How to Make Plantain Anti-Itch Rub and First Aid Antibiotic Spray

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If you’re looking for a natural itch relief remedy, there is little better than making Plantain Herbal Anti-Itch and First Aid Spray. This plantain witch hazel rub recipe is easy to make and very effective for getting rid of itching naturally, cleaning wounds, relieving bug bites or stings, and healing scraps.

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Where to Find Plantain Plants

Foraging for plantain is generally very easy. First, you need to know that this is not the plantain that looks like a banana. Plantain is a wild plant that grows on the edges of roads and yards and other disturbed soil in the city and in the countryside.

If you don’t have time or interest in foraging, you can purchase dried plantain here directly from Starwest Botanicals. You can still make the witch hazel infusion from this dried plantain. If you prefer purchasing from Amazon, you can find the dried plantain here.

You can find a good quality witch hazel here.

How to Identify Plantain (Plantago)

In the United States, we have two very common plantain varieties, Common or Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major) and Ribwort or Long leaf Plantain, (Plantago lanceolate). Broadleaf Plantain has wide oval leaves while the Ribwort Plantain has long narrow leaves. Around the world, there are many types of Plantain plants that can pretty much be used interchangeably.

Broadleaf Plantain and Ribwort Plantain were both introduced to North America by the English. It is said that the Native Americans called them ‘white man’s footprint” because they grew wherever the settlers lived. But there is a variety of plantain that is native to North America, Rugel’s Plantain (Plantago rugelii). It looks very similar to Broadleaf Plantain with the wide oval-shaped leaves. Hoary Plantain (Plantago media) is another type of Plantain introduced into North America by the settlers but is most prevalent in the East of Canada and North East United States.

The flowering tops of the Plantain varieties vary. Below are the flowers of Ribwort Plantain and the Broadleaf Plantain.

External Medicinal Uses for Plantain

Plantain has a long history of uses in herbal remedies and medicinal uses from treating colds and coughs, rattlesnake bites, and much more. In the present time, it is used much more to relieve insect and spider bites, bee stings, rashes from poison ivy or stinging nettles, along with cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Plantain has a cooling effect for hot conditions like swelling and inflammation.

Plantain Stops Itching Naturally

When my family has itchy skin for whatever reason like dry skin, rash, shaving, or hives, this plantain wash is your answer. Most often just one application will stop the itching. If not, apply once or twice more. It really is amazing and I love that it is natural, cost effect, and healing.

Plantain for Bee Stings and Bug Bites

We were visiting my son and my husband got a couple of bee stings. There happened to be some huge plantain plants in the yard and I had my husband quickly make some plantain spit poultices (see below). He put them directly on the stings and left them on for about 20 minutes. When he removed the plantain, he had no pain, no swelling, and no itching. It was like he hadn’t even gotten stung. You can use the Planting first aid wash recipe below as well.

Plantain to Heal Scrapes, Cuts, and Blisters

Plantain has antimicrobial properties so it makes an excellent first aid treatment to clean wounds. It also acts to sort of stitch them up so it works wonderfully for scrapes, cuts, blisters, and hemorrhoids. You can pour the Plantain Wash from the recipe below right over the affected area, spray it on or dab it on with a cotton ball.

Both Plantain is also a styptic means that it helps to stop bleeding.

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Plantain Anti-Itch Rub and First Aid Wash Recipe

I use the Simplers Method for making this Plantain Witch Hazel infusion which means that there really isn’t any measuring. It isn’t necessary for this simple herbal first aid wash. Witch Hazel has healing properties itself and so makes an excellent liquid for infusing the Witch Hazel.

• Cut up the plantain leaves in medium pieces–about one-inch strips are fine–and put into a glass jar.
• Fill the jar leaving about an inch at the top.
• Pour Witch Hazel over the leaves until it covers them completely.
• Using a wooden spoon or chopstick, poke down into the jar to release any air pockets and then recover with Witch Hazel if necessary.
• Cover with a tight lid and set in a cool, dry, dark cupboard for 4-6 weeks. (It won’t hurt if they are in a little longer.)
• After the infusing time is up, strain the liquid into another jar, bottle, or spray bottle of choice. At this time I like to add a splash or two of rubbing alcohol to help preserve the wash. I don’t put too much because I don’t want it to sting when I use it.

To use: Put some of the Plantain Witch Hazel Rub onto a cotton ball or soft cloth–enough to soak a spot the size of the cut or sting you are treating. Then put it on the area and hold it on there. You can also wrap a cloth or bandage around it to hold it in place. This can be left on until you find relief.
If you have a cut or scrape, you could pour the Plantain Witch Hazel over it to clean, disinfect and help stop the bleeding. Once clean you can cover with a bandage.

Plantain Spit Poultice – Nature’s Bandaid

Your reward for reading to the end is maybe the most important information in this article because if you are outside and away from home, Plantain can become a most effective first aid treatment. Whether for a bee sting, scrape, splinter, or encounter with poison ivy, the treatment is the same because some of the properties of Plantain are antimicrobial, drawing, soothing, cooling, and healing.

To make a Plantain spit poultice, pick a clean plantain leaf and chew it up. It is perfectly safe if it is from an area that hasn’t been treated with chemicals or where pets are. Chew the leaf mixing it with your saliva and keeping the juice in your mouth. Now spit the leaf and juice onto the affected area. Take another leaf or two and place it on top like a bandage. Wrap a cloth around the whole thing to tie it on. If it’s a bug bite you may find that spitting some of the juice on it is all it needs. This is why Plantain is known as “nature’s bandaid”.

Of course, if you’re at home and you’re not in a hurry, you could always make a poultice by cutting up the plantain and mashing it with a mortar and pestle mixed with just a little water. But where’s the fun in that. haha

Resources for More Information about Plantain:

The Modern Herbal Dispensary – A Medicine Maker’s Guide

Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use

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