Plantain: Plantago Major

This magical plant may sound familiar to you, but it’s not what you think. Plantago major does not produce yummy, banana-like fruits, but is actually a super nutritious weed! You may have pulled hundreds of them from your property thinking they were a nuisance, but herbalists refer to them as “the green bandage”. 

Used topically as a poultice or mucilage, the properties of plantain act as powerful pullers. If you find yourself with a bee sting, splinter, small spider bite, or other similar injuries, applying the herb with a wrap for several hours, or over night, will help to pull it right out of your skin!

The benefits don’t stop there! If you want to eat the leaves chopped in a salad, or brewed in a tea, they help aid digestion, and specifically help target clearing out the lungs. They also have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal properties.

While they may be plentiful around you in the ground, keep in mind organic practices. The best option is to grow them in your organic garden, or make sure you’re only taking leaves from untreated soils. They thrive in Central Florida and beyond. I hope this has helped change your perspective on these prolific plants to see them not as pests, but powerful medicine. We don’t need to be afraid to eat these weeds!

Source: Florida Holistic School