Plantain
Plantago spp.
Why We Love It:
There are over 250 species of plantain on the planet. Plantago major is the most distributed and recognized strain of the plant in the world, mostly due to its wide range of uses. Plantain has many skin soothing properties and has traditionally been used on splinters and bug bites due to its ability to draw out toxins from the skin. Plantain contains soothing mucilage that forms a protective layer on the skin that may reduce itching. It is easy to see why it can sometimes be called “nature’s band-aid.”
What It Looks Like:
Plantain has a rosette of roundish leaves with large veins on short, flattened stems. The seed stalk is leafless and is often found growing in lawns and gardens. If you plan to harvest plantain leaves for their beneficial properties, be sure to harvest from areas that have not been sprayed with herbicides.
