plantain major (broad/narrow)

hello all. say does anyone have some great ref material (or personal story) for plantain major being used as antihistamine. ive witnessed the success of eating the fresh leaves on three seperate emergencies: 1-my own case allergic reaction (anaphylaxis to treenuts), and 2-cases involving bee stings. i ask because we'd like to prepare some for tincture and i'm wondering what quantitiy will make the potion strong enough to quench this type of generalized systemic reaction, in minor and severe cases.
thanks in advance.
happy peak honeyflow out there!

I was taught that the properties of plantain which make it helpful with bug bites and stings (and similar) when used externally are because it is astringent and antiphlogistic, so it reduces the inflammation and swelling, and that in the off season you should make a decoction of the dried leaves for internal or external use, or a salve for external use.

I've heard people call it an antihistamine, but I've never seen a reputable source for that -- just the usual internet echo. If you have one, please share it with me; I have a life-threatening allergy as well. I'd rather rely on my Epi-Pen but if the plantain were fresh and in the right season I could see it opening the airways enough to get the reaction under control.

Not adding much to the thread other than to say thanks as i didn't know this about plantain and we have it everywhere.

"a" - you must be a beekeeper. Was it a good year over there? Probably useful to know about plaintain too if you're a beekeeper.

As to the uses for Common Plantain ( i'm assuming the weed that grows everywhere and not the banana) the action you are seeing is anti-inflammatory. I probably would help a bit with allergic reactions by reducing the swelling. However it will not be a substitute for epi-pens or benedril. If you are trying to take it internally with teas or just eating it raw, it is diuretic (makes you pee) expectorant ( makes you cough) and decongestant ( the reduction of swelling ie anti-inflammatory). the narrow leafed variety is used the same way.

I have to disagree. In all cases iv witnessed where accute severe generalized systemic reaction was occurring (in me - anaphylaxis) chewing raw plantain in copius amounts (at least 3 cups) was enough to totally negate the reaction I was having. The same applied to my wife's severe reaction to a bee sting sustained during honey take off at peak flow...again totally subsisted the reaction. Both of these times we were each moments away from using auto-injector epinephrine, but avoided thanks to the effective plantain. I was hoping for more solid or anechdotal evidence in favour of a "natural" remedy vs. support of big pharma, aka epi & or over the counter drowsey tabs. i'll keep looking

I was taught in herbal school that Plantain (yes, the Plantago spp, mostly major and lanceolata) helped draw out the poisons when externally applied. Many internal uses too, and I used it with great success for people who have huge allergies with beestings, worked better than Benadryl! More here: http://herballegacy.com/Plantain_Ahlborn.html Incidentally, the school has on file many cases of really severe infections that Plantain completely healed gently and quickly. You can use it fresh/chewed (preferably by the person with the wound) or tinctured fresh in vodka - dried doesn't seem to work.