Even people who are far from medicine know about the healing properties of the common plantain. After all, everyone applied a plantain leaf to a scrape on the knee in childhood.

But not only plantain leaves are used for therapeutic purposes.

Plantain seeds also have special medicinal properties.

The value of any medicinal plant is determined by its composition. Plantain seeds contain the following useful substances:

• Polysaccharides are high-molecular #carbohydrates that form up to 45% of mucus when the raw materials are collected and stored correctly. It has defining medicinal properties. It has a healing, soothing, enveloping effect.
• #Vitamins and #minerals. Vitamin A, C, PP, selenium, potassium, manganese.
• Tannins are tanning substances that have astringent properties.
• Organic acids, including oleic acid, which has a unique spectrum of action. It is a natural antispasmodic, antibiotic and cardioprotector.
• #Oils characterized by softening and antiseptic effects. They are also responsible for the anti-edematous properties of plantain seeds.
• Bitterness (aucubin) is a glycoside that has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract and microbiome. This substance also helps stabilize hormonal levels and has a calming effect.

Plantain seeds: benefits and harms of plant raw materials

The seeds of the plant are a medicinal product with an impressive history.

Their healing properties were appreciated in Ancient China, and the great Persian physician Avicenna noted that the use of seeds can give the happiness of motherhood even to women with infertility.

The main beneficial properties of seeds can be identified:

• Enveloping action. Helps in the treatment of many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: ulcers, gastritis, enteritis, colitis.
• Antimicrobial effect – extends to many pathogenic microorganisms, even Helicobacter – a bacterium that causes gastritis and stomach ulcers.
• Anti-inflammatory properties. Plantain seeds are used for superficial or internal foci of infection. They help with colds, bronchitis, and in the treatment of external inflammatory processes on the skin.
• Expectorant effect for dry and wet cough, as well as for “smoker’s cough”.
• Diuretic effect. Accelerates the removal of excess fluid from the body, which helps to successfully combat edema and control blood pressure in patients with hypertension.
• Detoxification is the ability of seeds to absorb toxic substances and remove them from the body.
• Regenerative properties. Helps to quickly restore tissues, has the ability to stop bleeding.
• Immunostimulating effect. Consuming seeds can strengthen the body’s defenses.

The complex effect of all these properties also helps to cope with diseases of the genitourinary system:

• Infertility (in women and men),
• inflammatory diseases,
• hormonal problems.

Psyllium husk is often used for medicinal purposes. It has the following effects:

• Helps with constipation and diarrhea. Due to the high content of fiber and mucus, it restores normal stool.
• Reduces the level of “bad” cholesterol.
• Controls blood sugar levels. In the absence of contraindications, psyllium is included in the complex therapy of diabetes.
• Facilitates the process of losing weight in overweight people by improving excretory processes in the body and reducing the feeling of hunger.
• Normalizes blood pressure and has a positive effect on the health of the cardiovascular system.

Harm from seeds or psyllium can only occur if the recommendations for use are violated or individual intolerance is detected. This plant material is contraindicated:

• If you have an allergy;
• During pregnancy and lactation;
• With increased acidity of the stomach, as the seeds activate the secretion of gastric juice;
• In case of thrombosis.

How to take plantain seeds and psyllium correctly?

The methods of using medicinal raw materials depend on the ailments that bother the patient. What and in what case should you choose?

For cough, asthma.  Drink a warm infusion of seeds, one tablespoon 4 times a day, a quarter of an hour before meals, until the condition is relieved.

Prepare the drink as follows: pour 1.5 teaspoons of raw material with a glass of boiling water, leave for half an hour. Strain before use.

For male and female infertility.  A decoction of seeds is taken 2 times a day before meals for 2 weeks. If the desired effect is not achieved, the course can be repeated in a month. To prepare a decoction, pour a tablespoon of raw materials with a glass of hot water. Let it stand for about 10 minutes. Then cook for another 5-6 minutes in a water bath.

You can store the remedy in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. But it would be ideal if you prepare a new decoction every day, so it will retain more useful substances.

Classic infusion of seeds.  Has a wide range of action, can be used in complex therapy of diabetes, cardiac pathologies, to strengthen the immune system.

To prepare, brew a tablespoon of raw materials with a glass of boiling water, leave for half an hour. Take the drink 3 times a day before meals, one third of a glass.

For stomach and intestinal diseases.  Mucus from seeds is excellent for treating gastrointestinal diseases. To prepare it, take 1 part of raw material and 9 parts of water. Pour boiling water over the seeds and leave for 20 minutes, stirring, then leave for another hour. The mucus that forms on top is taken 2 times a day, one teaspoon at a time. The course of treatment is 10 days.

Psyllium.  It is best used in powder form. It is sold in pharmacies and health food stores. Start taking it in small doses, gradually increasing the volume. Usually it is 1.5-2 teaspoons for an adult. Do not exceed this amount without the advice of your doctor.

Psyllium can be divided into 2-3 doses per day, adding it to porridge, yogurt, kefir, or simply dissolving it in clean water before consumption.

Attention!  When taking psyllium husk, it is extremely important to drink plenty of water, at least 1.5-2 liters per day. This will help increase the healing effect of the medicinal plant, and also eliminate unwanted side effects, such as discomfort in the abdomen due to the increased amount of fiber.

You can buy plantain seeds or psyllium at a pharmacy. But if you are used to harvesting raw materials with your own hands, it will not be difficult to do it yourself.

To do this, at the very end of autumn, the dried flower stalks are cut and dried in a well-ventilated room. After that, the seeds are beaten off the stem. The preparation can be stored for about 2 years in a glass container under a lid.

Plantain seeds  have a large number of useful properties. They can be used in the treatment of infertility in men and women, gynecological diseases, respiratory pathologies, colds, in the complex therapy of heart diseases, gastrointestinal tract, diabetes.

This medicine is available and has a small list of contraindications, but even under these conditions, it is better to consult with your doctor before using it.