I am down to try out plantain on some high blood pressure. Have to figure out some dosing but I think we have some on the land already. Been using hawthorn and hibiscus. What would be the kidneys interference signs to watch for?
Unfortunately, kidney insufficiency is very difficult to tell from just symptoms (i.e. without blood work) Often symptoms don't develop until disease is severe. That said, plantain was used effectively to protect the kidneys from injury due to chemotherapy medications so I think it is low risk at least in comparison to prescription antihypertensives.
OMG when I saw it was plantains this week I was so excited LOL! I have been dying to know more about them because they are EVERYWHERE. I love tuesdays!
They are everywhere! This is whay I love, these plants that are so healing for us and the earth are just like punching us in the face trying to get our attention :) Also, aside from being psychic, I do take requests :)
Been reading Seed Sistas on plantain, a delightful plant and a superhero. Wish people were less timid about what's in the garden and much more timid about pharmaceuticals made and marketed for profit. Thanks for your lovely work.
Please let us know if Seed Sistas has anything to add to the story. I think medicine really internalized this idea that nature (in my opinion our bodies included) is the wild, dangerous thing that needs to be tamed. Similarly, I think that the lack of standardization in herbal medicine is probably the biggest challenge to mainstream acceptance of herbal medicine. It's interesting though, basically what we say when we do that is we would rather be in control with more side effects than let go of control and have less side effects. Stay tuned, those thoughts may percolate into an essay of their own...
Absolutely. I used to teach medical anthropology. Two interesting bits of that included learning about traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda and stuff like the place of honey in Islamic medicine; and learning abtthe history of the biomedical world view and how European capitalist modernist rationalities dramatically shifted how we thought about the body, the outside world, etc. I could go on for too long about this lol. But yes. Absolutely.
Thanks' Genevieve, I'm so glad it's useful to you. Right now I'm picking plants based on our schedule for a plant spirit group I'm leading, but if you every have any requests I'm all ears.
Thanks so much! I would be surprised if you can't find it. If you need any help making a salve or tincture, there's a video for that back in my old posts too.
I will add that Plantago is Latin for "footprint," reflecting the plant's affinity for the compact soil along paths. So, this plant was named "footprint" twice in history, centuries and continents apart!
First I should say that my list of "favorite" plants probably contains a few hundred species, lol.
But I have a special fondness for the "ruderal" species -- those who are adapted to disturbance -- and especially those adapted to human disturbance. I am inspired by their pluckiness and exuberance. Perhaps also, feeling out of place in my own human culture, I appreciate their ability to make the most of it.
I can see that we are going to be friends :) I also have a soft spot for those tenacious disturbance lovers, and nettles who come in a bit later in succession, but are misunderstood for other reasons.
I’ve just found your work (thank you substack reads!) and WOW! you are writing the publication I am aspiring to. from the research and the jargon breakdown to the poetic folklore and recipes, you’ve got such a glorious thing here.
Plantago major seeds can also be used as an egg replacement (exactly as you would chia or flax seeds) in baking! (thankful to Alexis Nikole Nelson for this)
Wow! Thank you! That’s so kind of you to say. I also did not know Substack Reads shared my work with others, so that's amazing too. I do a plant each month, then kind of let the spirit move me beyond that. My oldest daughter is allergic to eggs, so we’re always looking for good egg replacement, especially ones that work in baking, so this will be fun to experiment with. Do you know if they grind the seeds or use them whole?
well you’ve found a kindred spirit here! thank you for all your hard work and sharing it.
for the plantago major egg replacement, you collect the seeds after flowering (when they have the brownish tips), dry them, and crush them up (spice grinder/mortar + pestle). then you mix the crushed seeds with water in a 1:2 ratio and let sit till it congeals, 6-12ish hours. then it’s ready to go! I’d love to know what your review of it is if you try it.
I am down to try out plantain on some high blood pressure. Have to figure out some dosing but I think we have some on the land already. Been using hawthorn and hibiscus. What would be the kidneys interference signs to watch for?
Unfortunately, kidney insufficiency is very difficult to tell from just symptoms (i.e. without blood work) Often symptoms don't develop until disease is severe. That said, plantain was used effectively to protect the kidneys from injury due to chemotherapy medications so I think it is low risk at least in comparison to prescription antihypertensives.
OMG when I saw it was plantains this week I was so excited LOL! I have been dying to know more about them because they are EVERYWHERE. I love tuesdays!
They are everywhere! This is whay I love, these plants that are so healing for us and the earth are just like punching us in the face trying to get our attention :) Also, aside from being psychic, I do take requests :)
Been reading Seed Sistas on plantain, a delightful plant and a superhero. Wish people were less timid about what's in the garden and much more timid about pharmaceuticals made and marketed for profit. Thanks for your lovely work.
Please let us know if Seed Sistas has anything to add to the story. I think medicine really internalized this idea that nature (in my opinion our bodies included) is the wild, dangerous thing that needs to be tamed. Similarly, I think that the lack of standardization in herbal medicine is probably the biggest challenge to mainstream acceptance of herbal medicine. It's interesting though, basically what we say when we do that is we would rather be in control with more side effects than let go of control and have less side effects. Stay tuned, those thoughts may percolate into an essay of their own...
Absolutely. I used to teach medical anthropology. Two interesting bits of that included learning about traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda and stuff like the place of honey in Islamic medicine; and learning abtthe history of the biomedical world view and how European capitalist modernist rationalities dramatically shifted how we thought about the body, the outside world, etc. I could go on for too long about this lol. But yes. Absolutely.
I'm looking forward to that essay, whenever it emerges!
Thank you Amy, that was a very interesting, useful and well researched article.
Thanks' Genevieve, I'm so glad it's useful to you. Right now I'm picking plants based on our schedule for a plant spirit group I'm leading, but if you every have any requests I'm all ears.
No requests, just happy to be along for the ride!
What a great article! I will be on the lookout for this in our yard... it sounds very useful :-)
Thanks so much! I would be surprised if you can't find it. If you need any help making a salve or tincture, there's a video for that back in my old posts too.
Seed Sistas on plantain. https://youtu.be/fcKuZGlOduA?si=y23yNo7FV9AkiA6G
Awesome, I'll check it out!
Great article on one of my favorite plants!
I will add that Plantago is Latin for "footprint," reflecting the plant's affinity for the compact soil along paths. So, this plant was named "footprint" twice in history, centuries and continents apart!
Thank you! That is interesting how the footprint moniker seems to follow Plantain where ever they go. What makes Plantain one of your favorite plants?
First I should say that my list of "favorite" plants probably contains a few hundred species, lol.
But I have a special fondness for the "ruderal" species -- those who are adapted to disturbance -- and especially those adapted to human disturbance. I am inspired by their pluckiness and exuberance. Perhaps also, feeling out of place in my own human culture, I appreciate their ability to make the most of it.
I can see that we are going to be friends :) I also have a soft spot for those tenacious disturbance lovers, and nettles who come in a bit later in succession, but are misunderstood for other reasons.
Three cheers for Nettles!
Sounds great, I'd appreciate more friends!
We eat the young plantain leaves in Corsica. They are an amazing addition to a green salad bowl! :)
Definitely! Mixed wild greens are a tasty salad. Though I've been on a big dandelion greens salad kick these days.
I use them to decorate my cakes :)
I’ve just found your work (thank you substack reads!) and WOW! you are writing the publication I am aspiring to. from the research and the jargon breakdown to the poetic folklore and recipes, you’ve got such a glorious thing here.
Plantago major seeds can also be used as an egg replacement (exactly as you would chia or flax seeds) in baking! (thankful to Alexis Nikole Nelson for this)
Wow! Thank you! That’s so kind of you to say. I also did not know Substack Reads shared my work with others, so that's amazing too. I do a plant each month, then kind of let the spirit move me beyond that. My oldest daughter is allergic to eggs, so we’re always looking for good egg replacement, especially ones that work in baking, so this will be fun to experiment with. Do you know if they grind the seeds or use them whole?
well you’ve found a kindred spirit here! thank you for all your hard work and sharing it.
for the plantago major egg replacement, you collect the seeds after flowering (when they have the brownish tips), dry them, and crush them up (spice grinder/mortar + pestle). then you mix the crushed seeds with water in a 1:2 ratio and let sit till it congeals, 6-12ish hours. then it’s ready to go! I’d love to know what your review of it is if you try it.