Plantago Major Comon Names:  Broadleaf Plantain, White Man's Footprint, Waybread, Greater Plantain

Plantago major, the broadleaf plantain, white man's footprint, waybread, or greater plantain, is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. The plant is native to Eurasia. The young, tender leaves can be eaten raw, and the older, stringier leaves can be boiled in stews and eaten.

Plantain has been consumed as human food since prehistory. The broad-leaved varieties are sometimes used as a leaf vegetable for salads, green sauce, and so on.  Young leaves can be eaten raw and older leaves can be cooked. The seeds can be cooked like rice. 

The herb is astringent, anti-toxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, as well as demulcent, expectorant, styptic and diuretic.  Externally, a poultice of the leaves is useful for insect bites, poison-ivy rashes, minor sores, and boils. In folklore it is even claimed to be able to cure snakebite.  Internally, it is used for coughs and bronchitis, as a tea, tincture, or syrup.  Tea made from the leaves may help cure diarrhea.

Plantain seed husks expand and become mucilaginous when wet, especially those of P. psyllium, which is used in common over-the-counter bulk laxative and fiber supplement products such as Metamucil. P. psyllium seed is useful for constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, dietary fiber supplementation, and diverticular disease. Mucilage from desert indian wheat (P. ovata) is obtained by grinding off the husk. This mucilage, also known as psyllium, is commonly sold as Isabgol, a laxative which is used to control irregular bowel syndrome and constipation.

It has been used as an indigenous Ayurvedic and Unani medicine for a whole range of bowel problems. Psyllium supplements are typically used in powder form, along with adequate amounts of fluids. A dose of at least 7 grams daily taken with adequate amounts of fluid (water, juice) is used by some for management of elevated cholesterol. There are a number of psyllium products used for constipation. The usual dose is about 3.5 grams twice a day. Psyllium is also a component of several ready-to-eat cereals.

In some countries, leaves from Plantago major are used as a folk remedy to preventing infection on cuts and scratches because of its antiseptic properties.  Leaves are traditionally used topically as a cure for blisters resulting from friction (such as caused by tight shoes etc.).

It is very easy to propagate with dried seeds and planting them in any suitable garden location. Plantago requires very low to no care.