Plantain the Great

. . . The Rod-of-Gold, and Boneset,
Tall Helen-of-the-Fields,
The Coneheads, Rude or Kindly,
And Plantain Wounds-Are-Sealed . . .

-- From The Twenty Five Great Medicines

Plantain is one of the great medicines of humanity. Last autumn, I wrote an article on Goldenrod (Solidago spp. -- the Rod-of-Gold, above) for a local twice-a-year newsletter. For the upcoming summer newsletter, I will write an article on Plantain. I had hesitated on Plantain because I could not think of easy herbal projects for beginners. Other than, say, chewing a fresh leaf and applying it to a bug bite or bee sting. But then, I realized that it could be made into a salve with coconut oil easily enough. Secondly, fresh leaves could be blended with a bit of water, and the mixture poured into ice cube trays and frozen. When frozen, removed to a plastic freezer bag. Those Plantain Ice Cubes could then be kept through the fall and winter months, and used, when necessary for all sorts of remedies: for the mouth and throat, to soothe the esophagus burned by acid reflux, against gastritis and stomachache, against mild diarrhea and inflamed intestinal mucosa, to calm the skin, against venomous bites, for removing slivers, for closing wounds, to assist expectorants, to soothe the urinary tract, against gout, as an eyewash. Plantain so versatile in use and is readily available everywhere. So, this season, I will sing the praises of Plantain.

*** Blessed be to those who serve the Great Mother and the Horned Father.

* Copyright to Coven Rochester