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Narrowleaf Plantain overview
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Plantain Ribwort
Plantago lanceolata
Blackjack, Black Plantain, Costa Canina, Hen Plant, Jackstraw, Lamb's Tongue, Lance-leaf Plantain, Long Plantain, Narrow leaved Plantain, Ribble Grass, Ribgrass, Soldier's Herb, Snake Plantain
Family: PLANTAGINACEAE
One of the great miracle herbs that I have discovered growing wild on our land is Plantain or Narrow-leafed Ribwort
[1] - Plantago lanceolata, also known as Rat-tail Plantain or just Ribwort.
This marvellous herb keeps on astounding me as I use it with my patients, and I see the wonderful results that occur.
Word certainly has gotten around about how wonderful Plantain is for Menopause. I have clients from all over the world who have suffered terribly with hot flushes, mood swings and emotional highs and lows and the common words I hear from them is “thank you, thank you so much, taking your Plantain tea / tincture has given me my life back and my hormones are now balanced, the flushes are gone and my moods and emotions are balanced again”. |
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Narrow leaved Plantain in flower
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Clients who have suffered lung problems like Pluerisy and Pneumonia tell me how quickly Plantain has helped them to recover and get back to being healthy again.
Plantain has been a wonderful remedy for young children who wet the bed their parents are overjoyed with the results of this miracle herb and not having to change sheets every morning.
I have seen skin, bladder and kidney conditions quickly improve by taking Plantain for just 12 weeks. Clients are amazed that in such a short time their health is back to normal and some of them had been using pharmaceutical drugs with absolutely no improvement.
massed Ribwort by the roadside
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When we first moved onto our land, I noticed that there was an abundance of Ribwort growing along the sides of our drive, I knew that it was wonderful for many ailments, but did not realise at that time how profound it was. I was talking to our new neighbour after we first moved here, and he told me his wife was weeding in our adjoining drive and was bitten by a brown snake and had been in intensive care for some time. He showed me the place where she was attacked: I noticed that there was lots of Ribwort growing there.
Since then the closely-related variety Greater Ribwort, or Broad-leafed Plantain, Plantago Major has introduced itself to Middle Path and has estgablished a strong and greatly-appreciated presence here as it seems more robust and resistant to the wet conditions we experience for a lot of the year.
I felt inspired to look up the uses of Plantain. There it was Ribwort - to be used for snakebites
[2] - if the knowledge would have been available our neighbours wife could have placed the leaves on the bite and it would have drawn out the poison. It seemed that nature provided the cure nearby as the American Indians
[3] and settlers
[4] well knew.
It has a close relative, Broad leaved Plantain which is so similar in it's characteristics that we combine the 2 when we make our Plantain Tea and Tincture.
A great all-round blood purifier and tonic which, like its sibling broad-leafed plantain, is unsurpassed for dealing with menopause, lung problems and bed-wetting as well as skin, bladder and kidney disorders
Ribwort Plantain in Hawaii
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[5] Plantain can be used as a tea, tincture or Homoeopathic remedy therapeutically, and is wonderful for detoxifying the body, and helps when a person is giving up smoking. A poultice on all-skin ailments and burns works quickly and bleeding stops immediately when you place a leaf on a cut.
Psyllium husks are the dried seeds that come from Plantain, these can be used for roughage with your food for the bowel. They have the remarkable property of being able to absorb about twenty times their weight of water. Commercial harvesting of psyllium husks usually involves the related plants Plantago ovata (Blond Psyllium) and Plantago psyllium (Sand Plantain or Indian Plantago).
We use Plantain chopped up in salads, stir fry, as a cooked green, soups, herbal tea, and add the juice occasionally to orange or pineapple juice for a green Chlorophyll hit in our daily food intake. You can also cook Ribwort like spinach.
I am really glad that Plantain has become part of my life and that I can now share it with many people so that they also can benefit from this Miracle Herb.
How it fixed my Menopause
I discovered Plantain was great for Menopause, when I went through the change myself four years ago, and experienced erratic menstruation with times when I menstruated months apart and then one month, I bled profusely for three weeks. I actually was thinking about which herb to use when I walked outside and thought Ribwort. It is well known for internal and external bleeding. I took three cups of Ribwort tea that evening and woke up the next morning and the profuse bleeding had stopped, I have not menstruated since.
I have used Ribwort on many women since and the same thing happens, a handful of leaves in a pot of hot water, left to stand for at least 30 minutes and drink 3-4 cups definitely works.
After researching the menopause, I have found that native women who live on a natural diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and fish, have no menopausal problems, no hot flushes or depression. It is bad diet and stress that creates an over acid condition in the body which before menopause was eliminated by menstruation and after menopause is eliminated through the skin as a hot flush.
I have found by experimenting with myself that if I drink wine or foods with additives or emulsifiers, I will that night have a hot flush.
I do not experience hot flushes or depression when I stay on a natural diet. I believe nature has its own way of letting us know when we go off track.
Trijntje Reilly ND
Contra-indications: None known except for the slight possibility of an allergic reaction
[6] .
Here is a list of the many therapeutic uses of Ribwort, I am sure there are many more that are not listed here.
- Asthma
- Blood Purifying
- Bee Stings
- Bed Wetting
- Bladder Problems
- Detoxification
- Internal & External Bleeding
- Blood Poisoning
- Burns
- Diarrhoea
- Douche
- Eyes
- Excema
- Fractures
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- Frigidity
- Haemorrhage
- Haemorrhoids
- Hoarseness
- Insect Bites
- Itching
- Kidneys
- Leucorrhoea
- Lumbago
- Lungs
- Menopause
- Menstruation (decrease)
- Poison Ivy-Oak
- Poisonous Spiders
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- Rashes
- Stinging Nettle rash
- Snake Bites
- Thrush
- Tumours
- Ulcers
- Vagina
- Wounds
Why wait for Wholesome Good Health |
tincture
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Narrowleaf Plantain actions
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Major medicinal actions of Narrowleaf Plantain
Plantain Flowers
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- Demulcent
- Laxative
- Astringent
- Diuretic
- Expectorant
- Hemostatic
- Antiseptic
- Antispasmodic
- Stomachic
- Tonic
- Antitussive
- Vulnerary
- Digestive
This list is quite brief compared to the actions of Broad Leaved Plantain which has been subjected to a lot more scientific scrutiny. However we believe these related plants have very similar healing actions.
Narrowleaf Plantain constituents
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Major constituents of Narrowleaf Plantain
a young Narrow leaved Plantain Ribwort one of our wonder weeds, a powerful healer and pleasant salad ingredient.
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Vitamins
Minerals
- Calcium
- Iron
- Silica
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
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- Selenium
- Sodium
- Zinc
- Potassium
- Sulphur
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Narrowleaf Plantain tea
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Why choose a Herbal Tea?
Plants produce a vast range of substances -
phyto-chemical s - which are very beneficial in restoring and maintaining health in we humans without side-effects. We believe that they are perfectly suited to preventative and curative health care because they are natural and harmonious to our bodies.
If you do not have fresh Narrowleaf Plantain nearby or are not confident you can identify Narrowleaf Plantain then dried material is the next best way to obtain their beneficial influence.
How long will Narrowleaf Plantain tea keep it's potency?
Stored properly - in an air-tight glass container away from direct sunlight - Narrowleaf Plantain tea will keep for up to 18 months without losing it's potency. If you are dealing with the onset of a severe condition we suggest it may be worth purchasing fresh material to have complete confidence in its healing potency.
When should I drink my Tea?
For best absorption, consume herbal teas 30 minutes or more before meals or drinking other liquids to avoid diluting it while it is in your digestive tract.
Caring for your Narrowleaf Plantain herbal tea
If you don't plan on using the tea immediately, it's best to keep it unopened and away from direct sunlight (in a closed cupboard or drawer). Exposed to the air it may absorb moisture and humidity, so if they are opened, reseal them tightly, or (preferably) put it in a glass jars with a tight-fitting lid (avoid metal containers).
Most will never require refrigeration or freezing - just keep them at average room temperature (70-80 degrees). Generally, the "shelf-life" for optimum freshness will be about a year if stored properly.
If you live in a warm, high humidity area, it may be impossible to keep moisture out of regularly opened and closed glass containers, and the plants may become mouldy. If this happens, discard them and purchase fresh ones. To prevent mould, try storing them in paper lunch bags so they can “breathe” (although this will reduce the shelf-life significantly).
Making an Infusion
pour a cup after it has infused
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Preparing an infusion is just like making a cup of tea but allowing more time for the water to absorb the Narrowleaf Plantain essence.
Pour boiling water over the tea (use a glass, stainless steel or ceramic vessel), cover it and allow to soak/steep for 20 minutes or so. Stirring it a few times while steeping is helpful - and is an ideal opportunity to focus your mind on the benefits it will bring to you.
Generally use 1 teaspoon of dried Narrowleaf Plantain in a 250ml cup of water is sufficient. The standard dosage is one teacup (250ml), two or three times daily.
For convenience, your entire day's dosage can be prepared at night (2-3 cups at one time) and left overnight and then refrigerated for use throughout the day. You can drink it cold or heat it if you want it warm.
Making a Decoction
Because some tea (with bark, stems or roots in them) contains tough, woody material, a decoction is the recommended method for making your medicine.
Instead of just soaking it in hot water, the plant material is boiled for a longer period of time to soften the thicker woody pieces and release its active constituents.
Use a ceramic, glass or enamel pot with a snug fitting lid, if you don't have one then a stainless steel pot is good but definitely not aluminium or teflon.
Add the amount of herb needed (1 teaspoon per 250ml of water) to the proper amount of cold water in the pot depending on how many doses you wish to prepare.
Turn the heat to medium high and bring to a vigorous boil then put the lid on the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle but cheerful simmer for 20 minutes.
If you can see steam escaping or smell the aroma of the herb, your lid is not tight enough and valuable essential oils may be escaping.
After 20 minutes, remove from heat and cool slightly, for maximum potency we encourage you to let it stand overnight.
Strain the mixture through a tea strainer into a wide-necked bottle, jug or cup, making sure to press on the material in the strainer with a spoon or similar to get as much of the liquid/decoction out of the material as possible.
Standard dosages for decoction are generally one-half to one cup, two or three times daily.
A day's dosage can be prepared the prior evening (2-3 cups at one time), allowed to continue to soak while it cools overnight to ensure maximum potency and refrigerated until ready to use throughout the next day.
Narrowleaf Plantain tincture
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Is it Safe for me to take Narrowleaf Plantain Tincture? If you have any concerns or apprehensions please use our free Herbal Tincture enquiry service so that we can make sure that what you want is completely safe for your situation or condition.
We especially encourage you to get in touch if you have any of the following health problems or conditions:
- An enlarged prostate gland
- Are preganant or breast-feeding
- Blood clotting problems
- Cancer
- Diabetes
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- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Immune system problems
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- Liver problems
- Psychiatric problems
- Parkinson's disease
- Stroke
- Thyroid problems
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You have two options when you purchase Narrowleaf Plantain tincture:
- For external use which you can apply externally to the soles of your feet or topically on an external condition - you can purchase these without a consultation.
- For internal use. If you wish to take it internally because of the potency of these tinctures you need to be sure they will not cause complications with an existing health condition or prescribed drugs you may be taking.
Narrowleaf Plantain tincture
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If you are in any doubt about the possibility Narrowleaf Plantain tincture causing complications with prescription drugs or a medical condition you may have please get in touch so that we can advise you on the suitability of a particular tincture.
Especially if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
You can have an online consultation or visit our clinic for a thorough consultation if you wish to purchase our potent tinctures for internal use.
There are fewer concerns when using Narrowleaf Plantain tincture externally and our many years of experience has shown that the tincture is just as effective being applied into the soles of the feet or applied
topically
on external conditions where they will be absorbed into your system.
Our clients who have come for a consultation use the same tincture internally and we recommend they take half an eyedropper (about 1.5ml) of herbal tincture in a small glass of water three times per day for adults and a quarter of an eyedropper in a small glass of water for children.
Narrowleaf Plantain tincture is a potent liquid extract made from organic Narrowleaf Plantain. It is a concentrated way of getting herbal medicine into your body easily especially applying them to the soles of your feet. Once a tincture is prepared, it has an extremely long shelf life. Tinctures should be kept in a cool, dark cupboard to maintain their potency.
If you are on any prescribed medication we strongly advise you to use our free Herbal Tincture enquiry service to make sure that the medication and potent Narrowleaf Plantain tincture are compatible.
making medicine for internal use
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How to Use Narrowleaf Plantain Tincture internally
How do I prepare my Narrowleaf Plantain Tincture?
Just add the recommended dosage - which is usually 1.5ml or one eyedropperfull - to a glass of drinking water or any other cold drink.
Then drink it.
When should I drink my Narrowleaf Plantain Tincture?
For best absorption, consume herbal tinctures 30 minutes or more before meals or drinking other liquids to avoid diluting it while it is in your digestive tract.
How to Use our Tinctures externally
how to apply a tincture to the soles of your feet
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If you are treating an external condition - such as a skin infection - then simply apply the tincture directly to the site using the eyedropper or a suitable swab.
If you are treating an internal condition then the best way to get the tincture into your body is through the soles of your feet. The skin is a highly absorptive organ and the feet have the reflexology facility which helps get the healing properties of the herbs right to the place inside you where they will do the most good.
If you don't have someone to do it for you, the easiest way we've found is to apply it sitting down. Rest one foot on your other leg's thigh (use a towel to make sure the tincture doesn't drip on your furniture or clothes), squirt a small amount of tincture onto the palm of one hand (about 1.5ml or half an eyedropper), rub it gently into the sole of your foot. In most cases you will find it has been absorbed within 30 seconds or so - you'll know when your foot feels dry. Then do the same to your other foot and the treatment is complete.
Narrowleaf Plantain history
Ribwort was called Costa canina and Quinquenervia in medieval times because of the prominent veins in the plant, which is where the name Ribwort comes from
[8] .
Plantago major L PLANTAGINACEAE
Greater Ribwort Rat-tail Ribwort / Waybread
This and some closely related Plantago species such as P. major var. asiatica Decne. and P. lanceolaia L have a long traditional use in the treatment of sores which has recently been vindicated by modem examination of the plant's action. The unattractive and tenacious Ribworts are the scourge of gardeners, but many are still highly respected in folk medicine from Africa to Vietnam.
Description: Perennial. Leaves entire or slightly toothed, long petioled, ovate to elliptic, 5-20 cm long, forming a basal rosette. Leaves prominently 7-veined and no more than twice as long as the petiole. Flowers inconspicuous 3 mrn wide, numerous, yellowish-green, with lilac and then yellow anthers, on cylindrical spike 5-40 cm long. Appearing early summer to mid-autumn.
Distribution: Native to Europe. Introduced to other temperate zones. Widely distributed on cultivated land, wasteland and roadside. Prefers moist sandy or loamy nutrient-rich soils, but tolerates most conditions.
Cultivation: Wild plant. In eastern Europe commercial cultivation of P. lanceolata L. has recently begun. Constituents ( Mucilage; a pentacyclic triterpene, oicanolic acid; a glycoside, aueu- bin (rhinanthin); the enzymes emulsin and invertin; potassium salts (to 0.5%); citric acid. (seed) Oil (to 22%); a trisaccharide, planteose; aucubin; choline; various organic acids.
Uses: (dried leaves, seed) Vulnerary; diuretic; expectorant; astringent; bacteriostatic. Principally of use as a poultice, ointment or in decoction for the external treatment of wounds, ulcers and bites. Also used as a gargle and as an eye-wash in blepharitis and conjunctivitis.
The plant has the ability to destroy a wide range of micro-organisms, and stimulates the healing process (epithelization). The leaf may be employed internally to treat diarrhoea, and conversely the seed is of benefit in constipation. Formerly used to treat various haemorrhage; including post-partum haemorrhage; also bronchitis, bronchial catarrh and coughs. An effective diuretic. Employed homeopathically. The young leaf was once used as a pot-herb.
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Narrowleaf Plantain cultivation
Ribwort by the roadside.
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Ribwort is self-cultivating and grows under many conditions (although it doesn't thrive in wet soil) and prefers a sunny position.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of this extraordinary plant is its ability to thrive in the most inhospitable of places.
Here a healthy plant is growing vigorously on a rock - a seed lodged in a crack, germinated and this grew.
This quality is possibly one of Ribworts greatest gifts - the talent for surviving when the environment becomes poor[9], polluted, harsh and inhospitable, perhaps a quality which we humans may appreciate in the near future?
Despite this ability, in Australia Ribwort is generally regarded as a weed without redeeming qualities[10][11][12].
Narrowleaf Plantain video footage
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Some video showing you Narrowleaf Plantain courtesy Dancing Spectrum Video
Introducing our Plantain tea and tincture - Natures medicine chest in a plant. |
Some video showing you Narrowleaf Plantain |
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middlepath.com.au> Middle Path> Plants> Narrowleaf Plantain - Plantago lanceolataReferences
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