Our ancestors used it often, both in cooking and as a natural remedy: lanceolate plantain is one of the most common spontaneous medicinal herbs in our country and can be used for the preparation of infusions, tinctures and healing syrups.
The lanceolate plantain is a spontaneous herbaceous plant that grows almost everywhere in our countryside, and belongs to the same family as the large plantain, the latter being different by its wider leaves.
In peasant tradition, plantain was used as a “first aid” remedy, so much so that an old peasant saying said that ” the path to plantain is shorter than the path to the doctor.”
Of course, this plant cannot replace the doctor, but it does offer healing properties that should not be ignored, and which we list below.
Lanceolate plantain contains flavonoids, iridoids, mucilage, tannins, and minerals, all of which are very rich in health benefits.
It is a plant that stands out for its relaxing and expectorant action, toning of the mucous membranes, antispasmodic, anticatarrhal, healing and haemostatic.
Lanceolate plantain can be used in the following ways:
- Tincture: Take 3 to 5 ml (60 drops – 1 teaspoon) 3 times a day to combat catarrh or digestive problems, such as gastritis or irritable bowel syndrome.
- Juice: Use the dried leaves to make a juice and take 2 teaspoons 3 times a day. This serves to combat cystitis, diarrhea, and lung infections. You can also apply the juice to the wounds.
- Infusion: Drink one cup 3 times a day to fight phlegm. Use the infusion to gargle and relieve a sore throat.
- Syrup: Add 225 grams of sugar to 300 ml of infusion and take 5 ml (1 teaspoon) to relieve sore throat and cough.
- Poultices: Grind green leaves to prepare a poultice for slow-healing wounds or chronic ulcers. Also useful in case of insect bites.
Now that you know all the wonderful properties of lanceolate plantain, the next time you see one, pick it up and try using it: it’s a wonder of nature.