Plantain Herb

The aerial parts of Plantago asiatica or Plantago depressa, that common plantain of the roadside (“the grass in front of the cart”, Che Qian, comes from the fact that the plant thrives in cart ruts, where the seeds fall and germinate).

Cut in summer, during flowering, dried whole in bundles, it keeps its characteristic leaves with parallel veins and its fine flower spikes.

A humble and accessible plant, much used in the Chinese folk pharmacopoeia.

A mild herb of the freeing register, for the fluids in Heat-Dampness of the lower region.

Traditionally used for constitutions of settled heat in the sphere where the fluids are let go, and to clear gently the heat that veils the Clarity (which the tradition ties to the Wood Phase and to that of Water).

• Decoction: 9 to 30 g (the quantity readily goes high, the herb being very mild), simmer for 25 minutes
• Eye compresses: a concentrated infusion, cooled, applied locally to the eyelids
• Popular use: a traditionally gathered herb, very approachable and widely used in the popular pharmacopoeia

To be avoided in cases of deficient Yang with deep cold. Otherwise a herb approachable by most constitutions.