Common plantain quickly staunches blood flow and encourages the repair of damaged tissue. It may be used instead of comfrey in treating bruises and broken bones.

An ointment or lotion may be used to treat hemorrhoids, fistulae and ulcers. Taken internally, common plantain is diuretic, expectorant, and decongestant. It is commonly prescribed for gastritis, peptic ulcers, diarrhea, dysentery, irritable bowel syndrome, respiratory congestion, loss of voice and urinary tract bleeding.

The seeds are closely related to psyllium seeds and can be used similarly, a tablespoon or two soaked in hot sweetened water or fruit juice until a mucilage is formed and the whole gruel drunk as a lubricating laxative. The fresh juice can be made into a douche for vaginitis by combining two tablespoons and a pint of warm water with a pinch of table salt. Proteolytic enzymes found in the fresh leaf and the fresh or dried root make plantain useful as a gentle internal vasoconstrictor for milk intestinal inflammation.

The fresh juice or dried leaves in tea can help bladder inflammations. The fresh juice can be preserved with 25% vodka or 10% grain alcohol. Take one teaspoon in warm water one hour before every meal for mild stomach ulcers. For bed-wetting plantain leaf can be given as a beverage-strength tea throughout the day (but not right before bedtime).

Plantain roots are an old-time cure for toothaches. Fresh, the roots used to be chewed, dried and powdered and placed in a hollow tooth as a painkiller.

Properties:

leaves are relaxing expectorant, tonify mucous membranes, reduce phlegm, antispasmodie, topically healing, diuretic, alterative, astringent, refrigerant, vulnerary

Remedies:

for yeast infections ripe plantain seeds can be gathered from the seed stalks in late summer, dried and stored in a jar. Soak them in a small amount of boiled water. The seeds will form a gel which can be gently placed onto inflamed labia to help reduce itching and swelling and heal open sores.

JUICE: Press from fresh leaves. Take 10 ml, three times a day, for inflamed mucous membranes in cystitis, diarrhea and lung infections

TINCTURE: Make from fresh leaves if possible. Good for heavy mucus, as in allergic rhinitis, or if astringency is needed

POULTICE: apply fresh leaves to bee stings and slow-healing wounds

OINTMENT: apply to wounds, burns and hemorrhoids

WASH: use the juice for inflammations, sores and wounds

GARGLE: Use the diluted juice for sore throats and mouth or gum inflammations

SYRUP: Take a syrup made from the juice for coughs, particularly if the throat is sore of inflamed.

Revitalizing Green Juice: Cups fresh plantain leaves 1 cup pure liquid honey Crush the leaves in a food processor, drain and squeeze in cheesecloth. Combine 1 cup of the green juice with the honey and simmer for 10 minutes at low heat, stirring regularly. Let cool and pour into an opaque bottle. Take this nectar 1 spoonful at a time like a syrup to treat a cough, sore throat, fatigue and eczema. 1 Tbsp 3 times daily.