Buckhorn Plantain
OTHER NAME(S): Buckhorn, Chimney-Sweeps, English Plantain, Headsman, Herbe aux Cinq Côtés, Herbe à Cinq Coutures, Hoary Plantain, Llantén Menor, Oreille de Lièvre, Petit Plantin, Plantaginis Lanceolatae Herba, Plantain, Plantain à Feuilles Étroites, Ribgrass, Ribwort, Ribwort Plantain, Ripplegrass, Small Plantain, Snake's Tongue, Soldier's Herb, Spitzwegerichkraut, Plantago lanceolata, Llantén, Plantain Lancéolé
Overview
Buckhorn plantain is a plant. It grows throughout the world. People use the parts that grow above the ground for medicine.
Buckhorn plantain is used for common colds, fever, cough, wound healing, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse buckhorn plantain with common plantain (Plantago major). Also, don't mistake digitalis leaves for buckhorn plantain leaves. They look a lot alike. This is a problem because digitalis is unsafe. Be sure to get buckhorn plantain from trusted sources. There have been some reports of buckhorn plantain adulterated with digitalis.
Buckhorn plantain contains tannins and mucous-like substances that might help soothe painful and swollen (inflamed) areas. It might also have antibacterial effects.
Buckhorn plantain contains tannins and mucous-like substances that might help soothe painful and swollen (inflamed) areas. It might also have antibacterial effects.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Common cold.
- Cough.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the main airways in the lung (bronchitis).
- Fever.
- Painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis).
- Bed-wetting.
- Liver disease.
- Stomachcramps.
- Diarrhea.
- Sore mouth and throat, when applied to the affected area.
- Wound healing, when applied to the affected area.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the skin, when applied to the affected area.
- Pink eye, when applied to the affected area.
- Bleeding, when applied to the affected area.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of buckhorn plantain for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Buckhorn plantain is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people in medicinal doses when taken by mouth. It can trigger allergies in sensitive people.
When applied to the skin: Buckhorn plantain is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people in medicinal doses when applied to the skin. It can trigger allergies in sensitive people.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Buckhorn plantain is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people in medicinal doses when taken by mouth. It can trigger allergies in sensitive people.
When applied to the skin: Buckhorn plantain is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people in medicinal doses when applied to the skin. It can trigger allergies in sensitive people.
Pregnancy: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to take buckhorn plantain or apply it to your skin if you are pregnant. There is some evidence that buckhorn plantain can affect the muscle tone of the uterus.
Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if buckhorn plantain is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Buckhorn Plantain overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of buckhorn plantain depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for buckhorn plantain. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
- Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler VE. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician's Guide to Herbal Medicine. Terry C. Telger, transl. 3rd ed. Berlin, GER: Springer, 1998.
- Wichtl MW. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Ed. N.M. Bisset. Stuttgart: Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers, 1994.
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Tyler VE, Brady LR, Robbers JB. Pharmacognosy. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lea and Fibiger, 1981.
- Whitmore A. FDA warns consumers against dietary supplement products that may contain Digitalis mislabeled as Plantain. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington DC, 1997.
- Shipochliev T. Uterotonic action of extracts from a group of medicinal plants. Vet Med Nauki 1981;18:94-8.
- Ferrazzano GF, Cantile T, Roberto L, et al. Determination of the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity on salivary Streptococci and Lactobacilli and chemical characterisation of the phenolic content of a Plantago lanceolata infusion. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:286817. doi: 10.1155/2015/286817.
- Ozkol HU, Akdeniz N, Ozkol H, Bilgili SG, Calka O. Development of phytophotodermatitis in two cases related to Plantago lanceolata. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2012;31(1):58-60. doi: 10.3109/15569527.2011.584232.