Traditional medicinal weeds for your daily use.
We're looking at Ribwort, Plantago lanceolata, here.
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Look around you...you'll probably see this local medicine you can use yourself.
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The key word here is soothe, and it'll leaves will do that for almost any situation needing calming. Weeds are like that- practical and multi-faceted.
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It's been used for centuries for coughs, congestion, hayfever, sinusitis...and has some antimicrobial aspects, although they're mild. It's also been a go-to for cystitis, cuts and scrapes, and as an eyewash
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Why? It works on the tissue that lines both the respiratory and urinary systems, and it also has constituents with healing and protective properties.
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The leaves contain anti-inflammatory iridoids, highest in mid Autumn and when the plant is under stress (e.g. nibbled by rabbits...), soothing polysaccharides, highest in Spring, when it's lush and green, as well as tannins which help bind and tone tissue.
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Harvest the leaves, and make an infusion...a strong one, because it's 80%+ water already. A decent handful of ripped up leaves is needed. Or pick in Autumn and dry for later use.
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Broad leaf plantain can be used in the same way...but if you're looking for psyllium seed...you need to find and grow plantago psyllium, fleaseed. The best use for ribwort seedheads is to loop the stem and ping the heads at each other. Good fun, and spreads the seeds 😁
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All the plantains tend to pull contaminants out of the soil, and are tough enough to grow well in places that would poison other plants. Be careful when harvesting. Look for signs of spraying, look at what else grows with it, what it's near to, e.g run-off and roads.
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It's good, therefore, to let some grow in your garden... you'll know where it's been!
