Great plantain (Plantago major) is a plant with broad leaves native to Europe and Asia. It now grows worldwide as a weed. It's also used as medicine.
Great plantain contains chemicals that might help decrease pain and swelling, decrease mucous, and open airways. It might also help kill bacteria and fungi.
People use great plantain for cough, mouth sores, obesity, abnormal menstrual bleeding, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse great plantain with other plants also known as plantain, such as Asian water plantain, black psyllium, blond psyllium, buckhorn plantain, or buck's-horn plantain. These are not the same.
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