Harnessing the Power of Nature: Soothing Bug Bites with Plantain

Every Sunday we like to take a post-prandial stroll after our delightful brunch. This Father's Day was no different in that sense, only that we happily encountered untouched fields of clover all around the park. The bees were happy! 🐝

As we continued our stroll, my herb-enthusiast husband's keen eye spotted a patch of plantain nestled among the lush clover in the fields. Excitedly, he began to pluck the leaves, knowing their potential as a natural bug repellent. With his knowledge and passion for teaching, he shared with me some of the medicinal uses of this overseen herb.

It was not a romantic and perfect moment of serendipity, because plantain is EVERYWHERE if you look well. It even grows between the creeses of pavement! But it was quite fascinating to learn the properties of this humble yet powerful herb.  

Plantain, from the Plantago species, has been valued for centuries for its numerous medicinal properties. Its leaves are known for their astringent, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory qualities, making them ideal for treating insect bites, rashes, small wounds, and sores. There are even folk tales suggesting that plantain leaves can cure snakebites. When consumed internally, plantain is a popular remedy for coughs and bronchitis, whether in the form of tea, tincture, or syrup. Additionally, the seeds of certain plantain species, such as P. psyllium, can form a gel-like substance when hydrated, which is beneficial for relieving constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and increasing dietary fiber intake. This versatile herb has long been used in traditional medicine and supplements, playing a vital role in supporting digestive health and overall wellness.

Now you know it. If you are out on a hike, in the park, or even walking down the street and get a nasty mosquito or bug bite, crush some plantain leaves and apply the poultice for immediate relief. 

Of course, please do not wait until you get a bug bite. To prevent bug bites I got for you two wonderful solutions:

One is our favorite brands for numerous herbal remedies, Adaptonic. A local brand we love. They carry a great product for preventing tick bites. They also carry a plantain tincture, if you want to soothe and efficiently treat a nasty cough. Just use our code WBH10 for a 10% off your entire order.

The other great natural product we have come across is a natural bug repellant sticker by NatPAt. You just put it as a sticker on your clothes. They use the healing and remedial properties of essential oils in their scientifically developed sticker patches. Click here to try them out with 10% discount.

Let us know in the comments if you have tried the plantain leaf, or any of these products suggested and how like them. And if you are interested in more herbal miraculous plants, look out for our next blog post on nettles.