Weeds You Can Eat: Plantain

Plantain (Plantago Major) is a common weed that you've probably seen in lawns and along the side of the road.   Although there is a narrow leafed plantain, I'm talking about the broad leafed version that you see in the photos. 

Plantain has oval shaped leaves with parallel veins that run from the base to the top.  Normally this weed is fairly small, but I've grown one in my garden so that it did not have to compete with grass, other weeds, etc. and you can see how huge it can actually get.  The plantain in the photos is over a foot tall!  

It's a common, but extremely versatile and useful 'weed'.  It's been used for many years as an edible and medicinal plant.  It's full of vitamins C, A, K and calcium.  

You can use the small tender leaves in salads.  Cook up the larger tougher leaves in soups and stews.  You can also dehydrate the leaves, powder them and incorporate into your favorite green smoothie.  The seeds are also edible and packed with fiber.  The fiber in plantain seeds is called Psyllium which is used as a bulking agent/ laxative as it absorbs water in the digestive tract.

Good for cuts and stings.  Just crush the leaves and apply it to the affected area.  It's thought to reduce inflammation and stop bleeding. LOL... ask me how I know.  I got a nasty scratch from one of my wooden garden beds.  Normally, I'd ignore it, but this time it wouldn't stop bleeding.  So, being the enterprising gardener that I am, I chewed up part of a leaf and stuck it on my arm.  You know what?  It DID work.  Now I can't say that a Band-Aid wouldn't have worked as well, but in a pinch it worked just fine. 

Now, as always, when trying something new, always test a small amount to make sure you have no allergies, or interactions with any medications you may be taking. Also, the high fiber in the seeds could cause gas and bloating, so start small and see how it affects you.