Plantain Information-Foraging for the chicks and ducks

Plantain Information

Picture coming soon!

Since the dog and fox attacks, and seeing the mink in our front yard (and don't forget the Barred Owls), we have only been letting our bigger (older) chickens out for short foraging outings when I can be outside with them.  There are some days they stay in their run the whole day!  As a result, I have been collecting, picking, foraging weeds for all the critters to get their greens into their diet.  I've been picking a lot of dandelion leaves and also plantains.  I had heard plantains were very nutritious, so I looked them up online for more information.  I was surprised to read they have a lot of useful purposes.  I will take a few pictures to show you what they look like and add it to this post this week.  I never expected that I would be foraging greens for my critters, but I'm sure this nutritious supplement will help them all to be healthy.  The ducks are actually the most excited about eating greens and have a tendency to hog, so I feed them their greens while they are swimming in their kiddy-pool.

Besides just picking the greens, I could make a few things with them.  I've copied and pasted a few ideas below in case I ever have a free minute and can try one!

How To Make Plantain Tea

You will need:

• Fresh plantain leaves – 1 cup
• Water – 2 cups
• Heat-proof bowl with fitting lid

1.   Wash the plantain leaves thoroughly and keep it in a bowl with lid.  
2.   Boil the water and pour over the leaves in the bowl, cover with the lid and let them steep until the bowl is cold to touch.
3.   Strain out the tea and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Drink 1-2 cups of this plantain tea a day to control diarrhea or to get relief from the symptoms of cold and fever. You can drink it plain or add honey for taste. It can bring relief to people who have stomach ulcers, IBS or other inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Plantain tea can be used as a general tonic too.

Use plantain tea topically to wash wounds, boils, and skin damaged by sunburn, rashes, eczema etc.

How To Make Plantain Poultice

This is the quickest, and reportedly the most effective, way to use this healing herb. Keep a mental note of where you can find it in the garden or yard in an emergency. In case of an insect bite, bee sting, or poison ivy exposure, grab a few leaves, crush them between the palms, or pound them with a stone, and apply directly on the skin. If you are using it on yourself, just chew the leaves and use it as a poultice.

The mucilage from the bruised leaves will immediately soothe the pain while the anti-inflammatory effect of the herb reduces swelling and redness. The poultice will also draw the toxins from the sting, so it works best when applied immediately.