Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS => GARDENING AROUND THE HOUSE => Topic started by: Cindi on February 27, 2008, 11:36:10 pm
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I have looked at a site that Ann cited, about plantain. I would suggest that this site http://www.innvista.com/health/herbs/plantain.htm (http://www.innvista.com/health/herbs/plantain.htm) be checked out for anyone interested in the power of this plant, known as plantain. Check it out, you'll be surprised at what you can learn.
Ann, psyllian seed. I hear of it all the time for health stuff. I remember a colleague of mine used it for her horses. One time she wanted to test if psyllian seed really "pushed" the poop through and cleaned the intestines. She gathered some puckies (freshly pooped out) and put them in a bucket of water. The then drained off the slurry and was was left on the bottom was a bunch of sandy debris. Obviously the sandy stuff was pushed through their gut and removed. Maybe has a similar effect on humans, clearing the intestines. I need to learn more about psyllian. I wonder if psyllian is a generic term for the seed parts of many seeds. I will learn more. Have a wonderful and beautiful day, greatest life. Cindi
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I have a little story about plantain. I took a hit on the back of my arm today while gardening. Picked a handful of plantain leave ( hopefully the ones the dogs, cats, skunks, possums, and other critters don't pee on )...chewed it up and smeared it on the sting site! Wow, so far it is a very different sting reaction. I wasn't suited up so I could do it immediately...hooray for plantain!
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Sharon, good. Testimonies of remedies are wonderful. I haven't had a chance to test the plaintain on a sting yet, because I have had so few. But I am certainly keeping this is the back of my mind, the kids around here get stung all the time in summer, especially when the lawn clover is blooming high, we have lots of plaintain, broad leaf and sword, I heard the flat broad leaf is better, that is OK because there is more of it at arm's length away, beautiful day, love our life we're livin'. Cindi
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For anyone wondering what plantain is:
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/Plantain.jpg
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#plantain
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I think I have this plant... weed growing in my yard!
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http://www.lepetitherboriste.net/herbier/plantain.jpg
this is the kind on my land...
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Sharon, that is the type that we have too, it is pretty, but we also have the flat, broad leafed one as well. I heard the flat broad leafed one is more potent though. Beautiful day, beautiful life, all that is beautiful, Cindi
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I think the broad leaf variety works better, but both work amazingly well. I have both in yard, but narrow variety is hardier and more plentiful. My whole family runs around applying plabntian wed to evrything from bee stings, poison ivy, mosquitoe bites etc. any minor skin irritation
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Obviously not the same plantain as the banana type that is a starchy fruit that is cooked an eaten in the Caribbeanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantain)
does anyone have the scientific name for it?
kev
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The broadleaf one is Plantago major. A quote from this link (http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/plantain.htm):
Evergreen perennial, spreading by seed, which cling to feet - it was taken to the New World for herbal use and became known to North American Native Peoples as "White Man's Footsteps" as it followed the new inhabitants where they settled. Persists for many seasons, forming a rosette close to the ground, so it avoids the sweep of mower blades. It is tolerant to trampling, surviving on paths and driveways.
The leaves contain tannins and astringent chemicals which, when crushed, make useful styptics for small cuts and an alternative to dock leaves for nettle stings. Lotions can be used to sooth itchy, chapped skin, insect bited and sore eyes. There are also internal medicinal uses where the expectorant effect and the mucilage content of the plant ease inflamed mucous membranes during bouts of coughs and bronchitis.
There is some evidence of antibacterial properties.
It was brought here as an herb just like so many other 'weeds' we try so desperately to irradicate.
The narrow leafed one is Plantago lanceolata. uses and benefits are the same as above.
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It's interesting how many medicinal herbs were brought by the settlers, spread and adopted by the natives as well. Medicine is medicine. :)
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I have tons at my place, now I gotta go out & get hurt to try it! From scars on my hands & legs it won't take long, I didn't know it was good for anything...the goat & horse don't usually eat it though. Jody
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Jody, I know you are like me, I am a war zone with fights with brambles, fences, everything, I always look like I got into a cat fight, my poor arms and hands, it won't take you long to get out there and need to witness the power of plantain, :evil: :) Have a beautifully, wonderful day, Cindi
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After reading about plantain and psyllium seed I began to wonder.
I bet you guys are thinking the same thing.....
Do you suppose that you could make a poultice out of water and Metamucil?
Oh boy,.....here it comes........ :-D
I am starting to LAFF!!!
OUT LOUD, now!!!...Got that stupid grin between laffs!!!
Starting to draw attention!!!
Ok,...I bet its good for sumburn!!..Oh gosh,..my spellings falling apart now!!
ok,...I bet, after drinking my usual 2 glasses a day of metamucil(Yes, Cindi...psyllium pushes stuff right out the "'Ol back door"!!!....WHOOOOOSH!!!..Out IT GOES!!! :shock:) I could make an extra glass full and slosh it on my sumburnt head!!!
I could also rub it on my hands! Might be better than "Zims Crack Filler" cream!
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:-D You made my evening! I'm cracking up & the cats are staring at me..even the deaf dog looked up!! Now I gotta go take off my eye makeup! Thank you for ending my day on a funny note!!
Jody
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I'm wondering with my bees on my deck if I can grow plantain in a pot....any thoughts? Does it have a deep tap root or would it grow in a pot?
Linda T heading for Mississippi
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John, holy man oh man!!! You have got to be one of the funniest guys that I have ever in my life listened to!!! I kid you not, I am laughing my guts out too now, thanks, also, as Jody said, you have ended my day with a laugh that will take me right deep into and through the night, keep on being you, you have a very special talent, saying what you feel, and no bones about it, that is pure and wonderful, I love it. Have the most wonderful night, day, and love every minute of them all, Cindi
I have read some of my stuff to my Husband, and let me tell you, he thinks you are hilarious, all I have to do is say, you remember John, the one that smeared propolis all over his face, he just smiles and that shows me he knows who I am speaking of, such a hoot and a hollar!!!!
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Hey, i got an Idea!!
Lets see who can compliment a person best of everybody here!
We'll have a vote for what compliment is the best! The winner will win 20,000$ in cash and recieve a scholarship from Tx A&M apiology department to be used for college expenses. Hows it sound so far?
your friend,
john
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:) ;) :? Cindi
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>I'm wondering with my bees on my deck if I can grow plantain in a pot....any thoughts? Does it have a deep tap root or would it grow in a pot?
I seem to find it most often in shady well packed soil. A path where people walk on the lawn is the most common place to find it. Try well packed clay soil in your pot.
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I'm wondering with my bees on my deck if I can grow plantain in a pot....any thoughts? Does it have a deep tap root or would it grow in a pot?
Linda T heading for Mississippi
Linda, Michael is right about it loving to grow in compact soil. The broad leaf plantain that invades my lawns has a very short root, not a tap root at all. The root is similar to many of the weeds (and plants and flowers) that have that root that is like the buttercup. The root is shallow with many, many little roots all coming from the rosette of the plant. The roots spread out sideways, downwards and are all attached to the base of the plant. This gives the plant an enormous power to stay stuck in the soil. I dig out plantain all the time from specific areas in the lawn and this reduces the amount that is there, it can make like a mat and completely smother the grass. It is actually quite easy to get out if you do it right and the soil has been moistened (which is easy to have occur around my climate, hee, hee). You could very very easily grow broad leafed plantain in a pot, simple as pie, hee, hee. Have a wonderful and beautiful day, love this life we live. Cindi
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Cindi is right, it has just a short "puff" of tiny roots and you could easily put em in a pot, smash the soil around em good. That is a great idea cause you could put the pot up so the unappealing animal residue is greatly decreased! Much more palatable to masticate knowing this! ;) I'm gonna look for some today!
Jody
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I'm going to try Michael's idea about compacted clay soil (no problem finding that in Georgia!) and put several pots on my deck. I live in the city and have a yard service so there's none in my yard, but I'll bet I'll find some in the area if I look around.
Linda T in Mississippi where it's hot as #$%&#) - How did I grow up in this heat???
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Mine grows in both tightly compacted soil and loose sandy loam...
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Mine grows in both tightly compacted soil and loose sandy loam...
Mine grows where ever it wants to, my wife keeps pulling it up from the flower and vegitable gardens.
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Look in gravel driveways at head of where you park car. Walkways, baseball fields and such.