Health Benefits of Plantain {eat your weeds! #1}

 

People stress the importance of storing food for the coming apocalypse or an unforeseen emergency, but many don't consider the abundance of already food available to them in their own backyards.

 

And not only food, but medicine, as well.  

 

People can steal your food supplies but they can't take your knowledge. Ignorance is not bliss! Especially when you have a growling stomach and other mouths to feed, and the grocery stores are wiped clean.

 

Not that we should live in fear, because if you have Christ in your heart there is no reason to worry over anything that threatens to happen in this world.

 

However, wouldn't you rather have knowledge that could potentially save your life?

 

If you live where there is any amount of green, then you can learn which plants you can eat and which ones you can't. Even the 'lowliest' of weeds have much more value than you might think! And not just for survival purposes, either.

 

So, over the next several weeks I'm going to do a series of posts about Florida's wild edibles.  Some of these plants are also found in other states in the US, but since I live in Florida it makes the most sense for me to learn what plants are growing here.

 

Today, we're going to take a look at plantain. (plantago major)

 

It's a very common 'weed' which can be found in just about any field, garden or place where things grow naturally. It is similar vaguely in appearance to the dandelion plant, and it's most distinguishing element is the long, slender shoots that pop up from the plant's center. Look at the picture collage above for examples.

 

Now, I have a story to share concerning my experiences with plantain.

 

When I was around ten or eleven, I reached under a towel outside and got stung by a wasp on my finger. Complaining to Mom about it, I watched in fascination as she picked a plantain leaf and chewed it up quickly. She spit the chewed-up leaf back into her hand and pressed the pulpy stuff on my sore, inflamed finger.

 

Within ten seconds, all pain was gone. Boom. Just like that.

 

Ever since then, plantain has been my go-to for bites, rashes etc.

 

But then I was doing some more reading on the plant today, and I was shocked to discover that the health benefits of plantain expanded far greater than I originally surmised.

 

 

Here's some of the amazing things plantain is used as a remedy for!

• Wounds, bites, burns and most injuries.
• Poison.
• Blood purifier. Cleanses the system of toxins, heat and congestion.
• Fevers, infections and skin diseases.
• Calming of asthma, stomach aches and colic.
• Coughs and sore throats.
• Excessive menstrual bleeding.
• Tuberculosis.
• Blood vomiting, diarrhea, inflammation of the colon.
• Hemorrhage in the stomach and bowels.
• Discourages the discharge of mucous, especially in the respiratory system.
• Allergic conditions such as hay fever.
• Ear infections.
• Prostatic swellings.
• Tonsillitis.
• Urinary infections.
• Dysentery.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
• Fatigue.
• Eczema.

 

That's quite a lot, isn't it? And to think we overlook this homely little plant, thinking it's just a troublesome 'weed'.

 

You can utilize it in many forms. Raw, as a poultice, tincture, or even by juicing the leaves.

You can make a gargle or infusion from it, as well as cough syrup and ointments.

 

For example, here's a recipe which looks very promising.

Revitalizing green juice

3 cups (180 g) fresh plantain leaves

1 cup (250 ml) pure liquid honey

1 opaque glass bottle

 

***

Crush the leaves in a food processor, drain and squeeze in cheesecloth. Combine 1 cup (250 ml) of the green juice with the honey and simmer for 10 minutes at low heat, stirring regularly. Let cool and pour into the opaque bottle.
Take this nectar 1 spoonful at a time like a syrup to treat a cough; also use it to treat a sore throat, anemia, fatigue and eczema: 1 T (15 ml), 3 times daily.

***

 

Next time somebody in your house gets a sore throat, why not give it a try? If one of the kids runs in crying from a bee sting or burn, chew up a couple leaves and have them hold the mash over their sore spot and the pain will subside.

 

I recommend reading this page for yourself if you'd like more information. This is where I got the recipe and a bit of the other info. Very fascinating!

 

Well, hope y'all are having a blessed week! I am!

 

Soli Deo Gloria,

Sherlock Holmes VS. The Concrete Jungle

 

So, last week my dad and I took a weekend trip to the Concrete Jungle, for his regional ASGA conference therein.

 

 

The conference itself went pretty well, and that was how we spent all day Saturday - Daddy doing his workshops and me hanging around the store/sign-in tables in case somebody wanted to make a purchase or get checked in.

 

A lot of the time, it was pretty quiet with all the attendees in their sessions. But at the end of the day, after packing everything up I was ready to hit the hay. I even pulled my wedges off while tear-down was in session and worked in my socks. Hey, 3 1/2 inches of elevation can wear on you after 14 hours!

 

We ordered food in our hotel room and watched Pawn Stars and The Walking Dead on TV. Two shows I never ever see. No, I'm still not a WD fan. The concept of zombies is so stupid and illogical it blows my mind. Anyway! All these pictures you're seeing are from the bit of sightseeing we got to do Sunday. It was nice and chilly out so I got to wear my trenchcoat - whooo! something that never happens here in the Sunshine State. I felt like a boss - er, an European detective, to be specific. *ahemhencethetitleofthispost*

 

We decided to walk across the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges.

 

A new experience to add to the repertoire of traveling tales!

 

Looking out over Manhattan, from the Brooklyn bridge. You can see the Empire State building in the distance on the left side of the picture.

 

Looking out across the river to the Statue of Liberty.

 

And this lovely - er - interesting view was something I snapped Saturday morning from the hotel window before we left for work. I thought the sunrise through the distressed looking buildings was sort of neat.

 

More from Sunday! This was in Brooklyn, maybe a block from the hotel, on the way to the bridges. I admired the green spires in the background.

 

The Manhattan bridge was so much less tourist-y than the Brooklyn bridge, and most people we passed seemed to be locals. Tons of graffiti in some places. Also, the subway was directly on the other side of the rails here where I was standing and every time it went by the whole bridge shook, which freaked me out a little at times.

 

It would've been cool to take a run across this bridge.

 

View from the Manhattan bridge looking over at the more renowned Brooklyn bridge.

 

Pa!

 

A lovely, old beam on the Manhattan bridge.

 

Did I say old?

 

Passing subway.

 

A view of Chinatown from the Manhattan bridge.

 

Oh yeah, and if you zoom in you'll see this - the new world trade center in progress.

 

 

We walked through a small portion of Chinatown to get to the Brooklyn bridge, and were the tallest people to be seen for a good several blocks. I guess that's not really anything very new.

 

 

Why does this make me think of France so much?!

 

I rather like this one of mi padre.

 

 

One of the fascinating phenomenon we came across was this practice of fastening locks to the bridge rails.

 

I mean, there were locks all over the place! All clustered together, usually. We tried to figure out what they were for and determined it was lovebirds proclaiming their romantic relationships. Okay then?

 

Seems like you could see everything from that bridge.

 

Sherlock Holmes reflecting on past occasions of visiting Manhattan.

 

Am I flooding you with pictures? Don't worry, we're coming to the end...fairly soon.

 

Back on the other side of the river, where we came from. Brooklyn!

 

Flatbush Ave!

 

Piles of snow - no, scratch that, hardened ice.

 

Stretches of very dirty hardened ice.

 

Snow cone anybody?

 

Back in the hotel, getting ready to get a cab back to the airport Sunday. I always have to snap pictures of the room where we stay. This one I found particularly classy. The mirror, roof details and wood floor set it off.

 

And the beds were nicely made at some point.

 

A small but space-efficient quarters.

 

 

Too many reflection selfies, but with that mirror and my trenchcoat, I couldn't resist.

 

El bano.  Because it's so epic to end a post with a random bathroom picture that nobody will probably even care about.

 

Anyway, the journey home Sunday felt like it took forever, because I was feeling very congested and almost as if I had a cold. This was due to the different weather, climate and possibly even just the fact that the geographic alignment was so different than I am used to. I have this theory that my body can sense when it is placed in a different geographical alignment or altitude. Like, even when I go to sleep, I wonder if I do it better with my body aligned south to north, since that's what I have here in my bedroom. It probably sounds ridiculous, but for some reason I always wonder which way I'm facing when I go to bed while in another state or dwelling.

 

Also, just being so far north - obviously the northern climate and living conditions are very different than southern ones. So it was no wonder that my whole physical system was thrown off. Even my hair wouldn't behave and had enough static electricity to...I don't know, provide frizziness for anybody else who wanted it? Bah humbug. Nobody likes frizzy hair.

 

I'll be honest, I was a crankpot while in the airport and on the plane. I was very tired and almost everything in my body was sore. My feet especially, from walking 6 miles in heels/wedges. No pain no gain! (in this case, that's literal - I'm 5'11 or so with those things on) And then, on the final descent in the flight, I had this unbearable pressure in my head, due to the congestion and cold symptoms. It was horrible, almost maddening. I pleaded internally for it to pass so I wouldn't look like a monster when we de-planed...and so I could think straight again. It was just...phew, I'm glad it's over. I think it's safe to say that it's no fun to travel when you feel half-sick.

 

Anyway! It was an adventure overall, the entire trip. Life serves up adventures of all shapes and sizes though, whether you're traveling or not. I'm thankful to God for the opportunity to see new places and meet all kinds of different people. It's such a blessing to be homeschooled and have a father with whom I can get to do this!

 

Hope y'all weren't bored to death or anything. I wrote this while I was exhausted and recovering from a minor headache, so you have to give me some slack okay? Gracias.

 

Keep your eyes peeled for the next post which will be about the most recent reenactment I participate in!