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Plantago major & P. ovata
(Plantaginaceae)
PLANTAIN, RIBWORT & ISPAGHULA, PSYLLIUM
Herbalists give plantain leaves
for catarrh, cystitis, and piles. Chinese physicians use plantain for
urinary tract conditions. Ispaghula seeds are prescribed for chronic
constipation and diarrhoea in Indian and orthodox medicine.
An ancient folk remedy for healing wounds,
relieving coughs and treating diarrhoea, P. major used to be associated with superstitions like "three roots will cure one grief,
foure another disease, six hanged about the neck are good for another malady",
but the herbalist Gerard dismissed these as "ridiculous toyes".
In India, the seeds of the related species, P. ovata, are used as an effective bulk laxative known as isbogool,
while in orthodox medicine the husks of the seeds are known as ispaghula and are used for the same purpose.
Native to Europe, plantain thrives on rich wastelands and has travelled the world as a weed.
It is a perennial with a rosette of slightly hairy leaves and a spike of small greenish flowers with tiny purple anthers from midsummer.
PARTS USED
Leaves, seeds.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
P. major: iridoids, including acubin; flavonoids,
including apigenin, luteolin, scutellarin, and baicalein; tannins; organic acids, fumaric and benzoic. P. ovata: mucilage.
ACTIONS
P. major: soothes internal body surfaces;
astringent; expectorant; increases urine production. P. ovata: laxative; antidiarrhoeal.
MEDICINAL USE
Plantain is used in urinary tract infections such as cystitis,
in catarrhal conditions of the respiratory tract, and locally for piles.
It is prescribed in Chinese medicine for a range of conditions, including urinary tract infections,
kidney stones, conjunctivitis, and inflammation of the prostate gland. Ispaghula is used in herbalism,
and Ayurvedic and orthodox medicine for chronic constipation and diarrhoea.
PREPARATIONS
P. major: infusion, cream, tincture.
P. ovata: dried seeds or their husks, powder.
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