Botanical Index No. 801

Plantain

plantago major

Medicinal Actions

Colic, Antialzheimeran, Antiarthritic, Antiatherosclerotic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticapillary Fragility, Antidiarrheic, Antiedemic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antipyretic, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Antitumor, Antitussive, Antiulcer, Astringent, Candidicide, Cicatrizant, COX-2- Inhibitor, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Expectorant, Fungicide, Hepatoprotective, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypotriglyceridemic, Hypouricemic, Immunostimulant, Lactagogue, Laxative, Lipolytic, Orexigenic, Stimulant, Tonic, Uricosuric, Uterotonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abortion Abscess Adenopathy Alzheimer’s Arthrosis Asthma Atherosclerosis Bacteria Bite Bleeding Boil Bronchosis Bruise Bug Bite Cancer anus breast colon eye feet gum lip liver mouth nose parotid rectum stomach testicle throat uterus Candida Capillary Fragility Carbuncle Carcinoma Chest Ache Childbirth Cholecystosis Cholera Cold Colitis Conjunctivosis Constipation Convulsion Cough Cystosis Dandruff Dermatosis Diarrhea Dropsy Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspnea Dysuria Earache Enterosis Enuresis Epilepsy Epistaxis Fever Fungus Gas Gastrosis Gingivosis Gonorrhea Gout Headache Hematuria Hemorrhoid Hemoptysis Hepatosis Herpes High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Hypertriglyceridemia IBD Immunodepression Infection Inflammation Jaundice Kidney Stone Lacrimosis Lichen Lunacy Malaria Mucososis Mycosis Nephrosis Neuralgia Neuroblastoma Ophthalmia Otosis Pain Parasite Parotosis Parturition Pertussis Pharyngosis Pneumonia Polyp Psoriasis Pulmonosis Rash Respirosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Ringworm Scald Shingle Snakebite Sore Sore Throat Splenosis Sprain Sting Stomachache Stomatosis Strangury Swelling Syphilis Tachycardia Toothache Tuberculosis Tumor Ulcer Uterosis VD Wen Whitlow Worm Wound Yeast Aperient Bronchodilator Collyrium Demulcent Deobstruent Emollient Panacea Pectoral Vermifuge Vulnerary

General Dosage

2 tsp seed or 1 tsp husk/glass water; 2–4 tsp fresh seed; 5–15 g dry seed; 1–2 tsp dry seed/glass water; 2–4 g leaf in tea 3 ×/day; 2.5–5 ml liquid leaf extract; 2–4 ml liquid leaf extract 3 ×/day; 2–4 ml leaf tincture 3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. Not covered. CAN cautions that a mustard-like oil is allergenic, irritant, and can cause dermatosis. Because of laxative and uterine activity, in vitro, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Excessive doses may be hypotensive and laxative. Some plantain leaves were dangerously adulterated with digitalis in 1997.

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