We know two types of plantain, broad-leaved and narrow-leaved. Both are useful for similar purposes, except that the broad-leaved one is more effective in healing wounds, while the narrow-leaved one is most often used to relieve colds. Both species are characterized by leaves with visible longitudinal veins, but they differ noticeably mainly in the shape of the leaves.
Narrow-leaved plantain is a perennial herb that grows from 10 to 40 cm tall. The dark green leaves that emerge from the leaf rosette are lance-shaped and slightly toothed. They have strong and well-defined leaf veins. The flowers are on the stems in spiky inflorescences. Brown flowers have white stamens.
The leaves are collected in summer, no more than three times before flowering. Young leaves can be used for salads, in a mixture with cottage cheese and with vegetable dishes. Remove the leaf veins before use.
The leaves can be used to treat wounds. They have an antibiotic effect. Tea from the leaves helps in the treatment of asthma, pollen allergies, hemorrhoids, bronchitis, sinusitis, etc. The seeds are used in the treatment of infections with internal parasites.
Broad-leaved plantain is a herbaceous perennial that grows up to 30 cm in height. Its roots are thin and stringy.
Its leaves, unlike the narrow-leaved one, are wide and oval and are also part of the ground leaf rosette. On the leaves, we can see parallel veins over the entire surface of the leaf (usually there are up to 7 veins). The leaves are smooth or slightly hairy, usually green in color, but can have a touch of purple hues.
Old records say that the German abbess Hildegard of Bingen wrote that the plantain helps with acne, swollen lymph nodes and broken bones, it is also a powerful enema, and it even helps against love spells. Monastic medicine describes the plantain as a plant that cools, dries and pulls together. Almost all over the world, plantain leaves were the most important remedy for the treatment of wounds, ulcers and inflammations, and they were also used for vertigo, cough, fever, diarrhea and even anemia.
Alexander the Great also had plantain in his home pharmacy and used it to relieve his headaches.
The Indians called the broad-leaved plantain “white man’s footprint”, as it can be found wherever the Europeans were on their research trips.