Bug bites, itchy spots, dry patches, and irritated skin happen to all of us. If you're looking for a simple, natural way to calm uncomfortable skin, there's one little plant you may have walked past a hundred times without realizing what it can do.
It's called plantain (Plantago major), and it has been used for generations to soothe and care for the skin.
Even more interesting? Modern research is beginning to help explain why.
What Makes Plantain So Good for Skin?
Plantain naturally contains beneficial plant compounds including aucubin, plantamajoside, flavonoids, and other antioxidants that have been studied for their anti-inflammatory and skin-supporting properties.
🌿 Helps Calm Irritated Skin
Plantain has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity, which may help explain its long history of use for skin that feels red, irritated, or uncomfortable.
🌿 A Natural Go-To for Bug Bites & Itchy Skin
Plantain leaves have traditionally been applied to insect bites and skin irritation to help calm discomfort. Its soothing properties make it one of our favorite ingredients to keep close during bug-bite season.
🌿 Supports Skin's Natural Recovery
Plantain has been used for centuries on minor scrapes and irritated skin. Researchers continue to study the plant and its potential role in supporting the skin's natural repair processes.
🌿 Provides Antioxidant Support
Flavonoids and other naturally occurring compounds in plantain have antioxidant activity, helping protect skin from oxidative stress.
More Than Just Plantain
We pair our farm-harvested plantain with a few carefully chosen ingredients to make our salve even more nourishing.
Castor oil is a rich, moisturizing oil that helps soften and condition dry skin, while lavender essential oil adds another botanical traditionally valued in skin care. Lavender has also been studied for its potential anti-inflammatory and skin-repair properties.
Simple ingredients, each there for a reason.
From Our Farm to Your Skin
The plantain in our salve is harvested right here on our family farm and infused into a simple salve made for life's everyday skin moments.
Choose our Plantain Salve Tin to keep at home or our Plantain Salve Stick for an easy, mess-free option you can toss in your purse, hiking bag, car, or travel bag.
Bug bites. Itchy spots. Dry patches. Rough, irritated skin. Keep a little plantain close.
Sources & Further Reading
- Samuelsen, A.B. The traditional uses, chemical constituents and biological activities of Plantago major L. A review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2000.
- Adom et al. Chemical constituents and medical benefits of Plantago major. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2017.
- Cardoso et al. The Effect of Plantago major on Wound Healing in Preclinical Studies: A Systematic Review. Wound Management & Prevention, 2021.
- Samuelson et al. The Effects of Lavender Essential Oil on Wound Healing: A Review of the Current Evidence. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020.
