Plantain Salve

 Today was the day I finally made plantain salve. I had picked and washed the plantain 6 weeks ago and stuffed the leaves in a jar and covered with olive oil, screwed on the lid and sat it in the front sunny window.

  Plantain is so easy to find in wooded and semi wooded areas.

 I use a jelly strainer and the method Laurie does @ Common Sense homesteading

So, 13 ounces of infused oil, 13 T of beeswax  melted together and I have enough salve for the winter and share with my family with a bit to sell.

The uses for plantain are many:
Current use of plantain is the commercially significant extraction of its mucilage – a carbohydrate fiber that is used in gentle laxatives.  Ironically, plantain infusions can be used to halt diarrhea. Mucilage also acts as an appetite suppressant and reduces intestinal absorption of fat and bile.  It reduces LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.  Plantain is commonly used as an astringent; its juice, when rubbed on an insect bite or bee sting, immediately sooths the area and begin the healing process.  Plantain may also stop poison ivy from blistering and itching if applied to the skin immediately after contact.  Plantain is still considered a diuretic; in addition, it is used as an expectorant and decongestant. It is also thought to sooth the throat and is taken to relieve laryngitis.  Finally, when chewed, plantain acts as a breath freshener.  If eaten early enough in the spring, plantain leaves are said to make a tasty cooked vegetable dish.

  Good to know we can eat it if we have to....

Not much else the rest of the day. It was overcast so we hung the clothes inside on the drying rack and after doing the necessary outside stuff we hunkered down with books. and a meal of fried taters, beef gravy and beef steaks,,,, good stuff!

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