Spitzwegerich New medicinal plant in 2014

Naturopathy: Plantain is the medicinal plant in 2014

09/26/2013

For thousands of years, plants have been used as medicinal herbs for a wide variety of diseases. Because of the antibacterial and cough-alleviating effects, scientists at the University of Würzburg have chosen the medicinal plant Spitzwegerich as the medicinal plant of the year 2014.

The medical historian Johannes Gottfried Mayer says: „It helps with respiratory diseases as well as the first wound care or insect bites.“ The healing substances are in the leaves of the plant. These lie down as a kind of film about the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat. Other ingredients have hemostatic and antibacterial effects or promote wound healing. Laboratory studies have proven this, but so far there are no clinical studies that deal with the plant. The award of the title is therefore as „Call for research“ to understand the possibilities of this plant more closely.

Works on injuries, stings and infections
According to Meyer, a few chewed leaves are good for injuries in the wild, which are simply placed on the wound. With whole leaves you can then cover the whole thing. This can help with insect bites, for example. When coughing you could also pour a tea. It is not only recommended to use ribwort plantain: „It tastes a bit bitter“, explains the medical historian. That's why there should always be some honey or sugar. (Fr)

Picture: Cornerstone