Ribwort
Botanical name: Plantago Lanceolata
Common name: Ribwort, Plantain, Narrow-leaved plantain
Part used: Leaf
Known to many as a common weed, this hardy plant has a variety of medicinal uses. In the past, the leaves were commonly used as makeshift band-aids to cover minor cuts and grazes and to soothe insect bites.
The leaves contain a slippery substance called mucilage which has soothing properties, as well as tannins, which are astringent. When used internally, this combination of astringency and soothing also makes ribwort ideal for healing irritated linings of the digestive and respiratory tracts. It is also useful in conditions where there is excess mucous such as runny noses and chest complaints.
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