Broadleaf plantain and its uses
Broadleaf plantain is most commonly known as a weed that's just another type of lawn nuisance to many homeowners. However, this common weed is edible, it's packed full of calcium and vitamins A, C, and K, and it can be used medicinally for multiple purposes.
Identifying broadleaf plantains
The broadleaf plantain has broad, oval-shaped leaves. The plant is dark green and grows in a rosette shape. They grow long, small, spiked pods with dark seeds in the center of the plants. In the photo above, you can visually see what the plant looks like.
This gem of a plant is not only edible, but it can also be used medicinally to treat chronic diarrhea and fatigue and boost immunity. Plus, it can also be used for treating wounds, burns, bug bites, etc.
If you plan to eat broadleaf plantains fresh in salads and on sandwiches, look for young, tender plants to pick. Because they will be less chewy. By all means, you can still pick the larger leaves to cook in various other ways. You can also make homemade medicinal tea, natural tinctures, and extracts for topical use.
To use plantain on open wounds, blisters, sores, skin burns, and bug bites, crush some fresh plantain leaves, then apply it directly where it's needed on your skin.
When harvesting broadleaf plantains, do so in an area where pesticides, fungicides, or insecticides haven't been used. Avoid harvesting when they grow near roads and ditches.
In conclusion, it's true that I never thought I would live in times where food and medicine prices are soaring out of control, but I am so grateful that I spent the majority of my life learning about wild edibles and their uses.
I have always believed that for every ailment, there's a natural remedy growing wild, and I always felt deep in my core that it was vital to know. I hope that this article is useful to those of you who are looking for this type of information.
Like with any other plant, wash the broadleaf plantain well before using it.
Resources:
Welch, S. (2020) How to use plantain herb for common ailments, Farm and Dairy. Available at: https://www.farmanddairy.com/top-stories/how-to-use-plantain-herb-for-common-ailments/626622.html#:~:text=Make%20a%20tea%20using%201,and%20soothe%20and%20reduce%20inflammation. (Accessed: 18 August 2023).
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