tablespoonful or more several times a day and after bowel evacuation. As feminine wash, 2
tablespoonfuls of plantain to 1 pint of water, simmer covered, cool, strain, add enough water to fill
container.
DOSE: 1 teaspoonful of plantain to 1 cupful of boiling water. Of the tincture, ½–1 fluidram.
EXTERNALLY: The juice of the leaves will counteract the bite of rattlesnakes, poisonous insects, etc. Take
1 tablespoonful every hour, at the same time applying the bruised leaves to the wounds. Also to check
external bleeding, erysipelas, ulcers, eczema, burns, and scalds. Can be used as a strong tea to bathe the
area often. Apply poultice to rheumaticlike pain, or add large amount to bathwater for relief. The leaves
dipped in cider vinegar and dried overnight, then placed on the feet before putting stockings on, will aid
leg pains. An ointment can be made by slowly boiling for 2 hours 2 ounces of granulated plantain in 1 pint
of soy bean, coconut, peanut, or other soluble oil.
HOMEOPATHIC CLINICAL: Tincture of whole fresh plant, tincture of root for ciliary neuralgia, diabetes,
diarrhea, dysentery, earache, ear (inflammation of), emissions, enuresis, erysipels erythema, hemorrhoids,
impotence, neuralgia (of herpes), polyuria, snakebite, spleen (pains in), tobacco habit, toothache,
urination (delayed), worms, wounds.
RUSSIAN EXPERIENCE: Wild plantain is known to the Russians as Podoroshnik, meaning near the road or
along the road. Plantain grows easily in any climate and soil. Among almost thirty species Plantago
lanceolata is cultivated commercially in France, Spain, and the United States. This and Plantago major
are given the most credit. The herb has an old and honorable history as an Arabian and Persian medicine
for dysentery and all other stomach and intestinal trouble. Ancient Roman and Greek medicine valued and
gave credit to the healing power of Plantago. Folk medicine: Usually prepared as a tea from the fresh or
dried herb, or as conserved juice of freshly picked leaves and flowers with the faithful vodka (nastoika).
Seeds are used for inflammation of the stomach and intestines, for ulcers, and to reduce stomach pain.
Their use coincides with the uses of antiquity for all stomach conditions, gastritis, loose bowels, stomach
ulcers, internal wounds, abscesses, and internal bleeding. To induce appetite a drink of plantain is given,
also for kidney, bladder, and heart conditions, coughs, tuberculosis of the lungs, red inflamed skin,
headache, and snakebite. Plantain is rich in minerals and vitamins C, K, and factor “T,” which helps to
stop bleeding (Medicine, Moscow, 1963). Clinically: After observation of many cases of stomach
sickness, it was found that chronic ulcers responded to treatment with the fresh juice of plantain, or
nastoika. Also used for dysentery, dyspepsia, and to correct acid condition of the stomach, and regulate
secretion of the stomach. The Russian Ministry of Health recommends plantain for chronic colitis and
acute stomach conditions of gastritis, enteritis, enterocolitis. Externally: Extensive clinical research and
experiments have proved that fresh plantain juice is suitable for dressing wounds, ulcers, furnicles, boils
(M. P. Rasman), and as a powder for abscesses, ulcers, wounds of bleeding, and chronic skin conditions
(Bello-Russ. Academy of Science, 1965).