uses of Ribwort, I am sure there are many more that are not
listed here.

Asthma

Blood Purifying

Bee Stings

Bed Wetting

Bladder Problems

Detoxification

Internal & External Bleeding

Blood Poisoning

Burns

Diarrhoea

Douche

Eyes Excema

Fractures

Frigidity

Haemorrhage

Haemorrhoids

Hoarseness

Insect Bites

Itching

Kidneys

Leucorrhoea

Lumbago

Lungs Menopause

Menstruation (decrease)

Poison Ivy-Oak

Poisonous Spiders

Rashes

Stinging Nettle rash

Snake Bites

Thrush

Tumours

Ulcers

Vagina

Wounds
Ribwort can be used as a tea, tincture or Homoeopathic remedy therapeutically, and is
wonderful for detoxifying the body, and helps when a person is giving up smoking. A poultice on
all-skin ailments and burns works quickly and bleeding stops immediately when you place a leaf
on a cut.
Psyllium husks are around the dried seeds that come from Ribwort, these can be used for
roughage with your food for the bowel.
We use Ribwort chopped up in salads, stir fry, as a cooked green, soups, herbal tea, and add
the juice occasionally to orange or pineapple juice for a green Chlorophyll hit in our daily food
intake. You can also cook Ribwort like spinach.
I am really glad that Ribwort has become part of my life and that I can now share it with many
people so that they also can benefit from this Miracle Herb.
I discovered Ribwort was great for Menopause, when I went through the change myself four years
ago, and experienced erratic menstruation with times when I menstruated months apart and then
one month, I bled profusely for three weeks. I actually was thinking about which herb to use when I
walked outside and thought Ribwort. It is well known for internal and external bleeding. I took three
cups of Ribwort tea that evening and woke up the next morning and the profuse bleeding had
stopped, I have not menstruated since.
I have used Ribwort on many women since and the same thing happens, a handful of leaves in a
pot of hot water, left to stand for at least 30 minutes and drink 3-4 cups definitely works.
After researching the menopause, I have found that native women who live on a natural diet of
fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and fish, have no menopausal problems, no hot flushes or depression.
It is bad diet and stress that creates an over acid condition in the body which before menopause
was eliminated by menstruation and after menopause is eliminated through the skin as a hot flush.
I have found by experimenting with myself that if I drink wine or foods with additives or emulsifiers,
I will that night have a hot flush.
I do not experience hot flushes or depression when I stay on a natural diet. I believe nature has its
own way of letting us know when we go off track.
from the Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism:
Plantago major L PLANTAGINACEAE
Greater Ribwort / Rat-tail Ribwort / Waybread
This and some closely related Plantago species such as P. major var. asiatica Decne. and P.
lanceolaia L have a long traditional use in the treatment of sores which has recently been
vindicated by modem examination of the plant's action. The unattractive and tenacious Ribworts
are the scourge of gardeners, but many are still highly respected in folk medicine from Africa to
Vietnam.
Description: Perennial. Leaves entire or slightly toothed, long petioled, ovate to elliptic, 5-20 cm
long, forming a basal rosette. Leaves prominently 7-veined and no more than twice as long as the
petiole. Flowers inconspicuous 3 mrn wide, numerous, yellowish-green, with lilac and then yellow
anthers, on cylindrical spike 5-40 cm long. Appearing early summer to mid-autumn.
Distribution: Native to Europe. Introduced to other temperate zones. Widely distributed on
cultivated land, wasteland and roadside. Prefers moist sandy or loamy nutrient-rich soils, but
tolerates most conditions.
Cultivation: Wild plant. In eastern Europe commercial cultivation of P. lanceolata L. has recently
begun. Constituents (Ica@ Mucilage; a pentacyclic triterpene, oicanolic acid; a glycoside, aueubin (rhinanthin); the enzymes emulsin and invertin; potassium salts (to 0.5%); citric acid. (seed) Oil
(to 22%); a trisaccharide, planteose; aucubin; choline; various organic acids.
Uses: (dried leaves, seed) Vulnerary; diuretic; expectorant; astringent; bacteriostatic. Principally of
use as a poultice, ointment or in decoction for the external treatment of wounds, ulcers and bites.
Also used as a gargle and as an eye-wash in blepharitis and conjunctivitis.
The plant has the ability to destroy a wide range of micro-organisms, and stimulates the healing
process (epithelization). The leaf may be employed internally to treat diarrhoea, and conversely the
seed is of benefit in constipation. Formerly used to treat various haemorrhage; including post-
partum haemorrhage; also bronchitis, bronchial catarrh and coughs. An effective diuretic.
Employed homeopathically. The young leaf was once used as a pot-herb.
Medical Uses: All of the plantains contain a high level of tannin and the seeds have a high
mucilage content. The astringent property of the leaves due to the tannin makes the leaves useful
for all types of sores on the skin, cuts, bites and various inflammations. A tea brewed with the
seeds is a treatment for diarrhea and dysentery and for bleeding in the mouth or other mucous
membranes.
Parts Used---Root, leaves, flower-spikes.
Growth & Habitat --- A perennial "weed" that can be found almost anywhere in North America and
much of Europe. You probably have some in your backyard! Plantain is thought to be indigenous to
Eurasia. It will grow in sun to shade, and in almost any soil - plantain is very adaptable. Plantain
spreads by seeds.
Plantain is a low-growing, green plant with oval, ribbed short-stemmed leaves. The leaves form
basal rosettes which tend to hug the ground. The leaves may grow up to about 6" long and 4"
wide, but tend to vary greatly in size depending on their soil and light conditions. Plantain sends up
a leafless flower stock in summer/fall - the stalks can be up to ten inches tall.
There are over 200 species in the plantain family, and they are found worldwide. Many have herbal
uses. Plantago major is the most common one in North America, but Plantago lanceolata can also
be found. Both have the same medicinal uses, and are very similar in appearance. Plantago major
has wide rounded leaves, with a flowering spike covered with small nubbly seeds; Plantago
lanceolata has longer, slender leaves, and a mostly bare flowering stem, with a conelike cluster of
flowers on the top.
(Please note that plantain - the starchy, banana-like fruit, is completely different and not related to
the plantain "weed" we are talking about!)
Plantain is edible - harvest the young, tender leaves for use in a salad, or steamed and used as a
spinach substitute. The leaves do get tough quickly, so make sure to harvest only the youngest
leaves. The immature flower stalks may be eaten raw or cooked. If you're really adventuresome,
you can harvest the seeds. They are said to have a nutty flavor and may be parched and added to
a variety of foods or ground into flour. The leaves, seeds and roots can all be made into an herbal
tea.
Plantain was brought to the US and also to New Zealand by European settlers who valued it for it's
culinary and medicinal properties. The settlers seemed to leave the plant wherever they went, thus
earning it the name "White Man's Foot' or "Englishman's Foot" by the natives of both countries.
Plantain has been used medicinally by Europeans for centuries. Herbals dating from the 1500's
and 1600's are full of recipes and uses for plantain. It was considered to be almost a panacea - a
cure-all, and a quick search shows that is has historically been recommended as a treatment for
just about everything, up to and including dog bites, ulcers, ringworm, jaundice, epilepsy, liver
obstructions, and hemorrhoids! Plantain was so commonly known it is even found referenced in
works by both Chaucer and Shakespeare.
Plantain is usually plentiful and can be easily harvested anytime from early spring until frost.
Please do be careful where you harvest it - roadsides are notoriously dirty and dusty, and ditches
are often sprayed with herbicides. Leave a spot in your backyard where you allow it to grow, and
you can harvest your own all growing season! If your neighbors think you are crazy, let them know
that plantain is a food source for some friendly wildlife such as butterfly caterpillars, and that the
seeds are a food source for many varieties of birds.
Plantain is very high in beta carotene (A) and calcium. It also provides ascorbic acid (C), and
vitamin K. Among the more notable chemicals found in plantain are allantion, apigenin, aucubin,
baicalein, linoleic acid, oleanolic acid, sorbitol, and tannin. Together these constituents are thought
to give plantain mild anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihemorrhagic, and expectorant actions.
Acubin has been reported in the Journal Of Toxicology as a powerful anti-toxin. Allantoin has been
proved to promote wound healing, speed up cell regeneration, and have skin-softening effects.
Modern medical research is proving to uphold many of the historical uses of plantain - especially
as a wound healer, and as a treament for lung conditions such as bronchitis or asthma.
Medicinally, plantain is astringent, demulcent, emollient, cooling, vulnerary, expectorant,
antimicrobial, antiviral, antitoxin, and diuretic. Plantain is approved by the German Commission E
(a sort of German "FDA" that studies and regulates herbs and herbal uses) for internal use to ease
coughs and mucous membrane irritation associated with upper respiratory tract infections as well
as topical use for skin inflammations. Two Bulgarian clinical trials have suggested that plantain
may be effective in the treatment of chronic bronchitis.
How much is usually taken? The German Commission E officially recommends using 1/4-1/2
teaspoon (1-3 grams) of the leaf daily in the form of tea made by steeping the herb in 1 cup (250
ml) of hot water for 10-15 minutes (making three cups (750 ml ) per day). The fresh leaves can be
applied directly three or four times per day to minor injuries, dermatitis, and insect stings. Syrups or
tinctures, approximately 1/2 teaspoon (2-3 ml) three times per day, can also be used, particularly to
treat a cough. Finally, 1/2-1 1/4 teaspoons (2-6 grams) of the fresh plant can be juiced and taken in
three evenly divided oral administrations throughout the day. Of course as with all herbal
medicines, you are your own best doctor - listen to your body and pay attention to it's interaction
with the herb, and you will undoubtedly figure out your own best uses and dosages.
Plantain is not associated with any common side effects and is thought to be safe for children
Plantain is classed as "able to be safely consumed when used appropriately" by the American
Herbal Retailers Association. Some preliminary research does show, however, that some allergy
sufferers may have a reaction to plantain pollen, so if you feel this may be a problem for you, you
may want to only use the plantain leaves for your herbal preparations.
One of plantain's most common uses is as a poultice for stings, bites, scrapes and rashes. The
simplest way to harness plantain's healing powers is to crush a few fresh leaves, and apply to the
affected area. Replace fresh leaves as necessary. The fresh plantain "juice" takes the pain away
and seems to work wonders at staunching blood flow and closing wound edges. It's also
wonderfully refreshing and soothing to sunburn.
Plantain infusion (tea) can also be used as a soothing wash for sunburn, windburn, rashes, or
wounds. To make a plantain infusion, simply add a small handful of fresh plantain leaves to a cup
or two of water, and bring to a gentle boil. Turn off heat, and let steep, then strain out the leaves.
The infusion is best when fresh, although it can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days.
Our favorite way to use plantain is in a herbally infused oil. Gently fill a container with fresh plantain
leaves that have been lightly bruised or crushed. (Dried plantain can be used - if you are using
dried plant material, you only need to fill the jar one-half full). Cover the leaves with oil - any
vegetable oil will do, cover the container, and let sit in the sun for a couple of weeks. The will turn a
beautiful dark green color. Strain out the leaves and you have a lovely herbal oil to use. It's
wonderful to soften, soothe and heal any manner of skin conditions. We love to make a herbal
salve from this oil - simply add 1-2 oz. melted beeswax to warmed infused oil. Stir over low heat
until the beeswax and oil are uniformly combined, and then pour into clean jars or tubs.
Susun Weed recommends using plantain oil on babies and small children instead of lotions or
vaseline. Natural vegetable oil that has been infused with the gentle, healing essence of plantain is
far healthier to put on a baby's delicate skin than chemical-laden lotions or petroleum by-products.
She also recommends using whole, clean, gently crushed fresh plantain leaves directly on a baby's
diaper rash as an overnight polutice. This will help heal common diaper rash, as well as a yeastinfection diaper rash. Of course a plantain oil or salve can also be an excellent cure for diaper rash
or cradle cap.
We use plantain-infused oil in just about all of our oil-based products, such as salves, lip balms,
body oils, etc. We wildcraft chemical-free plantain from our property and the land next to ours. It
dries well; the dried herb makes and excellent infusion and can be used to make an herbally
infused oil that is almost as potent as the oil made from fresh leaves.
History and Chemical Composition.—Plantain is a well-known herb, growing in rich, moist
places, in fields, by the roadsides, and in grass plats, and is common in Europe and America. It
flowers from May to October. The root has a somewhat sweetish, salty taste; the leaves are
bitterish and unsavory. The plant loses its medicinal activity by drying. All its preparations should
be made from the freshly-gathered roots and tops. Water or alcohol extracts the virtues of the
plant. The leaves contain chlorophyll, resin, wax, albumin, pectin, citric and oxalic acids (Th. Koller,
N. Jahrb. f. Pharm., 1868, p. 139). Upon incineration, they leave 12.8 per cent ash. Sugar is
present, while alkaloids and glucosids are absent (D. Rosenbaum, Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1886, p.
418). The root, according to Strawinsky (ibid., 1898, p. 189), contains starch, wax, fatty matter,
dextrose, saccharose, mucilage, traces of tannin, but no alkaloid or glucosid. The ash was 24.7 per
cent, moisture 6.9 per cent.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Plantain is alterative, diuretic, and antiseptic, once
considered vulnerary. The tops and roots, in strong decoction, have been highly recommended in
syphilitic, mercurial, and scrofulous diseases, in the dose of from 2 to 4 fluid ounces, 3 or 4 times a
day. It is likewise reputed beneficial in menorrhagia, leucorrhoea, hematuria, colic, cholera
infantum, aphthae, diarrhoea, dysentery, incipient phthisis, pulmonary hemorrhage, dysuria, and
hemorrhoids. The specific medicine may be employed in these disorders. The juice taken
internally, in doses of 1 fluid ounce every hour, and also applied to the wound, is in high repute as
an antidote to the bites of venomous serpents, spiders, and insects. It is a remedy for toothache
from dental caries, the cavity being cleansed and specific plantago major applied on cotton to the
sensitive pulp, renewing every half hour. Its internal use is said to control toothache through its
effects upon the trifacial, tic-douloureux being benefited in the same manner. The same
preparation, locally applied, often relieves earache. Bedwetting in children, due to relaxed vesical
sphincter, with profuse colorless discharge of urine, is said to be relieved by plantago. Externally,
the bruised leaves, or an ointment made with them, is useful in wounds, ulcers, ophthalmia,
eczema, erysipelas, and some other cutaneous affections. The best forms of administration are the
juice dissolved in diluted alcohol, and evaporated by gentle heat to the consistence of an extract;
and specific plantago major, the dose of which is from 1 to 5 drops.
Edible Uses
Leaves; Seed.
Young leaves - raw or cooked[12, 46, 61]. They are rather bitter and very tedious to prepare, the
fibrous strands are best removed prior to eating[9, 183]. The very young leaves are somewhat
better and are less fibrous[K].
Seed - cooked. Used like sago[177, 183]. The seed can be ground into a powder and added to
flours when making bread, cakes or whatever.
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Antibacterial; Antidote; Astringent; Demulcent; Expectorant; Haemostatic; Laxative; Ophthalmic;
Poultice.
Ribwort plantain is a safe and effective treatment for bleeding, it quickly staunches blood flow and
encourages the repair of damaged tissue[254].
The leaves contain mucilage, tannin and silic acid[244]. An extract of them has antibacterial
properties[240]. They have a bitter flavour and are astringent, demulcent, mildly expectorant,
haemostatic and ophthalmic[9, 13, 21, 145, 165, 222, 244, 254]. Internally, they are used in the
treatment of a wide range of complaints including diarrhoea, gastritis, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel
syndrome, haemorrhage, haemorrhoids, cystitis, bronchitis, catarrh, sinusitis, asthma and hay
fever[238, 254]. They are used externally in treating skin inflammations, malignant ulcers, cuts,
stings etc[4]. The heated leaves are used as a wet dressing for wounds, swellings etc[213, 222].
The root is a remedy for the bite of rattlesnakes, it is used in equal portions with Marrubium
vulgare[207].
The seeds are used in the treatment of parasitic worms[213].
Plantain seeds contain up to 30% mucilage which swells up in the gut, acting as a bulk laxative
and soothing irritated membranes[238]. Sometimes the seed husks are used without the
seeds[238].
A distilled water made from the plant makes an excellent eye lotion[7].
Other Uses
Dye; Fibre; Starch.
A good fibre is obtained from the leaves[4], it is said to be suitable for textiles[115].
A mucilage from the seed coats is used as a fabric stiffener[4]. It is obtained by macerating the
seed in hot water[100, 115].
Gold and brown dyes are obtained from the whole plant[168].