Plantain: Plantago major

Plantain is a weed you have probably seen thousands of times and thought nothing of. It was once called “white man’s foot” by Native Americans after it came across the sea with the Europeans and showed up wherever they set their feet on the ground. Plantain loves disturbed soil on the edges of sidewalks, old construction sites, dug up yards, and more. These often dry and irritated landscapes with disturbed, poor soil where people frequently walk is where plantain pokes up. It tries to nourish and repair the disturbed soil and ease its healing. In the same way plantain helps soothe, protect, and heal our bodies both internally and externally. No wonder it is so soothing—both when growing and when used medicinally it helps try to bring things back to balance. In this issue, you will find herbalists discussing how they use plantain for minor bug bites, to draw out splinters, and to ease other skin issues. Other herbalists I know have used plantain both externally as a poultice and internally as a tincture made from the fresh plant for things like severe spider and tick bites, as well as bee and wasp stings. This is an herb to get to know and have on hand for any sort of skin or allergic reaction first-aid situation. In this issue you will find these wonderful articles: Plantain Herbal Monograph Plantain Tea Plantain History and Mythology Plantain for First-Aid Fresh Plantain Tincture Plantain Salve Plantain from Head to Toe… and Then Some Soothing Aloe & Plantain Soap Spring Weed Walk for Kids The Great Plantain Conspiracy