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Plantain major is distributed throughout the former USSR, except in the Arctic. It grows along roads, in fields, vegetable gardens, orchards, forest edges and banks of water bodies. Cultivated in France, Spain, and the United States.
Plantain leaves collected during flowering, with a small remnant of petiole, are used. No odor, taste is bitter, slightly astringent.
Chemical composition
.Plantain leaves have medicinal qualities. In them found mucus (up to 10%), glycoside aucubin, carotene, ascorbic acid, vitamin K, bitter and tannins, a lot of potassium, resins, mucilaginous and protein substances, oleanolic and citric acids, saponins, sterols, enzymes invertin and emulsin, factor T (promoting blood coagulation).
Action and application
.Pharmacological studies conducted in the USSR and abroad have shown undoubted pharmacodynamic activity of plantain leaves. Fresh leaves and prepared from them juice, infusion, extract have styptic, bacteriostatic, wound healing, expectorant and hypotensive action. In addition, aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves are effective remedies for severe forms of peptic ulcer disease. Phytochemical studies have established that plantain leaves contain a number of substances with antithyroid action and affecting cholesterol metabolism (A. Г. Gorin, N. П. Maksyutina et al., 1961). In addition, preparations and fresh leaves (especially the juice) have a bacteriostatic effect on pathogenic microbes of wound infection, on hemolytic streptococcus and staphylococcus, blue bacillus, Proteus, Escherichia coli. Under the influence of juice there is a faster cleansing of the wound surface from purulent secretions, cessation of the inflammatory process and intensive growth of granulations. Clinical observations have revealed the therapeutic efficacy of fresh plantain juice in the primary treatment of industrial and other injuries, for the treatment of long non-healing wounds, phlegmons, boils.
Plantain preparations are indicated in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and intestines, decoction - in dysentery and dyspepsia. It has been proved by animal experiments that native preparations have a regulating effect in both decreased and increased gastric secretion (F. И. Karev et al., 1966).
Plantain leaf juice is recommended by the Pharmacological Committee of the Ministry of Health of the USSR for the treatment of patients with chronic colitis and acute gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, enteritis, enterocolitis). Plantain preparations are prescribed orally 1 tablespoon 3 times a day 15-20 minutes before meals.
Infusion of plantain leaves - one of the best expectorants for bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis.
In Bulgaria, plantain leaves are also widely used, both in scientific and folk medicine.
In France, infusion of plantain leaves is successfully used in acute and chronic enteritis, dysentery, diarrhea of tubercular origin and chronic nephritis.
In the GDR plantain preparations are used in acute and chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the upper respiratory tract in the form of fresh juice, tea from the leaves. Externally - in the form of compresses of crushed leaves in boils and other skin diseases, with inflammation of the skin after smallpox inoculation and bee stings. Washed crushed plantain leaves pressed, juice mixed with an equal amount of honey, cook for 20 minutes, corked. Take 1-2 teaspoons under the tongue (Bassler, 1957).
In Chinese medicine, fresh plantain is used as a styptic and wound-healing agent; in addition, as a diuretic, as well as in chronic bronchitis, pleurisy. Plantain seeds - in diabetes, dyspepsia, cough, male and female infertility. Externally - decoction of seeds for eye diseases.
In Armenian folk medicine, plantain leaves were used as an infusion to treat stomach cancer.
Abu Ali Ibn-Sina plantain leaves were also used as a styptic and wound-healing agent, for tumors, chronic and malignant ulcers, eye inflammation, liver disease, kidney disease, elephantiasis. The seeds are for hemoptysis and diarrhea.
In domestic folk medicine plantain large has long been used for cancerous tumors (in the form of wet compresses), and inside for lung and stomach cancer, for which a mixture of finely chopped fresh leaves with an equal amount of sugar insist in a warm place for 2 weeks. The resulting liquid is consumed 3-4 times a day by 1 tablespoon 20 minutes before meals.
In addition, plantain leaves are used for respiratory diseases, infections, intestinal diseases and as a styptic, enveloping, expectorant, wound-healing remedy. Externally - with swelling, wounds, ulcers, carbuncles, fresh, washed with boiled water, crushed leaves are applied to the affected areas of the skin or treated with tincture of leaves. Plantain roots in the form of an extract are used internally for fever and cough of tuberculosis origin, insect bites, bees, vipers and as an analgesic and preventing the formation of tumors.
Plantain leaves, according to our observations, have a pronounced styptic, bacteriostatic, anti-inflammatory and hypotensive effect.
We use plantain large to treat gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, as a means of regulating the secretion of gastric contents, as well as in ulcerative colitis, enterocolitis, dysentery, kidney disease, hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Infusion of plantain with nettle in equal parts is very effective for bleeding nasal, uterine and hemorrhoidal, which has been repeatedly tested in our family..
