Leaves and seeds of plantain in phytotherapy

Practically throughout the Territory of Russia grows plantain. The properties of this plant are known to many. The very name of the grass says that it grows mainly along roads and paths. In this article, useful properties of the terrestrial part of the plant will be considered. Seeds of plantain are the fruits of a herbaceous plant. It belongs to the same family of plantain.

Appearance of the plant

Plantain has a rather stiff, sinewy stem, turning into leaf. At the base of the plant there is a root rosette of leaves. The leaves are broad, ovoid with several semicircular veins, as a rule, entire, having a wide petiole. Some leaves are slightly jagged.

Inflorescence of the plant has the form of a dense, long and dense spikelet. Kolos cylindrical, tapering to the end, at the base has arranged flowers. Seeds of plantain are located in a two-cavity box. In each, about fifteen pieces are formed. Plantain large can reach up to thirty centimeters in height. Flowering plant in the summer months, usually in July and August. Prefers sand and calcareous soil.

In botany, many species of this plant are distinguished: plantain middle, steppe, largest, solonchak, Indian, lanceolate and others.

Collection of raw materials

All varieties of plants are used in phytotherapy as a medicinal raw material. In medicine, leaves and seeds of plantain are used. The collection of medicinal raw materials is carried out in the summer months, the seeds are harvested as they mature in August-September. The leaves are collected by hand, cutting them off so that a small petiole remains. Dry the collected raw materials in shady premises with good and constant air circulation. Collected spikelets are first dried, and then threshed. Leaves and seeds of plantain spread a thin layer on sheets, periodically turning over. Properly dried raw materials should be kept green. According to the standards, the content in the finished collection of leaves that have yellowed or blackened color is allowed no more than 1%.

Chemical composition of the plant

In the leaves of the plant there is a glycoside aucubin, tannins and bitter substances. Also there are enzymes, citric and ascorbic acids, carotene, vitamin K, phytoncides and alkaloids. In the seeds of plantain contains a lot of mucus (up to 40-45%), fatty oils, plantosis, oleanolic acid and saponins.

Application of plantain in medicine

Leaves and seeds of the plant are successfully used for acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory system. They have a good expectorant effect. From the dry leaves prepare the infusion in the ratio of one to twenty. Infusion is taken several times a day. Regular use of it dilutes sputum and promotes its better separation.

Juice, squeezed from fresh leaves, is prescribed for digestive disorders, gastritis with low acidity, gastric ulcer outside exacerbation. It is also used for colitis and urinary tract diseases, particularly for cystitis. The juice heals infected wounds well, stimulates regeneration and granulation of tissues, accelerates epithelization. With the same goals, it is used in ophthalmology.

Traditional medicine recommends psyllium for skin diseases, pustular lesions, with abscesses, and also this is a long-known means for stopping bleeding. It is even used as a phytopreparation for fighting smoking.

But with some diseases exclude plantain. Contraindications for its use: gastritis with high acidity, peptic ulcer with hypersecretion of hydrochloric acid, disease of blood or condition, accompanied by increased thrombosis.