The Anti-inflammatory and Vulnerary Properties of Plantain

Plantain (Plantago major, Plantago media and Plantago lanceolata) is a well known medicinal plant, mostly due to its vulnerary and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been traditionally used for speeding up the healing of the wounds and for all kinds of inflammation (respiratory, digestive, urinary, articular, cutaneous), as well as for many other common ailments.

Scientific studies

• Traditional uses: A review of the tradaitional uses and biological activities of plantain, published in Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2000, concluded that “a range of biological activities has been found from plant extracts including wound healing activity, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, weak antibiotic, immuno-modulating and antiulcerogenic activity.”
• Anti-inflammatory activities: A study published in Indian Journal of Pharmacology in 2009 proved that “Plantago major had a considerable anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities.” In another study, published in Journal of Natural Products in 1998, it had already been demonstrated that the ursolic acid extracted from Plantago major is “a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 catalyzed prostaglandin biosynthesis”, a fact that makes plantain an equal, in terms of anti-inflammatory activity, of, say, the famous drug celecoxib, but without the increased risk of severe cardiovascular and gastrointestinal side effects generaly associated with the synthetic selective COX-2 inhibitors.
• Vulnerary properties: A study published in Experimental Biology and Medicine in 2012 demonstrated that “Plantago major extract showed good effects on wound healing processes rendering it a promising candidate for the treatment of wounds.”

Other common medicinal uses

• Cough, asthma, laryngitis, bronchitis, tuberculosis
• Arteriosclerosis
• Hemorrhoids
• Gastric ulcer, diarrhea
• Intestinal worms

Preparation and administration

• Infusion: Add 10 g of leaves in 200 ml of hot boiled water and let steep for 10-15 minutes. Take 1 tablespoon every 2-3 hours.
• Syrup (especially for cough): Finely cut some leaves, squeeze them, and mix the resulted juice with an equal quantity of honey. Slowly boil the mixture for 20 minutes and then store it in tightly closed recipients. Take 1 tablespoon every 2-3 hours.
• Powder (especially for gastric ulcer): Take ½ teaspoon of dried leaves powder, 3 times a day, before a meal.
• Decoction (especially for tuberculosis): Add 1 tablespoon of finely cut leaves and roots in 300 ml of milk and slowly boil for 20 minutes. Drink ½ cup, 3 times a day, for 6 weeks.
• Salad: Mix 120 g of plantain leaves and 50 g of nettle leaves and put them in a recipient with hot boiled water for 1-2 minutes. Then chop them and add 80 g of finely chopped onion, 50 g of ground horseradish, salt and vinegar. Mix all the ingredients and cover them with fine pieces of hard boiled egg and 40 ml of sour cream. You can also add some dandelion and sorrel leaves.