Relieve Itching from Insect Bites and Stings with
Plantain
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Disclaimer! We purposely do not show any graphics of the plants we're discussing. It is your responsibility to be sure you have identified them correctly! This is particularly important during the season when there are no flowers present, which normally aid in identification. It is your health, so be sure you know what you're doing! See also the comments on using common sense below! |
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Plantain
- Plantago Major & Plantago Lanceolata
| Plantain Plantain is warm and dry. --. and if a spider or some other worm touches or bites someone, he should immediately cover it with plantain juice, and he'll feel better. ... Hildegard of Bingen, from Physica |
Both varieties of this perennial seem to grow well in all temperate zones and either one is equally effective for relieving the itch of insect bites, be they from bees, spiders, ants, wasps, mosquitoes, black flies., deer flies or the tiny noseeums.
The fact that plantain is so very widespread, makes it a very convenient remedy. However, since the plants tend to grow even in fairly dry places, most of the time the leaves are not very 'juicy'. Adding a drop or two of water might help. As an alternative, crushing a leaf or two and placing it over the sting or bite and covering the whole with a bandage or band-aid would be another effective way to bring relief.
| Common Sense: When you are new to such herbal remedies, it is best to initially test them only in very small amounts, to be sure it does not cause you any problems and to eliminate any possibility of allergies and such. It goes without saying that the plant material should be organically grown and clean and free of all fertilizer and pesticides - if you do use them. Otherwise wash and clean everything thoroughly! |
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| Know the plants : Before using any plant material, be absolutely sure that you have identified the plant correctly, especially during the season when flowers are not present! | |
| If in doubt, try a very small piece at first. |
