Useful properties of plantain and its use in traditional medicine. Useful properties of psyllium juice for the treatment of eyes. Healing properties of plantain: what does roadside grass treat

Plantain is a wonderful gift that nature has given to man. Only a few people are currently aware of its many healing properties. Like dandelion, nettle and many other herbaceous plants, it is often considered a simple and useless weed that should be eradicated as soon as possible from your own vegetable garden or garden.

In fact, plantain has a wide range of uses:

1. It is one of the best medicines for treating wounds, skin irritations, insect bites.
2. It has a positive effect on respiratory diseases, and also helps in the treatment of various diseases.
3. In addition, plantain is edible. It is often used as a salad ingredient in combination with other herbs or in a variety of delicious dishes.

There are two main types of plantain: lanceolate and large. The first has stronger anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and the second is preferable to use for internal diseases.

Useful properties of plantain

The composition of this plant includes many useful substances, including glycosides, iridoids, acids (oleanolic, chlorogenic, citric, silicic, succinic, benzoic, oxalic), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin). The plant contains a lot of vitamins, namely A, C, K, pectin, carotene and tannins.

Due to the presence of these active ingredients, psyllium has:

• antibacterial;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antiseptic;
• and astringent properties.

Indications for use

1. This plant is very effective in the treatment of skin diseases, wounds, various inflammations of the skin and mucous membranes.
2. It is good for cough, chronic bronchitis and sinusitis.
3. Plantain is used as a natural remedy for colds.
4. It is considered useful for treating anemia, hemorrhoids, and respiratory problems.
5. The traditional method of using the leaves of this plant is to dress wounds to stop bleeding and heal them.
6. It is also often used for conjunctivitis and inflammation of the eyelids.
7. Topical use is often used for skin problems as psyllium soothes and prevents redness. It will be useful in case of itching, dermatosis, acne rosacea, inflammation and small skin lesions. Applying a psyllium leaf compress is useful as a soothing agent for insect bites.

Plantain seeds have also found wide application. So, due to their rich composition, they are used to treat many diseases. The seeds have a certain laxative effect. They are also used to treat such ailments:

• hemorrhoids;
• the so-called enterocolitis;
• intestinal inflammation.

Doctors claim that psyllium seeds perfectly help to cleanse the body of harmful bile acids and even lower the level of bad cholesterol in the blood.

Homemade decoctions of seeds are used for various skin diseases. Doctors often recommend that their patients take a decoction to lower their blood sugar levels. It helps in the treatment of female infertility. The seeds also have healing and healing properties for men. The use of seeds leads to a stabilization of the emotional state and helps fight depression.

Of the other useful characteristics of plantain, the following properties should be noted:

1. The plant has an antimicrobial effect.
2. The seeds are used to treat colitis and, as mentioned above, intestinal inflammation. The fact is that the mucus contained in the seeds immediately envelops the intestinal walls, thereby protecting them well from any irritation.
3. Plantain is often used in dentistry. Rinsing the mouth with a decoction or tincture helps with stomatitis, periodontal diseases, and inflammation of the gums. Preparations with this plant soothe toothache.
4. Plantain perfectly increases appetite and has a very beneficial effect on the work of the stomach. Therefore, it will be useful for gastritis with low acidity and is often prescribed for stomach ulcers.

In the cosmetic field, a decoction of plantain leaves is used to cleanse oily facial skin. To do this, the broth is poured into ice molds and frozen. In addition, the hair is washed with an infusion of plantain leaves to improve their condition.

This plant can be found everywhere. But for collection for medicinal purposes, it is recommended to look for places away from dusty roads and industrial facilities. It is better to collect plants in the morning in dry weather. You can start collecting raw materials in the summer months and in the first half of autumn.

It is recommended to collect not only leaves, but also roots and seeds. In this case, the plant is completely dug out of the ground along with the root, for which they make a tunnel. But it is worth remembering that the seeds are suitable for use when they are fully ripe. Therefore, you should wait until they ripen and turn brown.

But the leaves can be collected even before the flowering of the plant. To cut them, you can take garden shears or secateurs. After harvesting, the plantain must be washed in running water, and then divided into parts. Leaves, roots and seeds are deposited separately. Then the raw material should be dried. To do this, it is laid out on a paper or fabric surface in places that are not exposed to direct sunlight and are well ventilated.

Contraindications for use and possible side effects

When used internally, there are a number of limitations:

1. First of all, the use of plantain is not recommended for all those whose gastric juice has an increased level of acidity.
2. Care should be taken to use remedies from this plant in patients suffering from bronchial asthma.
3. In case of exacerbation of stomach or intestinal ulcers, the use of the plant is also not recommended.
4. It is undesirable to use psyllium for the treatment of people who take anticoagulants or coagulants, as this changes the effect of their effects.
5. It is worth remembering that consuming a large amount of this plant can lead to constipation.
6. People with a high tendency to form blood clots and a high level of blood clotting should not take psyllium.
7. In addition, treatment with this plant should not be carried out for a long time, as it increases the risk of blood clots.

Distinguish between internal and external use of plantain. For external use, the leaves should be applied to the skin, as their juice can stop bleeding from small cuts and disinfect the wound. For internal use, there are various methods.

The simplest recipe: take 3 grams of plant leaves (6 teaspoons) and pour a glass of boiling water. Let it brew for 10 minutes, then strain. The drink is ready to drink. You need to drink in a warm form, one cup twice a day before meals. This recipe will help in the treatment of respiratory diseases. The drink has an expectorant effect, therefore it is able to effectively remove sputum. This tincture can also be cooled. Then it can be used as a mouthwash, which will help in the treatment and prevention of inflammation in the oral cavity.

For coughs and other diseases, fresh leaves of the plant will be useful. But they are only available in the summer. The rest of the time, it is recommended to use psyllium-based cough syrups. Vegetable syrup is considered a very effective remedy for the treatment of the upper respiratory tract, both in children and adults. They can be purchased at pharmacies, and their cost is significantly lower than synthetic cough medicines. You can also make syrup at home.

To prepare the syrup, a large number of young plantain leaves are taken, which are poured into a saucepan and poured with water. It should cook for two hours. After that, sugar is added in the amount of 600 grams for each liter of syrup. At this stage, you can add a few juniper berries.

Then it is worth putting the pan back on a slow fire to melt the sugar. After it is melted, you must wait until the syrup has cooled. Then it is bottled, which is stored in a dry and cool place.

To cure neurosis or insomnia, you should use the following tincture recipe. Dried leaves in the amount of 1 tablespoon should be poured with one cup of boiling water. Infuse for 10 minutes. Next, strain the drink. It is necessary to take tincture three times a day for 1 tbsp. spoon. The course of treatment is 1 month. This tincture will also be useful for cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.

Festering wounds can be treated with fresh leaves. A few leaves are taken, which should be washed and chopped. Then they are applied to the wound. The procedure should be repeated several times a day until the wound heals.

Since fresh leaves are only available in summer, psyllium juice can be preserved in advance, which can be used to treat wounds and skin diseases at any time of the year. To do this, prepare a lot of young leaves, which are pre-washed. Then you should crush them to get the juice of the plant. This juice is bottled in glass jars that need to be stored in the refrigerator.

Another useful property of plantain is the ability to reduce pain in the stomach and intestines. But it can be used to treat gastritis, enteritis and ulcers only with low acidity of gastric juice. The substances that make up the plant help to alleviate cramps, relieve pain, promote digestion, and also prevent inflammation and accelerate tissue regeneration.

There are several recipes for the treatment of diseases of the digestive system. The easiest way is to eat freshly washed psyllium leaves every day. This will help increase stomach acid as well as relieve pain.

Another way is to use freshly squeezed juice. To do this, 1-2 teaspoons of juice are mixed with the same amount of honey. The medicine should be taken twice a day for one week. This method will also be useful for coughing.

Sometimes tea is made from plantain. It has a pleasant aroma and helps in the fight against coughs, smoking, nervous disorders and internal pathologies. To prepare tea, you need to pour dry plantain leaves into boiling water. Let it brew for 15 minutes. Drink tea should be 4 times a day, one glass (200 ml). The drink becomes more pleasant if you add 1 teaspoon of natural honey.

Another recipe for making tea is often used. Take 4 tablespoons of dried leaves, which are poured into 500 ml of boiling water. Next, the lid is covered and the top of the container is covered with a thick towel. Insist for two hours. After that, the tea is filtered and consumed warm 4 times a day, one teaspoon before meals. The recommended course of drinking tea is seven days.

Tea is prepared only from dried and finely chopped leaves. Freshly picked and still green parts of the plant are not suitable for this purpose. They are applied directly to open wounds, juiced or processed to make decoctions and tinctures.

According to user reviews, the improvement in the condition when using these recipes is very fast. The effect is visible after 1-2 days. In the future, this effect will only increase. However, before starting self-treatment, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Video: medicinal properties and contraindications of plantain

Update: October 2018

Plantain belongs to the Plantain family, a genus of single and perennial herbs. The plant is widely distributed around the globe, many types of plantain are weeds.

The leaves are petiolate, collected in a single basal rosette, pierced with fibers along the entire length. The rhizome of the plantain is short, and the roots are cord-shaped. Peduncle erect, with small flowers. Numerous fruits are a box with many seeds.

The plant has nutritional value: it is used not only as vegetable feed for animals, but also added to salads, vegetable soups.

Medicinal properties

The rich healing properties of plantain have been known to mankind since ancient times. Raw materials from plantain are included in the active composition of many drugs and are used in most traditional medicine recipes. Medicinal species are considered plantain large and flea. In some countries it is grown as a separate medicinal crop.

Useful composition of plantain

The healing properties of plantain

Harvesting and storage of plantain

Collection of plantain

Collection is carried out in the summer, as well as in September, after flowering. Plantain is recommended to be harvested as a whole, along with roots and seeds. But, if it is the seeds that are of particular importance, one should wait for their full maturity, i.e. their acquisition of a brownish-brown color. The leaves are collected repeatedly during the season, they do not lose their useful properties.

For harvesting the plant, morning time and dry, not rainy laziness are chosen. The most valuable will be plants that grow away from roads and outside the influence of the scorching sun.

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

Harvesting, drying, storage, freezing

• The preparation includes rinsing under running water, 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). Parts of the plant are loosely laid out on a sheet of clean paper and dried until completely dry. Raw materials should be rotated periodically for better drying.
• Freezing - this method of harvesting plantain is also allowed. The leaves of the plant, washed and completely dried from water, are frozen by deep freezing.
• Plantain storage dry produce in cloth 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.
• Preparation of juice - dilute freshly squeezed juice from petioles and plantain leaves with vodka in a ratio of 1: 1, store the liquid in the refrigerator for six months.

Plantain treatment

Plantain leaf, useful properties

• Antiseptic - since ancient times, freshly picked green leaves have been used to disinfect and stop blood in minor wounds and abrasions. To do this, a clean sheet should be applied to the wound as a whole, or a few leaves should be crushed and applied to the wound in the form of a bandage.
• Treatment of insomnia and neuroses- 3 tablespoons pour dry and pre-chopped leaves with hot water t 80 C (200 ml), leave for a couple of hours, strain and consume 1/3 cup three times a day.
• Treatment of stomach ulcers, colitis, hypercholesterolemia- 1 tbsp. dry or 2 tbsp. fresh crushed plantain leaves pour boiling water (200 ml), leave for 10 minutes, strain. Take a quarter cup an hour before meals 4 times a day.
• Treatment of hypertension, sexual dysfunction, uterine bleeding- Place 1 part of vodka and 2 parts of crushed fresh leaves in a glass container, shake, cork and insist in a dark place for at least 20 days. Take 5 ml (1 teaspoon) three times a day.

psyllium seeds

• Treatment of cracks in the skin and mucous membranes(on the nipples, anal), treatment of inflammatory skin lesions. Pour dry plantain seeds with hot water, cover with a lid and let them swell, then grind. Apply this gruel to problem areas twice a day, cover with a sterile bandage on top.
• Treatment of diabetes mellitus, infertility, hormonal deficiency. 1 tbsp plantain seeds pour a glass of boiling water and boil the composition over low heat for 5 minutes, cover, let it brew for half an hour. Take 1 tbsp. three times a day for 1-2 months in a row.
• Strengthening the cardiovascular system, normalizing the level of bile acids, treating colitis, constipation. Pour 25 g of seeds with a glass of boiling water and shake with a mixer for 3 minutes, strain. Take 1 tbsp. three times a day before meals. It is also allowed to take dry seeds on an empty stomach, 1 tbsp. once a day with a glass of warm water. The course of treatment is at least 1 month.

Seed husk (cake)

It is obtained by splitting the boxes. Able to swell on contact with liquid. Treatment of inflammatory diseases of the urinary system, diarrhea, dysbacteriosis, intestinal dysfunction, hypertension. Safe cleansing of the body and weight loss. Take 1 tsp. on an empty stomach twice a day, drink 1-2 glasses of warm water.

Plantain syrup

Treatment of dry and painful cough, SARS, colds, bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal diseases. It is interpreted by traditional medicine as an effective remedy in the treatment of cancer of the stomach and lungs.

• Recipe 1. Grind fresh leaves and petioles and put them in a sterilized jar, sprinkling with sugar. Close the filled jar with a lid and put in a cold place. The syrup is ready in 2 months. Should be stored in the refrigerator. Take 1 tsp. three times a day before meals, you can dissolve the syrup in your mouth.
• Recipe 2. 3 tbsp dry raw materials (leaves, seeds, roots) mixed with 3 tbsp. honey and 3 tbsp. boiling water. Put the mixture in a water bath and hold until the honey dissolves, turn off the heat, and leave the syrup to infuse. Take 1 tsp. 4 times a day for half an hour before meals.

plantain juice

• Treatment of gastritis, colitis, enterocolitis, pyoinflammatory processes. Grind fresh leaves and cuttings of plantain and squeeze the juice out of the slurry with gauze. Take 1 tbsp. three times a day 20 minutes before meals for 1 month. In winter, juice diluted with vodka is taken in the same proportion.
• Treatment of cervical erosion, wounds, cracks, cuts, trophic ulcers. Outwardly, the juice is used in the form of lotions or dressings: sterile gauze is soaked in the juice and applied to the skin. Locally: douching is done with juice or soaking a vaginal tampon with its installation for the night, as well as local baths.

Plantain herb: contraindications for use

• Hypersecretion of gastric juice;
• An ulcer of the stomach or intestines in the acute stage;
• Increased blood clotting;
• Tendency to thrombosis;
• Allergic reaction to plantain.

Side effects

Usually this medicinal plant is well tolerated. Rarely, side effects occur: vomiting, diarrhea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, as well as allergic reactions (difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, rash, dizziness, etc.)

Pharmaceutical preparations with plantain in the composition

• Gerbion syrup with plantain- used for dry cough, as well as to accelerate the cleansing of the bronchi from sputum (see).
• Mucoplant Syrup by Doctor Theiss- is prescribed as a mucolytic and expectorant drug.
• Cough syrup Natur Product with plantain and coltsfoot- has a mucolytic, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect.
• Plantain juice- is prescribed in the complex therapy of gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory infections, as well as for external and local use.
• Mucofalk granules- indicated for the treatment of anal fissures, intestinal dysfunction.
• Fibralax Powder- is prescribed for the treatment of anal fissures, postoperative rehabilitation after interventions on the anorectal region, intestinal dysfunction.

Plantain inflorescences

The leaves have the greatest medicinal value. Avicenna recommended their use to stop bleeding caused by tumors, ulcers, as well as inflammation of the eyes, diseases of the kidneys, liver and elephantiasis. They have found application not only in traditional medicine, but also in cooking and cosmetology. Knowing all the medicinal properties and contraindications of plantain leaves, you can safely use them for many diseases. The plant has a number of interesting folk names. For example, a seven-vein fellow traveler, rannik, grandmother, chiry grass, cutter, roadside.

Botanical description

Plantain is a perennial plant. You can meet him in temperate zones almost everywhere: on paths, roadsides, wastelands, near residential buildings of settlements, in rural areas, in vegetable gardens, gardens, forests, in fields and meadows, along the banks of reservoirs. The plant is unpretentious, grows even on compacted dry soil. Under natural conditions, reproduction is carried out by self-sowing, however, there are also special cultivation zones where it is grown in order to obtain medicinal raw materials.

Interesting: Plantain is propagated by seeds, which, in wet weather or during rain, swell and secrete mucus, after which they easily stick to the soles of shoes, car wheels, animal hair and paws, bird feathers and in this way spread over long distances and spread everywhere where people live. This feature of the plant is clearly reflected in its name.

The root system consists of a shortened main root with a bundle of branching in the form of a brush, adventitious roots that go deep into the soil to a depth of 20 cm or more.

The aerial part of the plant includes a basal rosette of leaves and leafless ascending flowering arrows up to 50 cm long. The leaves are large, broadly ovate, entire, with long petioles. The length of the leaf blade is up to 20 cm, width is up to 10 cm. From above, the leaf is smooth, glossy, has well-defined arcuate veins in the amount of 3 to 9. The presence of such veins prevents leaves from creases and makes them resistant to trampling. In order to conserve moisture, the leaves are usually located directly on the ground, but in case of its excess, they rise up to allow evaporation.

The flowering of the plant lasts from May to early autumn. The flowers are bisexual, sessile, small and inconspicuous, brown in color, form a dense cylindrical spike-shaped inflorescence at the end of flowering arrows. The calyx is four-membered with sepals fused at the base, the corolla is tubular of 4 lobes.

The fruits begin to ripen in August. They are bilocular capsules containing from 8 to 34 small angular brown seeds.

Chemical composition

Plantain leaves contain many beneficial compounds that give them a wide range of medicinal properties. Among them:

• polysaccharides;
• mucus;
• glycosides (aucubin, plantagin, etc.);
• tannins;
• vitamins and vitamin-like substances (provitamin A, ascorbic acid, phylloquinone and choline);
• flavonoids;
• bitterness;
• phytosterols;
• saponins;
• organic acids;
• phytoncides;
• minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, barium, boron, copper, bromine).

Medicinal properties

What do plantain leaves do? Plantain can be considered a universal medicinal plant, as it helps with many pathologies, from a simple cut on the skin to tumor formations in the body. Means based on the leaves of the plant, in addition to the tonic and restorative effect on the entire body, have the following healing properties:

• accelerate the stop of bleeding;
• have an enveloping and expectorant effect;
• relieve pain and inflammation;
• promote wound healing;
• have bacteriostatic activity;
• increase the secretory function of the digestive tract;
• relieve spasms;
• have a diuretic effect;
• reduce blood cholesterol levels;
• have an antiallergic effect.

Fresh and dry leaves of the plant in the form of applications are very effective for the treatment of purulent wounds, ulcers, burns, cuts and boils on the skin. Means based on them help get rid of rashes, acne and lichen. Fresh juice of the plant promotes rapid cleansing of wounds from pus and prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria on the wound surface, accelerates regeneration processes, relieves inflammation, and improves the maturation of granulation tissue. It is indispensable for long-term non-healing wounds and as a first aid for injuries.

Ingestion of infusions, syrups and decoctions from the leaves of the plant is an effective remedy for acute respiratory infections and to prevent the development of bacterial complications against their background. They help get rid of a debilitating cough in bronchitis, cause sputum thinning, increase the secretion of mucus in the bronchi, and have an enveloping and softening effect. They can be used in the complex treatment of diseases such as tuberculosis, pleurisy, whooping cough and bronchial asthma.

Interesting: Plantain leaves have been used in cosmetology. On the basis of their infusion, masks and rinses are made for the care of dry scalp and hair, cleansers for dry and oily, prone to frequent acne, skin, baths, creams and lotions for the skin of hands and feet.

Plantain is used for diseases of the genitourinary system of an inflammatory nature, chronic nephritis, polyuria, enuresis. Thanks to its antihypertensive effect, it prevents the appearance and helps to eliminate edema caused by cardiovascular pathologies. Plantain is effective in the treatment of certain female diseases: with inflammation of the ovaries, endometrium and parametrium. It helps with female infertility caused by menstrual disorders and ovarian function, and with male infertility due to reduced sperm activity.

Plantain leaves also have a sedative effect, are used for mild forms of neurosis, insomnia and irritability.

Fresh carefully washed young plantain leaves can be eaten. They are added to vegetable salads, cereals, soups, casseroles, omelets, drinks. Such dishes are especially useful for people suffering from hypoacid or anacid gastritis, peptic ulcer, flatulence, enteritis and colitis, gallbladder diseases.

Procurement of raw materials

For medicinal purposes, plantain leaves should be harvested during the flowering period. It is better to do this after rain, waiting for them to dry completely, as excess moisture will slow down the drying process, which can lead to darkening of the leaves. With the help of scissors or secateurs, they are cut at a height of about 4 cm from the ground level. In this case, only whole green leaves are selected without any damage. Drying is carried out in the attic, outdoors under a canopy or in a dryer at a temperature not exceeding 50 °C.

Freshly picked and dried raw materials are characterized by a moderate odor and a slightly bitter astringent taste. When dry, plantain leaves should be stored for no more than 2 years in cardboard bags or wooden boxes.

Recommendation: The collection of plantain leaves should be done in ecologically clean areas, away from roads, industrial enterprises and places for walking dogs and other animals, since the plant easily adsorbs the toxins and harmful substances surrounding it.

Application methods

Treatment of various diseases with plantain leaves can be carried out both by self-prepared means and by ready-made pharmaceutical preparations. The latter include Plantaglucid granules, plantain juice, breast collection No. 2, large plantain leaves in the form of filter bags and crushed dry plant materials.

Important: Means based on plantain leaves should be taken 20 to 30 minutes before meals.

Treatment of cough and inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract

For the treatment of cough on the background of bronchitis and inflammation of the respiratory tract, fresh and dry plantain leaves are used. In the first case, 3 tbsp. l. fresh leaves are carefully crushed, poured with a glass of water, put the composition on gas and let it boil. Then add 100 g of natural honey and mix the mass until smooth. Take 1 tsp. every hour until relief.

From the dried leaves, tea is prepared at the rate of 2 - 3 tsp. raw materials for 200 ml of boiling water. Such tea should be infused for 15 minutes, and drink 1 glass up to 4 times a day, adding 1 tsp to improve the taste and enhance the beneficial properties of the drink. honey.

With inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, the following recipe is recommended. Plantain leaves (1.5 g) are poured with a liter of boiling water, the mixture is kept on low heat for 10 minutes. Cover with a lid and infuse for 24 hours. Filter and take 20 ml three times a day.

Treatment of ulcers, wounds, ulcers, burns, insect bites, bruises

For the treatment of abscesses, it is effective to apply an ointment made from 10 g of powdered dry plantain leaves and 90 g of butter or lard to the affected areas.

A good remedy for insect bites is to lubricate the leaves of the plant with fresh juice. It helps to relieve pain and an unpleasant burning sensation.

For the speedy healing of burns, wounds, ulcers, abscesses, boils, fresh leaves of the plant are used. In a washed and slightly mashed form so that they let the juice flow, they are applied in several layers to the damaged areas, and then fixed with a bandage or a mesh bandage. After 2-3 hours, the leaves are replaced with new ones.

Treatment of gastrointestinal diseases

With inflammation of the intestinal mucosa (colitis, enterocolitis, enteritis), gastric bleeding, peptic ulcer, chronic hypoacid gastritis 1 tbsp. l. dry leaves of the plant are poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted under a closed lid for 15 minutes and filtered. Take 20 ml 3-4 times a day. Freshly squeezed juice from the leaves will also help in the treatment of these diseases. Take it for these purposes for 1 tbsp. l. three times a day.

In violation of regular stools and a tendency to constipation, powder from dried leaves, which is taken in small quantities with water, helps.

Precautions

Plantain leaves, like most medicinal plants, have some contraindications for medicinal use. This applies, first of all, to the internal reception of funds based on it. They can not be used by people in case of allergy to the plant, patients with hyperacid gastritis and having ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract in the acute phase, with increased blood clotting, the presence of blood clots, or even just a tendency to form them.

Plantain is a common and well-known plant that grows most often along roads, on roadsides, hence it got its name. The powerful healing properties of plantain have been known to man since time immemorial, it is used as an emergency aid for bleeding (wounds), as well as for the treatment of various diseases.

What can be useful plantain

Even children know about some of the healing properties of plantain. Who has not put a leaf of this plant in a fresh scratch? But the benefits of psyllium extend far beyond just wound healing. The leaves of the plant contain vitamins K and C, carotene, citric acid, enzymes, phytoncides, aucubin glycoside, organic acids, tannins and bitter substances. The seeds contain oleic acid, carbohydrates and saponins. In addition, plantain contains a vitamin-like substance, to which the plant owes such an unsurpassed wound healing effect.

Humanity has been using the beneficial properties of the plant for medicinal purposes for more than one century. Plantain has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. An infusion of leaves will help get rid of not only a banal cough or SARS, but also more serious problems: pulmonary tuberculosis, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, pleurisy, whooping cough and bronchial asthma.

Plantain is also indispensable for problems with the digestive system: stomach and intestinal ulcers, enterocolitis, enteritis and gastritis. Freshly squeezed juice of plantain leaves has a pronounced wound healing and antimicrobial activity. It is used to treat the cornea, it resists the spread of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and pathogenic staphylococcus, and destroys hemolytic streptococcus. Plantain leaf extract is used as a sedative and antihypertensive agent.

Water infusion of plantain, due to the expectorant effect, perfectly relieves cough of various etiologies, others will help get rid of cough

Everyone knows plantain, even children. As a small child, I remember how my grandmother applied a plantain leaf to my sore, after which the wound quickly healed. Today we will analyze in detail the topic "Plantain, medicinal properties and contraindications for women"

The plant can be found anywhere: in wastelands, household plots, cottages, forest edges, fields, roadsides. The medicinal properties of plantain seeds, stems, leaves, juice, roots, essential oils were known and used in Greece, Ancient Rome, and the countries of the East.

Botanical characteristics of the plant

The plantain is known in the regions of Russia, the CIS countries under other names: fellow traveler, roadside, cutter, seven-veiner, chiry grass. Botanists attributed the plant to the Plantain family.

The plant is distributed almost all over the world, has more than 200 species. The original homeland of the medicinal herb is the central European region. From there, it was taken out by people and distributed in all countries of Asia.

Plantain can now be seen on all continents - Japan, Russia, India, European countries, North and South America, Central Asia, Australia, Africa. Many countries cultivate the plant, in others it grows wild.

Plantain grows everywhere, because it is completely unpretentious, to climatic conditions and soils. It can grow in the shade, on sandy soil, in the sun, on clay. Moreover, it rises easily after trampling.

The main root of the plantain is thick, short, equipped with adnexal, lateral bundle-like roots. Depth of placement - up to 20 centimeters. The height of the aerial part is up to 60 centimeters. The stem can be bare or slightly pubescent, it is swept, straight.

Near the ground, the leaves formed a rosette, ovoid, voluminous. On the surface of the leaves, arcuate veins of a dark green color are visible. The tip of the leaf is slightly pointed, its edges are solid or serrated.

Inflorescences are represented by an elongated cylindrical cone, peduncles are erect. Plantain flowers are smallish, grayish in color. Seeds dull, small brown color.

Plantain blooms for a long time: from May to October. Reproduction is carried out by mature seeds. Plantain is odorless, the leaves are astringent, bitter in taste.

The chemical composition of plantain

The seeds of the plant contain about 20% fatty oils, about 45% mucus. There are also proteins, aucubin glycoside, tannins, steroid saponins, oleanolic acid.

A large amount of organic acids was found in the leaves - chlorogenic, vanillic, parahydroxybenzoic, ferulic, neochlorogenic, paracoumaric, protocatechuic, fumaric; tannins, bitter substances, calcium, potassium, mineral salts.

The composition of the stems: flavonoids, phenolcarboxylic acids. There are chemicals in the roots: sitosterol, campesterol, linoleic acid, stigmasterol, vegetable.

Beneficial features

Medicinal decoctions, infusions of plantain leaves are useful for patients diabetes, anemia, inflammation, dental, , headache, conjunctivitis, dry eye, corneal injury.

They also help with impotence, violations metabolism, neurasthenia, polyuria, gallbladder diseases,. Plantain is also used to treat gonorrhea, pyelitis, pyelonephritis, nephritis, glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), urethra (urethritis).

The antimicrobial property of a medicinal plant is expressed by a detrimental effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pathogenic (golden) staphylococcus, streptococcus. Plantain increases the production of gastric juice, develops appetite, improves digestion.

Has a healing effect gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and / or duodenum with low acidity, colitis, enteritis, flatulence, other diseases of the digestive system.

Effective during the treatment of malignant tumors: lymphogranulomatosis, leukemia. Preparations prepared on its basis accelerate the resorption of metastases, small tumors, protect the body from the harmful effects of chemotherapy, radiation therapy.

Long-term treatment with psyllium provides reliable protection against cancer,. To relieve inflammation, stop bleeding, fresh leaves are applied to chiryam, boils, scratches, abrasions, insect bites, phlegmon, ulcer, abscess.

In addition to being used in traditional medicine, fresh and dried leaves are used in cosmetology to improve the condition of hair and skin. Plantain has not bypassed cooking - fresh leaves are used to prepare gourmet dishes.

A decoction of psyllium roots cleanses the blood in various skin diseases: lichen, rashes, pustules (pyoderma), furunculosis.

A decoction of the leaves is used to treat the respiratory system ( pneumonia, tuberculosis, emphysema), digestive, genitourinary systems. Plantain dilutes sputum, ensures its excretion in diseases accompanied by cough.

An infusion of the leaves has a sedative effect, lowers blood pressure, relieves fatigue, and improves the tone of the body. Helps with cancer problems, fever, (inflammation of the bladder), hay fever, diarrhea, hemorrhoids.

Well relieves intestinal colic, stomach pain decoction of plantain flowers. A decoction of seeds, gout, hemorrhoids, inflammation of the digestive system due to emollient, enveloping action.

The intake of psyllium seeds protects against the development of irritations of a chemical or bacterial nature, since the mucus contained envelops the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines.

Plantain helps stop internal bleeding when. An extract from the roots lowers the body temperature during fever, alleviates the condition of a patient bitten by a snake.

Preparations from the leaves, roots, seeds of psyllium have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory properties, are used for pulmonary diseases, stomach ulcers. Infections of bacterial etiology are cured with pharmaceutical preparations containing juice, plantain leaves.

Plantain juice - medicinal properties

Juice is used during the treatment of diseases such as dysentery, peptic ulcer, colitis, enterocolitis, neurodermatitis, gastritis, cystitis, keratitis, acne, .

Using plantain juice, you can alleviate the condition of a patient with enuresis, nephritis, diarrhea, anthrax. In combination with other medicines, it helps with lung cancer.

Gynecologists use juice for myometritis, parametritis, and. In combination with honey, the juice has a diuretic effect and can be used to treat adults and children.

Contraindications for women

It should be noted right away that the contraindications listed below for the use of psyllium preparations apply not only to women, but also to other categories of people.

Plantain is contraindicated in patients with peptic ulcer with high acidity of gastric juice, hyperacid gastritis. Neglect of this recommendation will bring a sharp deterioration in the condition of the patient (patient).

Other contraindications: increased production of gastric juice, high blood clotting, thrombophlebitis. The reason is that plantain thickens the blood even more.

Individual intolerance is also a reason to ban the use of the plant. In order not to appear on a pharmacy or folk remedy with plantain, it is worth starting with small doses, gradually increasing it to a therapeutic norm.

Cough treatment

An infusion of leaves stops coughing, has an expectorant effect, and thins sputum. You can decoction of plantain.

Recipe #1

For a glass of boiling water - 40g of dry leaves. For cooking, we use a thermos: pour boiling water over the leaves, insist for two hours. We drink four times a day on a tablespoon.

For sick children under the age of ten, the dose of infusion is reduced to one teaspoon. For children over 11 years old - up to a dessert spoon. The infusion can also be used for oral administration in case of renal failure and vascular atherosclerosis.

Recipe #2

Used for severe coughs. Pour fresh green leaves of the plant with a glass of boiling water, bring to a boil. Leave to cool for a couple of minutes, add 4 tablespoons of natural honey. The resulting drug is taken every hour for 1 tsp.

Recipe #3

Dry the washed leaves and roots, grind. Mix the crushed green leaves with roots with sugar in a ratio of 1: 1. We place the mixture in an enamel saucepan with a tight lid and bury it in the ground for three months.

After the specified period, the medicine is stored in a pantry, basement or refrigerator. We drink medicinal tea for coughs, sore throats, colds - one tablespoon of the drug in a glass of boiling water.

Recipe No. 4

Used for tracheitis. We insist 12 hours in a glass of cold water 2 tablespoons of crushed dried plantain leaves. The resulting cold water extract should be drunk during the day.

Other traditional medicine recipes

Decoction of plantain for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory system, digestion, genitourinary system, blood purification from toxins

Pour a glass of boiling water 2s.l. dry crushed leaves. We heat in a water bath for half an hour in an enamel pan under the lid. Ten minutes after removing from the stove, filter, squeeze out the remainder.

Add boiled water to the broth up to the 200 ml mark. Take orally half a glass four times a day 20 or 25 minutes before a meal.

constipation treatment

Take on an empty stomach a powder obtained from dry leaves, drink warm boiled water.

Kidney disease, enuresis (urinary incontinence)

Wrap up an infusion of leaves for one hour (1 tsp per glass of boiling water). Take 1s.l. four times a day 20 or 25 minutes before meals.

Stomach cancer, lung cancer

Mix washed plantain leaves with sugar in a ratio of 1: 1, leave for fourteen days in a place protected from heat, sunlight. Use 1 s.l. 4r/d 20 minutes before each meal.

For the treatment of an external tumor, a compress should be prepared: 2 s.l. dry crushed leaves per 200 ml of boiling water.

Pour a glass of boiling water 25g of seeds, fill with water, leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes. We filter through cheesecloth. We accept 1 s.l. 3 times a day before meals. Useful infusion for cracked nipples of a nursing mother (externally). Inside for diseases of the intestines, blood vessels, stomach, heart and other ailments.

The use of plantain juice

We wash the stems and leaves under running water, the water should drain without residue. We pour over the raw materials with boiling water, grind in a blender or meat grinder, squeeze the juice through gauze.

We dilute the concentrated juice with water in equal proportions, then boil for two minutes. The medicine is used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Take 3r / d 20-25m before meals in a course of 30 days. We dilute a spoonful of juice before taking it in 50 g of water. Store in the refrigerator in a dark glass container with a lid.

External ointment with plantain juice

Mix in a glass bowl, 25 g of lanolin and petroleum jelly, 50 g of pure juice. It is used externally for skin diseases as an anti-inflammatory, wound healing, emollient.

Ear pain, toothache

Video: The healing properties of plantain herb, contraindications for women