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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

The Weed That Heals

The Weed That Heals
Chances are you have this weed growing in your yard. You may have even tried pulling it up, or spraying it with something in an attempt to have the “perfect” yard. But Plantain isn’t just any old common weed, it’s truly a miraculous herb. If you do have any growing in your yard, for heaven’s sakes leave it there! One day you’ll be glad you did. I’d heard many folks bragging of the benefit of using a Plantain leaf to relieve a bee sting, but I must admit, I was a bit skeptical until one day when I saw this herb work it’s magic with my own eyes. It was a sunny Summer afternoon. My children were playing in the yard beside me as I hung clothes on our clothesline. They were crouching to examine a new-found insect, when my four-year-old decided it would be great fun to chase his sister with the bug. But seconds after he’d picked it up and begun his game, I heard him shout loudly, which was immediately followed by screaming and crying. Now, this was very uncharacteristic behavior for my sweet boy, so I knew he must be really hurt. I dropped what I was doing and ran to his side. He’d thrown the bug down, and was trying to stomp on it as tears continued streaming down his face. When I saw what the bug was, right away I knew he was in some serious pain. It was an Assassin Beetle, the Wheel Bug variety. If you don’t know anything about this bug, they have the reputation of having a bite ten times worse than a hornet’s sting. And the pain can last for weeks. As my little guy’s red, throbbing thumb began to swell, I went into action to find a remedy for his pain. After trying a couple of different things it suddenly hit me… Plantain! I dashed to a spot in our yard where I knew some was growing, picked a leaf, and took it inside to wash it up. Next, I chewed it up (Mmmm… tastes like grass), spit it out, and rubbed the green glob onto my son’s sore spot. I wrapped it with gauze to allow the leaf to soak up the toxins, and said a prayer that it would work. An hour later, my little man was back to normal, playing as if nothing had happened and claiming to be pain free. I removed the bandage to find the swelling completely gone. I figured the pain might return later and I’d have to do another treatment with the Plantain. Imagine my relief when he went to bed that night still pain-free! Now that I know the power of this healing herb, I can tell you it will always be welcome in my yard. With little ones outside playing and many stinging insects swarming in the heat of the summer, it’s comforting to know that I have what it takes to ease their pain away naturally. Have you ever used Plantain for a sting? Do you have any growing in your yard? I’d love to know if you’ve had a chance to see what this healing herb can do. Note: Lehman's now carries Plantain Salve, made by the Amish in small batches near our store in Ohio. If you don't have any growing near you, try this soothing all-natural salve on insect bites and stings, scratches, minor wounds, rashes and dry, irritated skin. Editor's Note: This article first appeared on August 26, 2011 in Country Life.
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