(Plantago lanceolata)
Several types of Plantain grow on the coast of BC. It has many uses as a medicine. The First Peoples have used the plant for many thousands of years. I have used it on bee stings since I was a little boy. It draws the poison right out when you rub fresh plantain leaves on a sting.
Externally, it is effective on any kind of skin disorder when the leaves are bruised and simply rubbed on the skin. Alternatively, it can be made into an oil or ointment and stored for convenient external use. Just dry, crush and mix with rubbing alcohol, Vaseline, or other creams.
Plantain cream and oils are great for the treatment of skin problems, including rashes, wounds, ulcerations, swelling, bruises, burns, eczema, cracked lips, mosquito bites, diaper rash, hemorrhoids, or blisters.
It is also effective as an agent that draws out the poison for bee stings, snake bites, and spider bites. Drunk as a tea made from the leaves, Plantain is effective as a detoxifier for the body and is a remedy for colds, flu, coughs, congestion, bronchitis, hoarseness, fevers, sinusitis, ulcers, irritable bowel, diarrhea, intestinal complaints, kidney stones, hay fever, asthma, emphysema and as a blood sugar stabilizer for diabetics. The seeds can be dried and infused in water for a soothing eye lotion, as a laxative, and to treat intestinal worms in children.
There is also some indication that a cup of tea a day made from Plantain leaves can help with smoking cessation by detoxifying the body and thereby reducing cravings.
You can find Plantain almost everywhere on the BC coast. Just look in your own yard. Women can use it to treat PMS, and it will regulate menstrual flow.