Plantago Herba, Plantain Herb, Che Qian Cao 车前草

Gart der Gesundheit, Cuba, 1485

Plantago major
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Plantago minor (P. lanceolata)
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

   Red Plantain (variety)        Greater Plantain 
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Left: Greater Plantain; Middle: Ribwort Plantain; Right: Buck’s-Horn Plantain
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Greater Plantain
Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640

Ribwort Plantain
Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640

P. major
Flora von Deutschland (20), Kohler, 1885

P. lanceolata
Flora von Deutschland (20), Kohler, 1885

P. asciatica
Illustrations Of Indian Botany, Vol. II, Wight, 1850

Uses:

1. Clears Heat and Phlegm, Stops Cough (TCM, West):

-heat-type coughs with thick yellow phlegm, dry cough, blood in the sputum and wheezing;
-acute Respiratory tracts infections, dry Cough, acute Bronchitis and Wheezing; Hemoptysis
-Lung ulcers and the accompanying cough; early stages of pulmonary Phthisis (especially the juice or syrup)

2. Clears Heat and Toxins, Reduces Swelling, Eases Pain (TCM, West):

-“all sorts of Fevers” including chronic Fever and Malarial Fevers.
-“Remarkably effectual in Poisons of all kinds”.
-venomous bites including those of Snakes, Spiders, Scorpions and poisonous Insects (internally and externally)
-boils, carbuncles, abscesses and other hot-type swellings (internally and externally)
-heat and inflammation of the Ears, Eyes, Mouth, Throat, Lungs, Bladder, Bowels;
-Glandular swellings, Scrofula, Syphilis
-Mercurial poisoning.
-“good for treating Chronic, Malignant and Creeping Ulcers, Eczema and deep Wounds. In these diseases it is the drug of first choice” (Avicenna)
-“The juice is useful for a Quartan Fever, two hours before the onset”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“Three whole roots of Plantain in three cups of wine, and the same amount of water, relieves Three day fevers: Four drive away four day fevers”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“It cures the disease of a Rabid Dog when applied”. (Dorsetn, 1540)

3. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:

-spitting of blood, bloody Urine, and excessive Menstruation; also stops excess bleeding from wounds (TCM, West)
-very useful for excessive discharge following Birth;
-herb steeped in water with salt was used for Dysentery (Dioscorides)
-the juice “is good to them that be sick of the perilous flux, with excoriation or razing of the Bowels”. (Albertus)”
-The Decoction of Ribwort drunk, is a most excellent remedy to stop the Terms [Menstruation]” (Culpeper)

4. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine (TCM, West):

-Edema, Oliguria, Cystitis, Incontinence, Hematuria
-acute Diarrhea, Dysentery, Jaundice
-Leukorrhea, Spermatorrhea
-Sores and Ulcers of the Genitals
-Seed is used for these purposes and is preferred

5. Externally:

-externally, applied to fresh Wounds and Ulcers
-“The leaves, crushed and boiled with honey, and applied as a poultice to damp wounds, make them dry”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-poultice of the leaves is good for heat-type pain and inflammation; Dermatitis, Eczema etc.
-a strong decoction as a wash stops all types of Itching
-stops Toothache, the decoction used as a mouthwash (Avicenna)
-“By continuous gargling with the decoction of the leaves, ulcers of the mouth and tongue are cleansed.” (Dorsetn, 1540)
-fine powder is blown with a reed directly into the throat in Tonsillitis
-as a gargle for Heat and Inflammation of the Throat. (Tournefort, 1719)
-“For Throat diseases, Take Plantain and crush it, drink the juice from the press, anoint the neck with it”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-Chronic and Hard-to-heal Sores and Ulcers including Old, Foul or Varicose Ulcers
-“all malignant and Leprous running and filthy Ulcers” (Dioscorides)
-“The juice infused into Fistulas heals them”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-Tumors and Cancers, including those of the Breast
-“When plastered on Elephantiasis it restricts its further expansion and thereafter brings about its deflation” (Avicenna)
-“It removes scars from wounds, and restores the original color to the skin”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“Burns are cured by the agency of Plantago” (Pliny)
-“For diseases of the sinews and joints, Plantago, beaten up with salt, is a very useful remedy”. (Pliny)
-topically for Opthalmia (Avicenna)
-“The juice instilled into the Eyes purifies and cools”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“The Root of this Plant taken fresh out of the Ground, washed, and gently scraped with a Knife, then put into the Ear, cures the Toothache like a Charm, as has been sometimes observed”. (Simon Paulli)
-“If anyone’s feet swell from a long journey, apply this herb to the soles, it will relieve the swelling”. (Dorsetn, 1540)

Main Combinations:

Comfrey & Plantain

Clear Heat:

1. To clear Heat and cool the Blood:
i. Plantain, Sorrel, Violet
ii. Plantain, Chicory, Cleavers
iii. Plantain with Sorrel, Mallow, Purslane, Endive, Aniseed, Borage, Violet (as in Decoction to Cool the Blood)
2. Fever:
i. Plantain, Cleavers, Fevefew
ii. “said to be useful in Tertian Fever. For this purpose three pieces of its roots, mixed with 120 mls of wine, are used. Four pieces of its roots are taken in a similar manner in Quartan Fever”. (Avicenna)
iii. Intermittent Fever, 2–4 oz. of the juice

Bleeding:

3. For heat-type Bleeding:
i. Plantain with Shepherd’s Purse
ii. Plantain with Marshmallow, Comfrey root, Water Plantain
iii. Plantain root & seed, Red Earth, Bistort, Pomegranate peel, Hematite, Red Coral, Orange peel (as in Plantain Powder)
4. Bleeding from the Lungs:
i. Plantain with Comfrey (as in Syrup of Plantain and Comfrey)
ii. Plantain with Horsetail
iii. Plantain, Comfrey, Horsetail, Licorice
iv. Plantain juice, Plantain seed, Armenian (Red) Earth, Red Coral; mix and drink (Arnold de Villa Nova)
v. Juices of Plantain, Pimpernel, Shepherd’s Purse (6 oz. each), Armenian Earth (1 pound), Gum Arabic burnt, Tragacanth (1 oz. each), Starch, Dragon’s Blood, Sealed Earth, Acacia, Tabasheer, Myrtle berries (10 drams each). Boil the juices with the powders, then put them in a mortar and beat well together, adding some Whey, and make an Ointment to annoint the Chest. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
5. Dysentery with Bleeding: “Plantago stops bleeding and dysentery, when mixed with vinegar and eaten, or if it is injected into the anus by enema, or taken ground into a powder”.

Lungs:

6. Sore Throat, Tonsillitis, Plantain with Marshmallow, Coltsfoot, Elder, Agrimony and Violet
7. Cough:
i. Spasmodic and Whooping cough, Plantain with Thyme, Camomile, Cowslip root
ii. Cough and Bronchitis, Ribwort Plantain, Nettle and Yarrow
iii. Bronchitis, Tuberculosis, Plantain with Echinacea, Elecampane, Licorice
iv. Chronic Cough with excess Phlegm, Ribwort Plantain, Mallow flower, Mullein, Thyme
v. Chronic Catarrh of the Lungs, Chickweed with Horsetail, Lance-leaf Plantain, Nettle (Fischer)
8. Tuberculosis, Plantain, Echinacea, Comfrey

Urinary:

9. Incontinence, Bedwetting:
i. Plantain with St. John’s wort
ii. Plantain with Hemp seed, Agrimony, Shepherds Purse, Knotgrass (as in Decoction of Hemp Seed)
iii. Plantain with Comfrey, Cyperus rotundus, Galangal, Horsetail, Cypress nut, Rue seed, Agnus Castus, Frankincense (as in Wine for Incontinence)
10. Bladder and Kidney Ulcers, Plantain leaf and root with Grape sugar (Dioscorides)

Gynecology, Obstetrics:

11. Excessive Menstruation:
i. Plantain with Tormentil, Comfrey, Barberry seed, Sorrel, Gum Arabic, Tragacanth (as in Decoction for Excessive Menstruation)
12. Bleeding during Pregnancy, Plantain with Bistort, Purslane, Coriander (as in Powder for Bleeding During Pregnancy)

Trauma, Bruising:

13. Vulnerary (Bruising, Trauma):
i. Plantain, Sanicle, St. Johns wort, Wintergreen (Pharmacopoeia Sardoa, 1773)
ii. Plantain, Sanicle, Comfrey root, Marshmallow, Pimpinella, Licorice (as in Vulnerary Decoction)
iii. Plantain, Sanicle, Golden Rod, Solomans Seal, Sage, Pennyroyal, Century (as in Vulnerary Decoction of Wirtzung)
iv. Plantain with Ladies Mantle, Agrimony, Bugle, Comfrey, St. Johns wort, Saxifrage, Nettle, Tormentil (Dispensatorium medico pharmaceuticum Palatinatus, 1764)
v. Plantain with Elecampane, Comfrey, Tormentil, Licorice, Sanicle, Saxifrage, St. Johns wort, Agrimony, Bugle, Fennel seed (Pharmacopoeia Generalis, 1783)

Other:

14. Anxiety, Plantain with Spearmint (see research below)
15. Snake bite, take equal parts of the juices of Plantain and Horehound
16. Hernia, Plantain with. Sanicle, Rupturewort, Agrimony, Solomans Seal, Comfrey root, Tormentil, Coriander seed (as in Decoction for Hernia)
17. Gonorrhea, Plantain extract taken with Decoction of Sarsaparilla. (Simon Paulli)

External:

18. Eczema and Pruritus and other skin complaints, combine Plantain with Echinacea for topical application
19. Black spots on the Body, apply Plantain juice mixed with Vinegar (Arnold de Villa Nova)
20. Lupus, Plantain (1 handful), Pomegranate flowers, Cypress nuts, Balsam wood and fruit, Sugar of Alum (of each 1 oz.), boil in Plantain water, adding towards the end Camphor (1 dram). Use as a wash. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
21. Pustules on the body, mix Plantain juice with Ceruse and Vinegar and apply (Arnold de Villa Nova)
22. Breast Abscess: “Plantago boiled with honey and applied to the Breasts of women twice or thrice, cures abscesses”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
23. Hemorrhoids. Yarrow, Plantain, Mullein (4 handfuls each), Elder flower, Pomegranate flower (1 oz. each). (Dispensatorium medico pharmaceuticum Palatinatus, 1764)
24. “The leaves, crushed with salt and applied to Gout pains, alleviate the pains”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
25 Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Plantain with Aloe gel
26. As a gargle for Sore Throat:
i. Plantain, Pomegranate flower, Rose, decoct, add Alum and Syrup of Pomegranate (A Treatise on Foreign Drugs, Geoffroy and Thicknesse, 1749)
ii. Plantain, Self Heal (4 0z. each), Sage (2 oz.), Rose, Ligustrum flower, Pomegranate flower (1 oz. each) (Dispensatorium medico pharmaceuticum Palatinatus, 1764)
27. Toothache: “The root crushed with Pyrethrum and with warm water cures the pains of the teeth”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
28. Cancer of the Mouth, combine Plantain juice with Vinegar and Rose water and use as a mouth wash (Physicians of Myddvai)
29. Inflammation of the Eyes, Plantaion juice, Rose water and Sugar as a collyrium. (Camerarias)
30. Umbilical Herna, a Cataplasm of Plantain and Oak Moss.
31. Biting of a Rabid Dog: “applied with salt on the bite of Mad Dog.” (Avicenna)

Major Formulas:

Powder of Plantain Compound   
Decoction of Timaei (modified)
Decoction for Excessive Menstruation
Decoction to Cool the Blood (Wirtzung)
Decoction of Hemp Seed
Decoction for Hernia
Vulnerary Decoction
Syrup for Excess Menstrual Bleeding
Syrup of Plantain and Comfrey (Boyles Syrup)
Syrup of Comfrey Compound
Wine for Incontinence
Water for Cancer
Powder for Bleeding During Pregnancy
Powder for Diabetes (Riverius)
Powder Against Rabies
Ointment for Congealed Blood
Eye Drops (Riverius)