Plantain lanceolatecommonly grows in meadows and pastures. Due to its healing properties, for manyplantain is a valuable herbal material , and for others it is a troublesome weed. See what theuse of plantainin cosmetics and medicine, how tocultivation of plantainfor herbal material, and how to startcombating plantain , if it is simply a persistent weed for us.
Plantain lanceolata - Plantago lanceolata
Fig. pixabay.com
What does a lanceolate plantain look like?
Plantain lanceolata(Plantago lanceolata) is a perennial plant with a short oblique rhizome, from which grows a rosette of long, lanceolate, often hairy leaves with parallel veins. They are the greatest value of the plant and are used, among others. in medicine. By the appearance of the leaves, we can also easily distinguishfrom plantain(Plantago major). The leaves of the plantain are much wider, rounder than those of the plantain.
Plantain lanceolate blooms from May to September , and its fruit is an ovoid bag containing 1-2 relatively large seeds.
Plantain lanceolate - properties
The leaves of the plantain are medicinal . They contain iridoid glycosides and flavonoids, tannins, numerous organic acids, mucilaginous substances, pectins as well as mineral s alts rich in silicon and zinc compounds.
Compounds contained in plantain leaves have an anti-inflammatory effecton the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat and gastrointestinal tract. At the same time, they reduce the excessive permeability of capillary blood vessels. Plantain leaves have expectorant and diastolic properties, as well as astringent and slightly diuretic properties.
Plantain leaves
Fig. Kinori, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Plantain lanceolate - application
Plantain plantain was used primarily in cosmeticsIts fresh crushed leaves can be used in cosmetic masks, and freshly squeezedplantain leaf juicecan be added to creams intended for oily skin.
Infusion of plantain leavesis an excellent lotion for oily skin and acne-prone skin. To prepare it, collect 50g of leaves, pour half a liter of boiling water over them and leave for 30 minutes.
Plantain leaves are widely used in medicine . Internally, they are used in syrups, drops and herbal blends against upper respiratory tract inflammation, cough, runny nose and to regulate the activity of the gastrointestinal tract.
Plantain leaves are used fresh, dried, and also in the form of an infusion
Fig. © kaprikM, depositphotos.com
Plantain lanceolate will also help with colds . You can prepare honey with plantain, which we will take when we are sick. Here is the recipe!
Recipe for honey with lanceolate plantain :
2 handfuls of plantain leaves should be well washed and drained. Then crush it in a food processor and mix immediately with 0.5 kg of warm honey (60 ° C). Honey with plantain should be mixed for 10 minutes, and then drained into small jars. On the first day of a cold, it is worth taking 1 tablespoon of honey every 2 hours, and if the disease lasts longer - every 4 hours.Give young children half a teaspoon of honey.
Plantain leaves can be usedin the form of decoctions or compresses made of fresh, well-washed and crushed leaves. They helpon difficult-to-heal woundsand insect bite spots to reduce swelling and itching.
It was found thataqueous extracts of plantain leavesstimulate the production of interferon and viral antigens, i.e. substances that protect our body against viral invasion.
Plantain lanceolate - cultivation
If we want to obtain herbal raw material from plantain leaves, we can cultivate it in the garden.Plantain is grown only from sowing seeds directly into the groundSowing is done in early spring (March-April) with a spacing of 30x40 cm and a depth of about 1 cm. Plantain seedlings appear 2-3 weeks later.
In the cultivation of plantainwe must remember about regular loosening of inter-row spaces, weeding and irrigation. Preciousplantain leaves are harvested during flowering .
Good to know!Due to the fact that plantain leaves are leathery and dry quite slowly, you should spread them as thinly as possible for drying and turn them frequently, because they turn black easily during drying. Unfortunately, the blackened plantain leaves do not show any beneficial properties for our he alth.
Plantain lanceolate - combating
Come Plantain has many interesting uses in medicine, some see it only as a persistent weed that is often found in lawns. In the case of plantain infestation, spraying on weeds in the grass can be done. Toget rid of plantain from the lawnherbicides are used to control dicotyledonous weeds.
Starane Trawniki can be mentioned among the popularpreparations for combating plantain . It is a liquid in the form of a so-called water emulsion and spraying on plantain at a dose of 40 ml per 100 m2 of lawn.
Otherherbicides to control plantainare: Chwastox Trio 540 SL and Mniszek 540 SL. In the case of the latter, the dose for controlling plantain is 20 ml dissolved in 5 liters of water, which is sufficient for 100 m² of lawn. Dandelion 540 SL should be used in favorable weather conditions for plant vegetation, from spring to early autumn. Spray the entire lawn or only in heavily infested areas.
If you do not want to spray herbicides, you can apply Substral lawn fertilizer with weeds. It is a granulated fertilizer for sprinkling lawn application, enriched with herbicide. Then we can combine fertilization and weed control in one treatment.
The fertilizer with weed control is most effective for plantain in the 2-6 phase of true leavesIt can be used from May to the end of August, at a temperature not lower than 15 ° C. The fertilizer is applied to the grass damp with dew, spreading it evenly over the lawn surface.The lawn should be watered when no rainfall has occurred two days after fertilizer application. As a result, the substances contained in the fertilizer will quickly penetrate the soil.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
