Plantago

About

Plantago major, commonly known as Broadleaf Plantain or Greater Plantain, is a ubiquitous weed with a long history of traditional use in various herbal medicine systems, including Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and European folk medicine. Whil...

Classical attributes

• Virya: []
• Vipaka: []

Dosha effects

• vata: increasing
• kapha: balancing
• pitta: balancing

Active compounds

• Aucubin
• Catalpol
• Caffeic acid
• Chlorogenic acid
• Apigenin
• Luteolin
• Mucilage
• Tannins
• Saponins

Clinical evidence

Clinical evidence for Plantago major primarily stems from traditional use validated by numerous preclinical (in vitro and animal) studies demonstrating anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing effects. Reviews acknowledge its efficacy for minor skin conditions and provide rationale for demulcent properties in respiratory and gastrointestinal health. However, robust, large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) directly assessing its efficacy for internal uses are largely scarce, with human studies often being smaller or observational.

Ayurvedic karmas

• Vranaropana (Wound healing)
• Shothahara (Anti-inflammatory)
• Krimighna (Antimicrobial)
• Kasahara (Cough suppressant)
• Pachana (Digestive)
• Grahi (Astringent, absorbent)

Classical clinical indications

• Vrana (Wounds, cuts, abrasions)
• Shotha (Inflammation)
• Kasa (Cough, bronchitis)
• Shvasa (Respiratory irritation)
• Atisara (Mild gastrointestinal irritation, diarrhea)
• Tvag Roga (Skin conditions like eczema, insect bites)

Frequently asked questions